Finland’s public broadcaster YLE has appointed writer/director Jarmo Lampela (pictured) as its new Head of Drama. He replaces Tuire Lindström, now working as Head of International Co-productions and Partnerships at YLE. Lampela will take on his new job on May 1st, 2015 and will report to Ville Vilén, Director of YLE Creative Content.
Lampela (50) currently works as Professor of Film Directing and Head of the Department of Film, Television and Scenography at Aalto University, Helsinki. He has worked as scriptwriter and directed numerous productions for cinema, television and theatre since 1992 and received multiple awards for his films The River (2001) and Eila (2003). His recent mini- series for YLE Ihan Sama (Whatever) was nominated for Best Children and Youth Programme at the 2015 national Venla TV awards.
As new Head of Drama, Lampela will be responsible for in-house drama development and production for television and radio. He will also oversee external TV dramas.
“YLE has a unique, national purpose and opportunity to create and produce Finnish drama. In my new position, I particularly want to promote international co-productions. Another important goal is to offer opportunities to new, young professionals. Drama has an established audience, and I believe it will also find new followers online and through new types of media,” said Lampela.
Ville Vilén also said: “Jarmo Lampela is an experienced content professional and a skilful leader for YLE Drama, an increasingly international department. He will enable us to develop our field in cooperation with production companies and with educational institutions in particular.”
YLE’s recent in-house dramas include the six part crime series Tellus sold jointly by ZDF Enterprises and YLE Sales. The ten part hospital series Nurses directed by Joona Tena and Aleksi Mäkelä for Yellow Film & TV aired on YLE TV2 last autumn.