Father Jacob Triumphs At Jussi Awards

Klaus Härö's Letters to Father Jacob produced by Kinotar, with support from Nordisk Film & TV Fond, scooped the top awards for Best Film, Director and Actor, plus Best Music at the annual Finnish film awards ceremony held in Helsinki last Sunday.

Letters to Father Jacob was equalled in wins by the 2009 Finnish box office hit Hellsinki by Aleksi Mäkelä that naturally won the Audience award, on top of Best Actor in a supporting role, Editing and Set Design.

Two first time directors scoped two Jussi each: Zaida Bergroth winner of Best Script and Sound design for Last Cowboy Standing, and Jukka-Pekka Valkeapää, recipient of Best Cinematography and Editing for The Visitor. The Best Actress award went to Minna Haapkylä for her role as a Russian spy in Jörn Donner's The Interrogation, while Amanda Pilke was awarded for her performance as a Supporting Actress in Dome Karukoski's Forbidden Fruit.

Nine of 14 awards went to projects supported by Nordisk Film & TV Fond.

Full list of Jussi awards:
Best Film
Letters to Father Jacob (Postia pappi Jaakobille) produced by Lasse Saarinen & Rimbo Salomaa

Best Direction
Klaus Härö, Letters to Father Jacob (Postia pappi Jaakobille)

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Heikki Nousiainen, Letters to Father Jacob (Postia pappi Jaakobille)

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Minna Haapkylä, The Interrogation (Kuulustelu)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Peter Franzén, Hellsinki (Rööperi)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Amanda Pilke, Forbidden Fruit (Kielletty hedelmä)

Best Script
Antti Raivio, Jan Forsström, Zaida Bergroth, Last Cowboy Standing (Skavabölen pojat)

Best Cinematography
Tuomo Hutri, The Visitor (Muukalainen)

Best Music
Dani Strömbäck, Letters to Father Jacob (Postia pappi Jaakobille)

Best Sound Design
Janne Laine, Last Cowboy Standing (Skavabölen pojat)

Best Editing
Mervi Junkkonen, The Visitor (Muukalainen)

Best Set Design
Pirjo Rossi, Hellsinki (Rööperi)

Best Costume Design
Tiina Kaukanen, Hellsinki (Rööperi)

Best Documentary
The Living Room of the Nation (Kansakunnan olohuone) by Jukka Kärkkäinen

Jussi for lifetime achievement
Actor Lasse Pöysti

Audience Award
Hellsinki (Rööperi) by Aleksi Mäkelä