---
name: "Aki Kaurismäki"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/aki-kaurismaki"
fi1m_id: "aki-kaurismaki"
imdb_id: "nm0442454"
tmdb_id: 16767
wikidata_id: "Q276186"
roles: ["Director","Writer","Producer"]
born: "4 April 1957"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 82
average_as: "director"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-27T08:16:42.097749+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Aki Kaurismäki

## Identity

Aki Kaurismäki

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/aki-kaurismaki
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** aki-kaurismaki
- **IMDb ID:** nm0442454
- **TMDB ID:** 16767
- **Wikidata ID:** Q276186
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aki_Kaurism%C3%A4ki, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q276186, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0442454/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/16767

Director and writer. Born 4 April 1957 in Orimattila, Finland.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Writer, Producer
- **Born:** 4 April 1957, Orimattila, Finland
- **Active:** 1988–present
- **Also known as:** Aki Olavi Kaurismäki
- **Cannes Film Festival:** 1 Cannes prize (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 82, as director, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 80 (1), 2020s 83 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aki_Kaurism%C3%A4ki, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q276186, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0442454/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/16767

## Streaming the US now

- **MUBI:** [*Fallen Leaves*](https://film.one/film/fallen-leaves.md) (83)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Aki Olavi Kaurismäki is a Finnish film director, screenwriter and producer. Born on 4 April 1957 in Orimattila, Finland, he is the younger brother of director Mika Kaurismäki. He graduated in media studies from the University of Tampere and worked in various jobs including bricklayer, postman and dishwasher before entering cinema as a critic. He began his filmmaking career collaborating with his brother on *The Liar* (1981) and co-founded the production company Villealfa Filmproductions and the Midnight Sun Film Festival. His directorial debut was the adaptation *Crime and Punishment* (1983).

Kaurismäki is best known for films including *Shadows in Paradise* (1986), *Ariel* (1988), *Leningrad Cowboys Go America* (1989), *The Match Factory Girl* (1990), *Drifting Clouds* (1996), *The Man Without a Past* (2002), *Le Havre* (2011), *The Other Side of Hope* (2017) and *Fallen Leaves* (2023), on which he also served as producer. Several of his films have received awards at Cannes, including the Grand Prix for *The Man Without a Past* and the Jury Prize for *Fallen Leaves*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *Fallen Leaves* (2023), Fi1m 83, Producer, Director, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/fallen-leaves.md)
- *Ariel* (1988), Fi1m 80, Director, Writer, Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/ariel.md)

## Complete filmography (64)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Jean-Pierre Léaud: The Child of Cinema* (2024), Thanks
- *Fallen Leaves* (2023), Director, Writer, Producer — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/fallen-leaves.md)
- *The Other Side of Hope* (2017), Director, Producer, Writer
- *John From* (2016), Thanks
- *Dirty Hands* (2015), Director, Writer
- *Bluesia Pieksämäen asemalla* (2013), Director, Writer, Producer
- *Historic Centre* (2012), Director, Screenplay, Producer, Editor
- *Tavern Man* (2012), Producer, Director, Editor, Writer
- *Le Havre* (2011), Director, Writer, Producer
- *Barzakh* (2011), Producer
- *Bad Family* (2010), Producer
- *Jeanne d'Arc* (2009), Producer
- *Calamari Union* (2008), Writer
- *Helsinki, Forever* (2008), Thanks
- *To Each His Own Cinema* (2007), Director, Producer, Writer
- *The Foundry* (2007), Director, Writer, Editor
- *Lights in the Dusk* (2006), Editor, Director, Producer, Writer
- *Whisky* (2004), Thanks
- *Aaltra* (2004), as Aaltra's Boss
- *Visions of Europe* (2004), Director, Writer, Producer, Editor
- *Bico* (2004), Director, Writer, Producer
- *Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet* (2002), Director, Writer, Producer, Editor
- *Dogs Have No Hell* (2002), Director, Writer, Editor, Producer
- *The Man Without a Past* (2002), Producer, Director, Writer
- *The Classic* (2001), Producer
- *A Stone Left Unturned* (2000), Producer
- *VÄNÄ* (2000), Actor
- *Belief, Hope and Blood* (2000), Producer
- *Juha* (1999), Director, Screenplay, Producer, Editor
- *Vaiennut kylä* (1997), Producer
- *Drifting Clouds* (1996), Producer, Director, Editor, Writer
- *Iron Horsemen* (1995), as Cadillac Man · Producer, Assistant Director
- *Total Balalaika Show* (1994), Director, Writer, Producer
- *Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses* (1994), as Factory Worker Imitating Chaplin (uncredited) · Director, Editor, Producer, Story, Screenplay
- *Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana* (1994), Director, Writer, Editor, Producer
- *Our Father…* (1993), Producer
- *Kaksi vanhaa varasta* (1993), Producer
- *Ripa Hits the Skids* (1993), Producer
- *The Prodigal Son* (1992), Producer
- *Shit Happens* (1992), as Estonian · Producer, Editor
- *The Parrot Man* (1992), Editor
- *La Vie de Bohème* (1992), Director, Producer, Screenplay
- *I Hired a Contract Killer* (1990), as Sunglasses Seller (uncredited) · Producer, Editor, Director, Screenplay, Story
- *The Match Factory Girl* (1990), Director, Editor, Producer, Writer
- *Leningrad Cowboys Go America* (1989), Screenplay, Director, Story, Producer
- *Ariel* (1988), Director, Writer, Producer — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/ariel.md)
- *Hamlet Goes Business* (1987), Producer, Screenplay, Director
- *Tilinteko* (1987), Writer, Producer
- *Macbeth* (1987), Producer
- *Shadows in Paradise* (1986), as Hotel Receptionist (uncredited) · Director, Writer
- *Kuningas lähtee Ranskaan* (1986), Gaffer
- *Rocky VI* (1986), Magazine Photographer, Director, Writer, Producer, Editor
- *Morena* (1986), Production Sound Mixer
- *Rosso* (1985), Dialogue, Gaffer
- *Ylösnousemus* (1985), as Taksikuski
- *Calamari Union* (1985), as Hearse Driver (uncredited) · Writer, Director, Producer, Editor
- *Viimeiset rotannahat* (1985), Actor
- *The Clan: Tale of the Frogs* (1984), Screenplay, Assistant Director
- *Crime and Punishment* (1983), Director, Screenplay
- *Huhtikuu on kuukausista julmin* (1983), as Ville Alfa
- *The Worthless* (1982), as Ville Alfa · Production Design, Dialogue, Assistant Director, Writer
- *Jackpot 2* (1982), Costume Design, Assistant Director, Smoke Artist, Production Design, Writer
- *The Saimaa Gesture* (1981), Producer, Director, Writer
- *The Liar* (1981), as Ville Alfa · Writer

## Gallery

- ![Aki Kaurismäki](https://film.one/media/person/15173/gallery-a3da330f7290.jpg) Aki Kaurismäki — Elena Ringo, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Aki_Kaurism%C3%A4ki_at_Berlinale_2017.jpg/1280px-Aki_Kaurism%C3%A4ki_at_Berlinale_2017.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Aki Kaurismäki (1990)](https://film.one/media/person/15173/gallery-4d820abfa448.jpg) Aki Kaurismäki (1990) — Gorup de Besanez, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/1990_Aki_Kaurism%C3%A4ki_01.jpg/1280px-1990_Aki_Kaurism%C3%A4ki_01.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Aki Kaurismäki (1990)](https://film.one/media/person/15173/gallery-97e7b83d15f6.jpg) Aki Kaurismäki (1990) — Gorup de Besanez, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/1990_Aki_Kaurism%C3%A4ki_02.jpg/1280px-1990_Aki_Kaurism%C3%A4ki_02.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Aki Kaurismäki (1990)](https://film.one/media/person/15173/gallery-a791d3844f1d.jpg) Aki Kaurismäki (1990) — Gorup de Besanez, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/1990_Aki_Kaurism%C3%A4ki_03.jpg/1280px-1990_Aki_Kaurism%C3%A4ki_03.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Aki Kaurismäki](https://film.one/media/person/15173/gallery-2cfe1dba1577.jpg) Aki Kaurismäki — Image via TMDB
- ![Aki Kaurismäki](https://film.one/media/person/15173/gallery-ac656b942587.jpg) Aki Kaurismäki — Image via TMDB
- ![Aki Kaurismäki](https://film.one/media/person/15173/gallery-fc4619f6fb40.jpg) Aki Kaurismäki — Image via TMDB
- ![Photograph of the Finnish film director Aki Kaurismäki, standing in front of a film poster for Calamari Union.](https://film.one/media/person/15173/gallery-cf09393a0dec.jpg) Photograph of the Finnish film director Aki Kaurismäki, standing in front of a film poster for Calamari Union. — Kai Honkanen, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Aki-Kaurismaki-1985.jpg/1280px-Aki-Kaurismaki-1985.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Aki Kaurismäki no Teatro Principal de Santiago de Compostela no Curtocircuíto 2015](https://film.one/media/person/15173/gallery-d09d82fc78d5.jpg) Aki Kaurismäki no Teatro Principal de Santiago de Compostela no Curtocircuíto 2015 — Castelao, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Aki_Kaurismaki-20151010.jpg/1280px-Aki_Kaurismaki-20151010.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Aki Kaurismäki](https://film.one/media/person/15173/gallery-7eff03b2b847.jpg) Aki Kaurismäki — Image via TMDB
- ![Aki Kaurismäki](https://film.one/media/person/15173/gallery-cbca34d35329.jpg) Aki Kaurismäki — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Cannes Film Festival — 1 won

- 2002: Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix (won), for *The Man Without a Past*

### Berlin International Film Festival — 2 won

- 2017: Best Director (won), for *The Other Side of Hope*
- 2005: Berliner Kunstpreis (won)

### Other awards — 9 won, 19 nominated

- Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres 2026: Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres (won)
- European Film Award for Best Director 2023: European Film Award for Best Director (nominated), for *Fallen Leaves*
- European Film Award for Best Screenwriter 2023: European Film Award for Best Screenwriter (nominated), for *Fallen Leaves*
- European Film Award for Best Director 2017: European Film Award for Best Director (nominated), for *The Other Side of Hope*
- European Film Award for Best Film 2017: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *The Other Side of Hope*
- European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film 2017: European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film (nominated), for *The Other Side of Hope*
- European University Film Award 2017: European University Film Award (nominated), for *The Other Side of Hope*
- Carrosse d'or 2016: Carrosse d'or (won)
- César Award for Best Director 2012: César Award for Best Director (nominated), for *Le Havre*
- César Award for Best Film 2012: César Award for Best Film (nominated), for *Le Havre*
- David di Donatello for Best European Film 2012: David di Donatello for Best European Film (nominated), for *Le Havre*
- Annual award ACFK 2011: Annual award ACFK (won)
- European Film Award for Best Director 2011: European Film Award for Best Director (nominated), for *Le Havre*
- European Film Award for Best Film 2011: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *Le Havre*
- European Film Award for Best Screenwriter 2011: European Film Award for Best Screenwriter (nominated), for *Le Havre*
- Louis Delluc Prize 2011: Louis Delluc Prize (won), for *Le Havre*
- Leopard of Honour 2006: Leopard of Honour (won)
- César Award for Best Film from the European Union 2003: César Award for Best Film from the European Union (nominated), for *The Man Without a Past*
- European Film Award for Best Director 2002: European Film Award for Best Director (nominated), for *The Man Without a Past*
- European Film Award for Best Film 2002: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *The Man Without a Past*
- European Film Award for Best Screenwriter 2002: European Film Award for Best Screenwriter (nominated), for *The Man Without a Past*
- European Film Award - People's Choice Award for Best Director 2002: European Film Award - People's Choice Award for Best Director (nominated), for *The Man Without a Past*
- Nordic Council Film Prize 2002: Nordic Council Film Prize (won), for *The Man Without a Past*
- Knight of the Legion of Honour 2001: Knight of the Legion of Honour (won)
- Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland 1994: Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland (won)
- European Film Award for Best Film 1992: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *The Bohemian Life*
- FIPRESCI Prize at Berlinale 1992: FIPRESCI Prize at Berlinale (won), for *The Bohemian Life*
- European Film Award for Best Film 1990: European Film Award for Best Film (nominated), for *The Match Factory Girl*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/aki-kaurismaki