Summer 1962. Olli Mäki has a shot at the world championship title in featherweight boxing. From the Finnish countryside to the bright lights of Helsinki, the road to fame and fortune lies waiting for him. All Olli has to do is lose weight and concentrate. But there is a problem – he has fallen in love with Raija.

Jury motivation: Do you want to be a world champion or the champion of your own life?  On the surface, The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki is a period piece based on a character from real life, but at its heart is the age-old question of whether to choose love over glory. Director Juho Kuosmanen steers this drama – his feature film debut – with an assured hand. Its delicious, understated humour, combined with the nostalgic patina of Jani-Petteri Passi’s striking black-and-white cinematography, sets the stage for great performances all round.

Jury members: Jaana Puskala, Outi Heiskanen, Harri Römpötti

For full production notes and high res photos of director, producer and poster see Press kit. The information is available in the Nordic languages and English.