Aku Louhimies

Aku Louhimies is an award-winning director and screenwriter. His highly acclaimed, commercially successful films have established him as one of the most preeminent directors of Scandinavian cinema today. Accomplished in both film and television, Louhimies' works have consistently garnered attention and praise, not least on the international film festival scene. Of his ten feature films, his latest works include the box-office record breaking Unknown Soldier (2017) and the European Film Award nominees 8-Ball (2013) and Frozen Land (2012). He is also working on the world's first carbon negative film, the Wait (2021). Louhimies attended school in the United Sates, graduating from Billings West High School in Montana before returning to Finland to study history at the University of Helsinki, continuing on to Aalto University with a degree in film directing. He is fluent in English, Finnish, Swedish, and Spanish. Louhimies attributes his discipline and a strong work ethic to his military background, having served as platoon leader of the Finnish defense forces. He is still an active reserve officer. Louhimies was born in Helsinki, Finland to an artistic household; his father was an architect and his mother one of the first female commercial directors in Finland. Louhimies considers Montana his home state and has strong connections there. A dedicated father of four, Louhimies is passionate about using the medium for socially and environmentally constructive purposes. He is also a well-known public speaker and headed the Finnish Directors Guild for several years.