Aki Kaurismaki swept all but a few of the local Finnish film Jussi awards on Sunday night in Helsinki.

The Man Without A Past picked up Best Film, Best Direction and Best Script all for Kaurismaki himself, as well as Best Actress for Kati Outinen, Best Cinematography for Timo Salminen and Best Editing for Timo Linnasalo.

Kaurismaki, who has had his commercial breakthrough with his new film which has become his most successful ever at the local box-office, has won a number of Jussi-awards over his almost 20 years as a filmmaker including best film three times as well as best director four times.

Matti Ijäs' Blue Corner picked up two awards: Best Actor for Sulevi Peltola and Best Supporting Actress for Jaana Järvinen as well as Best Music by Eero Ojanen. Kaisa Rastimo's popular children's film Hayflower & Quiltshoe had to do with awards for best Art and Costume design.

The Jussi awards, which are the only prizes for local Finnish films, are given out by the film organisation Filmiaura. It was founded by film critics back in 1944 but today its members include film professionals and number some 250.