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What are you currently working on with?

"I'm working on a few TV series and a film script in various stages. One TV series is already well underway, while the others are still in the early stages. All stages are exciting, but I like the beginning best – that's when anything is still possible. Later on, there will be production and budget constraints, but at the beginning I can still dream freely.

My recently released works include the Atlantis Pasila TV series on YLE and the theater play Uuteen nousuun (A New Beginning) at Q-teatteri. It's rare for two works to be released at almost the same time, as they are always long processes. A screenwriter's work is often completed long before the premiere."

What has your career path been like?

“Before and during my studies, I worked as a freelance journalist. I graduated in 2016 with a Master of Arts degree from Aalto University, majoring in film and television screenwriting, and decided to quit my job as a journalist. It was a risk, but I thought I needed to free up time for screenwriting.

I was lucky because I graduated right at the height of the TV boom. There was a lot of production going on, and there was plenty of work for young creators too. Now the situation is completely different – the industry is in crisis and economic cuts are everywhere, so fewer productions are being made.

I got a job in the industry right after I graduated. I worked on a wide variety of productions and soon got to write my own TV series, Aikuiset (Adults). The series ran for three seasons and received a lot of attention. Its success has given me the freedom and opportunity to choose my own work.”

What kind of stories do you think we need right now?

“In times of crisis and uncertainty, people often become cautious, start limiting the kinds of stories they tell, and resort to familiar formulas and rehashed old stories. I think what we need right now is as many different new stories and perspectives as possible.

We need modern stories about this era, contemporary stories about Finland today. TV series and films create a picture of the times and cultural heritage. They tell us what it was like to be Finnish in the 2020s. When we depict the past, we can take a step back and view it with distance. We don't yet have perspective on this era, which is why it is particularly important to record it. You can't capture the spirit of the times in the same way afterwards.”

How do you see the future of screenwriting?

“I admit that the expansion of artificial intelligence worries me. I have devoted my life to writing, and the idea that it could easily be replaced is frightening.

However, I believe that even though the world is becoming more technological and certain jobs will change or disappear, we will still experience a renaissance in the performing arts. The need to meet other people and connect emotionally with stories, bodies and faces is in our human nature.

AI can certainly write many kinds of scripts, but it cannot do everything. At least not yet. In the Aikuiset and Atlantis Pasila tv-series, I focused on hyperlocality – language, phenomena and precise observations that are clearly identifiable in a specific time and place. AI can't do that. I think that when you depict even a small phenomenon authentically and accurately, it can also become a universal experience.

I wanted to make a series that you can't find on Netflix – to write a Finnish story that would feel as recognizable as possible to local people. I believe that today's viewers are smart enough to recognize authenticity.”

What is your message to current students?

"I would like to say that it is important to understand that the realities of the field are not dependent on you. Very few recent graduates get to write their own stories right away. That's why I encourage students not to be too picky at the beginning of their careers. For example, I did assistant tasks that would now be done by AI. They didn't directly develop my artistic skills, but they broadened my understanding of the field.

Networking and community spirit are important, and it is worth investing in them. This is a lonely profession, so it is important to have people around you with whom you can discuss and share ideas and get peer support.

I also encourage people to participate in association activities and advocacy work to promote common causes. This allows you to engage with issues in the field from a perspective other than your own. This is also a way to combat feelings of powerlessness. It is easier to remain optimistic when you realize that you can do something about things and that your actions matter. I prefer to take action rather than complain about problems.”

What does the Alum of the Year award mean to you?

"I am truly honored by this recognition. At first, I thought I had just graduated, but it has already been ten years.

I am very supportive of education and value learning. I have taught a lot at Aalto, and I consider it the best place in Finland to study this field. The importance of education is becoming increasingly apparent at a time when so many things and phenomena are seeking to undermine our culture and education. Critical thinking is now more necessary than ever."

The Alum of the Year award was awarded at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture's annual review 11 March, 2026 in Espoo.