Einari Paakkanen
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- January 16, 1980
- Birthplace
- Jämsä, Finland
Einari Paakkanen is an award-winning filmmaker known for his warm, intimate, and human-centered storytelling. His films have been screened internationally at major festivals including CPH:DOX, Sheffield DocFest, and Visions du Réel. His film KARAOKE PARADISE was shortlisted for the Best Documentary at the European Film Awards and won the Jussi Award for Best Finnish Documentary. Einari holds an MA in Documentary Directing from ESCAC in Barcelona and has participated in programs such as IDFAcademy, Twelve for the Future, Ice & Fire, MFI’s Script2Film, and Berlinale Talents. In addition to directing, he has also worked as an editor, sound recordist, teacher, and festival programmer. He has served on the boards of the Finnish Documentary Guild and DocPoint ry. His latest co-directed short documentary, PUOLANKA PUSSY RALLY (2026) won the Special Prize and The European Short Film Audience Award the Tampere Film Festival.
Filmography
Puolanka Pussy Rally 2026
Director, Editor
- Invisible Enemy
Invisible Enemy 2026
Director
Forgetting Lenin 2024
Director
Karaoke Paradise 2022
Writer, Director, Editor
Games People Play 2020
Location Scout
- Cross-country
Cross-country 2019
Director
- Where Is Thon?
Where Is Thon? 2016
Writer, Editor, Director, Animation
My Father from Sirius 2016
as Himself, Writer, Screenplay, Director
- Promised Land
Promised Land 2015
Co-Writer
Permanent Together 2013
Writer
Dirty Bomb 2011
Location Manager
Princess 2010
Location Manager
Gimme Some Respect 2010
Location Manager
- The Finest and the Greatest
The Finest and the Greatest 2008
Assistant Editor
- Girls' Night
Girls' Night 2008
Assistant Editor
Black Ice 2007
Assistant Editor
Credits from TMDB.