About

Known credits:
177
Birthday:
1957-04-04
Place of birth:
Orimattila, Finland
Website:
N/A

Aki Kaurismäki

Overview

Aki Olavi Kaurismäki (Finnish: [ˈɑki ˈkɑu̯rismæki]; born 4 April 1957; Orimattila) is a Finnish film director, screenwriter, producer, editor and actor. He is best known for the award-winning Drifting Clouds (1996), The Man Without a Past (2002), Le Havre (2011), The Other Side of Hope (2017) and Fallen Leaves (2023), as well as for the mockumentary Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989). He is described as Finland's best-known film director. His is an older brother to Mika Kaurismäki.

After graduating in media studies from the University of Tampere, Kaurismäki worked as a bricklayer, postman, and dish-washer, long before pursuing his interest in cinema, first as a critic, and later as a screenwriter & director. He started his career as a co-screenwriter and actor in films made by his older brother, Mika Kaurismäki. He played the main role in Mika's film The Liar (1981). Together they founded the production company Villealfa Filmproductions and later the Midnight Sun Film Festival. His debut as an independent director was Crime and Punishment (1983), an adaptation of Dostoyevsky's novel set in modern Helsinki. He gained worldwide attention with Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989).

Kaurismäki's film Ariel (1988) was entered into the 16th Moscow International Film Festival where it won the Prix FIPRESCI. Kaurismäki's most acclaimed film has been The Man Without a Past, which won the Grand Prix and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category in 2003. However, Kaurismäki refused to attend the Oscar ceremony, asserting that he did not feel like partying in a country that was in a state of war. Kaurismäki's next film Lights in the Dusk was also chosen to be Finland's nominee for best foreign-language film, but Kaurismäki again boycotted the awards and refused the nomination, as a protest against U.S. President George W. Bush's foreign policy. In 2002 Kaurismäki also boycotted the 40th New York Film Festival in a show of solidarity with the Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami, who was not given a US visa in time for the festival. Kaurismäki's 2017 film The Other Side of Hope won the Silver Bear for Best Director award at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival. At the same festival he also announced that it would be his last film, although the retirement was short-lived as he began filming Fallen Leaves in 2022, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023.

Known for

Acting
2023 Cinéma Laika Actor Self 59
Average
2021 The Dinosaur Actor Self 59
Average
2018 Aki and Peter Actor Himself 59
Average
2017 Plankton Salesmen Actor Self (archive footage) N/A
N/A
2016 Peter von Bagh Actor Self 59
Average
2015 Valokeilassa Atte Blom Actor Self N/A
N/A
2015 Vandaleyne Actor Man on TV 60
Fair
2015 Temples of Dreams Actor Self 59
Average
2014 Il était une fois... Le Havre Actor himself N/A
N/A
2012 A Special Day Actor Self 59
Average
2011 Bohemian Eyes Actor Self 59
Average
2008 Crítico Actor Self 59
Average
2004 Aaltra Actor Le patron Aaltra 59
Average
2001 Aki Kaurismäki Actor 59
Average
1995 I Am Curious, Film Actor Self 59
Average
1995 Iron Horsemen Actor Cadillac Man 59
Average
1994 Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses Actor Factory Worker Imitating Chaplin (uncredited) 58
Average
1993 Talking with Ozu Actor Self 59
Average
1992 Where Is Musette? Actor N/A
N/A
1991 Jonathan Ross Presents for One Week Only: Aki Kaurismäki Actor Self N/A
N/A
1990 I Hired a Contract Killer Actor Sunglasses Seller (uncredited) 61
Fair
1986 Shadows in Paradise Actor Hotel Receptionist (uncredited) 64
Fair
1986 Rocky VI Actor Magazine Photographer 58
Average
1985 Ylösnousemus Actor Taksikuski 59
Average
1985 Calamari Union Actor Hearse Driver (uncredited) 60
Fair
1985 Viimeiset rotannahat Actor 59
Average
1983 Huhtikuu on kuukausista julmin Actor Ville Alfa 59
Average
1982 The Worthless Actor Ville Alfa 59
Average
1982 Jackpot 2 Actor 59
Average
1981 The Liar Actor Ville Alfa 59
Average

Directing
2023 Fallen Leaves Directing Director 66
Fair
2017 The Other Side of Hope Directing Director 63
Fair
2013 Bluesia Pieksämäen asemalla Directing Director 59
Average
2012 Historic Centre Directing Director 59
Average
2012 Tavern Man Directing Director 59
Average
2011 Le Havre Directing Director 64
Fair
2007 The Foundry Directing Director 59
Average
2007 To Each His Own Cinema Directing Director 60
Fair
2007 The Foundry Directing Director 59
Average
2006 Lights in the Dusk Directing Director 60
Fair
2004 Visions of Europe Directing Director 58
Average
2004 Bico Directing Director 59
Average
2002 Dogs Have No Hell Directing Director N/A
N/A
2002 Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet Directing Director 59
Average
2002 The Man Without a Past Directing Director 65
Fair
1999 Juha Directing Director 59
Average
1996 Drifting Clouds Directing Director 63
Fair
1995 Iron Horsemen Directing Assistant Director 59
Average
1994 Total Balalaika Show Directing Director 59
Average
1994 Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses Directing Director 58
Average
1994 Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana Directing Director 59
Average
1992 La Vie de Bohème Directing Director 62
Fair
1990 I Hired a Contract Killer Directing Director 61
Fair
1990 The Match Factory Girl Directing Director 63
Fair
1989 Dirty Hands Directing Director 58
Average
1989 Leningrad Cowboys Go America Directing Director 61
Fair
1988 Ariel Directing Director 63
Fair
1987 Hamlet Goes Business Directing Director 59
Average
1987 Rich Little Bitch Directing Director N/A
N/A
1986 Shadows in Paradise Directing Director 64
Fair
1986 Rocky VI Directing Director 58
Average
1985 Calamari Union Directing Director 60
Fair
1984 The Clan: Tale of the Frogs Directing Assistant Director 59
Average
1983 Crime and Punishment Directing Director 60
Fair
1982 The Worthless Directing Assistant Director 59
Average
1982 Jackpot 2 Directing Assistant Director 59
Average
1981 The Saimaa Gesture Directing Director 59
Average

Writing
2023 Fallen Leaves Writing Writer 66
Fair
2017 The Other Side of Hope Writing Writer 63
Fair
2013 Bluesia Pieksämäen asemalla Writing Writer 59
Average
2012 Historic Centre Writing Screenplay 59
Average
2012 Tavern Man Writing Writer 59
Average
2011 Le Havre Writing Writer 64
Fair
2008 Calamari Union Writing Writer N/A
N/A
2007 The Foundry Writing Writer 59
Average
2007 To Each His Own Cinema Writing Writer 60
Fair
2007 The Foundry Writing Writer 59
Average
2006 Lights in the Dusk Writing Writer 60
Fair
2004 Visions of Europe Writing Writer 58
Average
2002 Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet Writing Writer 59
Average
2002 Dogs Have No Hell Writing Writer N/A
N/A
2002 The Man Without a Past Writing Writer 65
Fair
1999 Juha Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1996 Drifting Clouds Writing Writer 63
Fair
1994 Total Balalaika Show Writing Writer 59
Average
1994 Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1994 Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses Writing Story 58
Average
1994 Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana Writing Writer 59
Average
1992 La Vie de Bohème Writing Writer 62
Fair
1990 I Hired a Contract Killer Writing Screenplay 61
Fair
1990 I Hired a Contract Killer Writing Story 61
Fair
1990 The Match Factory Girl Writing Writer 63
Fair
1989 Dirty Hands Writing Writer 58
Average
1989 Leningrad Cowboys Go America Writing Screenplay 61
Fair
1989 Leningrad Cowboys Go America Writing Story 61
Fair
1988 Ariel Writing Writer 63
Fair
1987 Hamlet Goes Business Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1987 Rich Little Bitch Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1987 Tilinteko Writing Writer 59
Average
1986 Shadows in Paradise Writing Writer 64
Fair
1986 Rocky VI Writing Writer 58
Average
1985 Rosso Writing Dialogue 59
Average
1985 Calamari Union Writing Writer 60
Fair
1984 The Clan: Tale of the Frogs Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1983 Crime and Punishment Writing Screenplay 60
Fair
1982 The Worthless Writing Dialogue 59
Average
1982 The Worthless Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1982 Jackpot 2 Writing Writer 59
Average
1981 The Saimaa Gesture Writing Writer 59
Average
1981 The Liar Writing Writer 59
Average

Production
2023 Fallen Leaves Production Producer 66
Fair
2017 The Other Side of Hope Production Producer 63
Fair
2013 Bluesia Pieksämäen asemalla Production Producer 59
Average
2012 Historic Centre Production Producer 59
Average
2012 Tavern Man Production Producer 59
Average
2011 Le Havre Production Producer 64
Fair
2011 Barzakh Production Producer 59
Average
2010 Bad Family Production Producer 59
Average
2009 Jeanne d'Arc Production Producer N/A
N/A
2007 The Foundry Production Producer 59
Average
2007 To Each His Own Cinema Production Producer 60
Fair
2006 Lights in the Dusk Production Producer 60
Fair
2004 Visions of Europe Production Producer 58
Average
2002 Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet Production Producer 59
Average
2002 Dogs Have No Hell Production Producer N/A
N/A
2002 The Man Without a Past Production Producer 65
Fair
2001 The Classic Production Producer 59
Average
2000 Belief, Hope and Blood Production Producer N/A
N/A
1999 Juha Production Producer 59
Average
1999 A Stone Left Unturned Production Producer 59
Average
1997 Vaiennut kylä Production Producer 58
Average
1996 Drifting Clouds Production Producer 63
Fair
1995 Iron Horsemen Production Producer 59
Average
1994 Total Balalaika Show Production Producer 59
Average
1994 Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses Production Producer 58
Average
1994 Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana Production Producer 59
Average
1993 Our Father… Production Producer 58
Average
1993 Kaksi vanhaa varasta Production Producer N/A
N/A
1993 Ripa Hits the Skids Production Producer 58
Average
1992 The Prodigal Son Production Producer 58
Average
1992 Shit Happens Production Producer 59
Average
1992 La Vie de Bohème Production Producer 62
Fair
1990 I Hired a Contract Killer Production Producer 61
Fair
1990 The Match Factory Girl Production Producer 63
Fair
1989 Leningrad Cowboys Go America Production Producer 61
Fair
1988 Ariel Production Producer 63
Fair
1987 Hamlet Goes Business Production Producer 59
Average
1987 Rich Little Bitch Production Producer N/A
N/A
1987 Tilinteko Production Producer 59
Average
1987 Macbeth Production Producer 59
Average
1986 Rocky VI Production Producer 58
Average
1985 Calamari Union Production Producer 60
Fair
1981 The Saimaa Gesture Production Producer 59
Average

Art
1982 The Worthless Art Production Design 59
Average
1982 Jackpot 2 Art Production Design 59
Average

Camera
1985 Rosso Camera Key Grip 59
Average

Costume & Make-Up
1982 Jackpot 2 Costume & Make-Up Costume Design 59
Average

Crew
2024 Jean-Pierre Léaud: The Child of Cinema Crew Thanks 59
Average
2016 John From Crew Thanks 58
Average
2008 Helsinki, Forever Crew Thanks 59
Average
2004 Whisky Crew Thanks 60
Fair

Editing
2012 Historic Centre Editing Editor 59
Average
2012 Tavern Man Editing Editor 59
Average
2006 Lights in the Dusk Editing Editor 60
Fair
2004 Visions of Europe Editing Editor 58
Average
2002 Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet Editing Editor 59
Average
2002 Dogs Have No Hell Editing Editor N/A
N/A
1999 Juha Editing Editor 59
Average
1996 Drifting Clouds Editing Editor 63
Fair
1994 Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses Editing Editor 58
Average
1994 Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana Editing Editor 59
Average
1992 The Parrot Man Editing Editor N/A
N/A
1990 I Hired a Contract Killer Editing Editor 61
Fair
1990 The Match Factory Girl Editing Editor 63
Fair
1986 Rocky VI Editing Editor 58
Average
1985 Calamari Union Editing Editor 60
Fair

Visual Effects
1982 Jackpot 2 Visual Effects Smoke Artist 59
Average