Teenage outcast drama wins four Jussi awards including best film.

They Have Escaped

J-P Valkeapää’s They Have Escaped (He ovat paenneet) snapped up four prizes at the annual Jussi gala in Helsinki last night (Feb 1). The ceremony is hosted by the Filmiaura Association of Finnish Film Professionals and celebrates Finnish cinema.

Valkeapää’s depiction of two teenage outcasts who leave a custody centre for a cross-country ramble won Best Feature, Best Director, Best Editing and Best Sound Design. The film debuted last year at the Venice Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival.

Antti Heikki’s Headfirst received two Jussis (from five nominations) as did Virpi Suutari’s documentary Garden Lovers (Eedenistä pohjoiseen).

Dome Karukoski’s The Grump (Mielensäpahoittaja) – last year’s local blockbuster, recording 458,637 admissions – garnered Antti Litja the Best Actor award and an Honorary Concrete Jussi.

FINNISH JUSSI WINNERS 2015

Best Film: They Have Escaped (He ovat paenneet). Prod: Aleksi Bardy

Best Director: J-P Valkeapää, for They Have Escaped

Best Actress: Anu Sinisalo, for No Thank You (Ei kiitos). Dir: Samuli Valkama

Best Actor: Antti Litja, for The Grump (Mielensäpahoittaja). Dir: Dome Karukoski

Best Actress: Mimosa Willamo, for Headfirst (Päin seinää)

Best Supporting Actor: Petri Manninen, for Korso. Dir: Akseli Tuomivaara

Best Screenplay: Antti Heikki Pesonen, for Headfirst. Dir: Antti Heikki

Best Cinematography: Peter Flinckenberg, for Pixadores (Tuulensieppaajat). Dir: Amir Arsames Escandari

Best Musical Score: Sanna Salmenkallio, for Garden Lovers (Eedenistä pohjoiseen). Dir: Virpi Suutari.

Best Sound Design: Micke Nyström, for They Have Escaped

Best Editing: Mervi Junkkonen, for They Have Escaped

Best Set Design: Markku Pätilä, for The Surrealist and His Naughty Hand (Palsa). Dir: Pekka Lehto

Best Costume Design: Auli Turtiainen, for Jill and Joy (Onneli ja Anneli). Dir: Saara Cantell

Best Make-Up: Jessica Simonsson, for Raspberry Boat Refugee (Vadelmavenepakolainen). Dir: Leif Lindblom

Best Documentary: Garden Lovers

Honorary Concrete Jussi: Actor Antti Litja

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