Einari Paakkanen

Director, Writer, Editor

January 16, 1980 (46 years)
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.

Known For

  • Princess
    Princess2010
  • Karaoke Paradise
    Karaoke Paradise2022
  • My Father from Sirius
    My Father from Sirius2016
  • Dirty Bomb
    Dirty Bomb2011

Filmography

2016
My Father from Sirius · as Himself
1997
Ylen aamu · as Self

2011
Dirty Bomb · as Location Manager
2010
Princess · as Location Manager
2010
Gimme Some Respect · as Location Manager
2008
The Finest and the Greatest · as Assistant Editor
2007
Black Ice · as Assistant Editor