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, Campari, 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’

BRANDING IN ASIA – Mitchum commercial

BEST EVER AD – Mitchum commercial

ADS OF THE WORLD – Mitchum commercial

DESIGN RUSH – Mitchum commercial

DAILY COMMERCIALS – Mitchum commercial

DAVID REVIEWS – Elizabeth Arden commercial

ADHUGGER – Elizabeth Arden commercial

BEST ADS ON TV – Elizabeth Arden commercial

DFNI FRONTIER – Elizabeth Arden commercial

THE MOODIE DAVITT REPORT – Elizabeth Arden commercial

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

 

Campari, Sony, Bacardi, Hendrick’s Gin, Revlon, Virgin, Flashscore, Pink Ribbon,

Elizabeth Arden, Power, Petr Cech, Cecilia Braekhus, Petra Kvitova, Telia, Axe and Atria