About
DIRECTOR & WRITER
Sakari Lerkkanen is Finnish-born, London-based multi-award-winning director, who is
internationally known for his narrative films and advertising campaigns. With a diverse
portfolio that spans multiple genres, his works are often recognised for capturing a mix
of authentic emotions and iconic design with high-end audiovisual storytelling.
Narrative films of Lerkkanen have won Queen Palm Springs International Film Festival
Gold, two Silvers, ÉCU – European Independent Film Festival Paris Gold, the Venice
Biennale Best International Young Artist of the Year award by Le5Vencie and has also
received recognition at prestigious BAFTA and Academy Award-qualifying festivals
such as Aesthetica, Raindance and Tampere Film Festivals, among others. With a
passion for storytelling, many of his award-winning films are self-penned or created
in collaboration with other talented writers.
In commercials, Lerkkanen has worked on global TVCs and collaborated with the likes
of Sony, Bacardi, Elizabeth Arden, Revlon, Hendrick’s Gin, Petr Cech, Flashscore,
Virgin, Power and Cecilia Braekhus. His works have won prestigious accolades,
including Effie Grand Prix, Effie Gold, Finnish Music Video Awards Grand Prix and
1.4. London Six Best Creative Music Videos next to industry recognitions at ADC,
Golden Drum, Zlato Pecka, Cannes Lions YDA and EMEA Sabres awards, to name
just a few. Lerkkanen’s films have been handpicked and featured by prominent
publications such as Vice, MTV, Directors Note, Shots, David Reviews, Promonews,
Cinehub, Helsingin Sanomat, YLE, and more.
SELECTED AWARDS
EFFIE AWARDS, Grand Prix, Winner
EFFIE AWARDS, Public Safety Awarness, Gold, Winner
CANNES LIONS, Young Directors Awards, Shortlist
QUEEN PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Gold, Winner
QUEEN PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Silver, Winner, Best War Short Film
QUEEN PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Silver, Winner, Best VFX
ÉCU – EUROPEAN INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL PARIS, Gold, Winner
AESTHETICA FILM FESTIVAL (Bafta Qualifying), 2x Best Film Nomination
FINNISH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS, Grand Prix, Winner
IMVDB, Best of Internet Music Video Database, Staff Pick
ADC, Advertising Awards, Shortlist
EMEA SABRES, Advertising Awards, Shortlist
GOLDEN DRUM, Advertising Awards, Shortlist
TAMPERE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (Academy Awards Qualifying), Best Film Nomination
RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL (Academy Awards Qualifying), Official Selection
ZLATA PECKA, Czech Advertising Awards, Shortlist
KURZFILM FILM FESTIVAL, Hamburg (Bafta Qualifying), Official Selection
VOITTO, Finnish Advertising Film Awards, Shortlist
VUODEN HUIPUT, Finnish Advertising Awards, Shortlist
ONE POINT FOUR London, Six of The Best Creative Music Videos for All These Years
BEHANCE, Best of Behance Motion, 5x Staff Pick
CANNES SHORT FILM CORNER, Official Selection
CINEMA SCANDINAVIA, Magazine, Artist Spotlight
VENICE BIENNALE, Best International Young Artist of the Year by Le5Venice, Winner
SELECTED PRESS
CINEMA SCANDINAVIA – Interview with Sakari Lerkkanen
ONE POINT FOUR – Six of the best creative music videos ‘All These Years’
ADOBO MAGAZINE – Revlon commercial
ADS OF BRANDS – Revlon commercial
DAVID REVIEWS – Pink Ribbon commercial
SHOTS – Pink Ribbon commercial
THE MESSAGE CANADA – Pink Ribbon commercial
ADS OF THE WORLD – Pink Ribbon commercial
MARKKINOINTI UUTISET – Pink Ribbon commercial
CAMPAIGN MAGAZINE – Pink Ribbon commercial
MEDIAUUTISET – Pink Ribbon commercial
MARKETING & MEDIA – Flashscore commercial
ADS OF THE WORLD – Flashscore commercial
MEDIAGURU – Flashscore commercial
BEST ADS ON TV – Flashscore commercial
PR NEWSWIRE – Flashscore commercial
ANI NEWS – Flashscore commercial
MEDIAR – Flashscore commercial
EUROPA PRESS – Flashscore commercial
ADFORUM – ‘A matter of taste’ commercial
BEST ADS ON TV – ‘A matter of taste’ commercial
SHOTS – ‘Open your world’ commercial
VICE – ‘Sealight’ music video
DIRECTORS NOTE – ‘Sealight’ music video & interview
PROMONEWS – ‘Sealight’ music video
THE NEW CURRENT – ‘Sealight’ music video & interview
CLIPPED TV – ‘Sealight’ music video
DESIGN COLLECTOR – ‘Sealight’ music video
EVERYTHING IS NOISE – ‘Sealight’ music video
MUSIC PAPER – ‘Sealight’ music video
CULTURE NOW – ‘Sealight’ music video
MUSIC CITY – ‘Sealight’ music video
VIDEOTERAPIA – ‘Ihminen’ music video
SHOTS – ‘Ihminen’ music video
CINEHUB – ‘Ihminen’ music video
DESIGN COLLECTOR – ‘Ihminen’ music video
MOTION COLLECTOR – ‘Ihminen’ music video
DIRECT ACTU – ‘Ihminen’ music video
MARKETING & MEDIA – ‘They will miss you’ commercial
CZECH NEWS – ‘They will miss you’ commercial
MARKETING SALES – ‘They will miss you’ commercial
MEDIA HUB – ‘They will miss you’ commercial
MEDIAGURU – ‘Always with you’ commercial
SEZNAM ZPRAVY – ‘Always with you’ commercial
MEDIAR – ‘Always with you’ commercial
VIDEOTERAPIA – ‘High’ music video
VIDEO STATIC – ‘High’ music video
FUBIZ – ‘High’ music video
KREATIVTFORUM NORWAY – ‘Changing the Game’ commercial
KAMPANJE NORWAY – ‘Changing the Game’ commercial
PROMONEWS – ‘All These Years’ music video
DIRECTORS NOTE – ‘All These Years’ music video & interview
SONS & DAUGHTERS – ‘All These Years’ music video & interview
DIY MAGAZINE – ‘All These Years’ music video
rFM – ‘All These Years’ music video
HELSINGIN SANOMAT – ‘Lintu’ music video
MTV – ‘Lintu’ music video
DIRECTORS NOTE – ‘Lintu’ music video & interview
STAR MAGAZINE – ‘Lintu’ music video
SOUNDI – ‘Lintu’ music video
YLE – ‘Lintu’ music video & interview
YLE RADIO – Interview
VIDEO STATIC – ‘Lintu’ music video
YOUNG DIRECTORS AWARD HOT SPOT (Cannes) – Filmography
LOS ANGELES HM MAGAZIN – ‘Circles’ music video
MUSIC SERVER – ‘Procitam’ music video
ROCK & POP MAGAZINE – ‘Procitam’ music video
MONSTER MUSIC – ‘Procitam’ music video
FILM SHORTAGE – ‘Before the sun goes down’ short film
COLLABORATIONS
Sony, Bacardi, Hendrick’s Gin, Revlon, Virgin, Flashscore, Pink Ribbon, Elizabeth Arden,
Power, Petr Cech, Cecilia Braekhus, Petra Kvitova, Telia, Axe and Atria