The Magic of the Wilderness

PETTERI SAARIO

Vanha Hämeenlinnantie 11 06100 Porvoo, Finland
Tel: +358 0400 705 524
Email: petteri.saario@wildfin.com http://www.wildfin.com

BIOGRAPHY

PRESENT POSITION

FILMOGRAPHY
Long documentary films

Petteri Saario (b. 1961) is a documentary maker, who has specialized to depict the endangered relationship between man and nature. Besides directing and producing he is also familiar with underwater and wildlife filming. Many of his films have been awarded both in Finland and abroad.

Before his present position he worked over ten years as a journalist of environmental affairs (for the Environmental News of YLE TV2 and the Environmental Information Service of YLE). In addition, he has worked in two nature conservation organizations (as an information officer and as a secretary general in the Finnish Nature League and as a campaign manager in the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation).

Taiga Films Ltd: manager, producer, director (1996-) DocArt: manager, producer, director (2002-)

Jeanne d’Arc of Sodankylä (Sodankylän Jeanne d’Arc)
A documentary about a determined young girl in Finnish Lappland who commences a battle against one of the word’s largest mining companies.
58/90min. HDCam & RED Epic, DocArt with YLE Co-Productions, ready 2016

Arctic Desert (Autiomaa)
An aging geologist in an Arctic wasteland, armed with a rifle against marauding polar bears, looks for hidden evidence of climate change history. He ponders the motives that have brought him there and shaped his life as a scientist and a man.
76 min. Kinovid Production 2011

The Beckhams of Utsjoki (Utsjoen Beckhamit)
A documentary about the life of Saami people in Finnish Lapland 73 min, HDCAM, DocArt Production for YLE and NDR. 2010

Sergei the Healer (Sergei Verenseisauttaja)
A documentary about the life in a small Russian Karelian village
103 min., S16 mm, Taiga Films production, co-produced by YLE Co-Productions and NDR, 2008

The Nature of Finland (Kansanluonto)
A documentary film about the Finnish nature and the nature of the Finns during the period of the independency.
57 min, S16 mm, HDCAM, Digital Beta, DocArt Production, 2007

The Sisu Stone (Sisukivi)
A documentary about the year-round survival of a family living on Husö, a small outer island in the Åland Archipelago
63 min., Tekstivirta Production Company, YLE Teema, NDR, 2004

Sven Quijote

A documentary about the disappearing farming culture on Gotland island

88’30’’/ 58’41’’/ 43’35’’, DocArt production, co-produced with NDR and YLE Teema, 2006

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Documentary series

When the Cod Ran Out (Finnish Title: Kalavale; German Title: Die Fischer von Bornholm) A documentary film about the bankrupt of the fishery lifestyle
58 min., DocArt production co-produced with NDR and YLE Teema, 2004

Village of the Sleeping Beauty (Minne hepo sinne reki)
A documentary film about self-sufficient way of living in Russian Karelia 53 min., Taiga Films Ltd in co-production with YLE TV1 and NDR, 2001

Wild Wild Canary –The Last Whistle of the Guanche (Guanchen viimeinen vihellys)
A documentary film about the unique nature of the Canary Islands and the impact of mass tourism on it
53’51’’, Tekstivirta Production Company and YLE TV1, 2000

Six Hundred kilos of Worms (Kuusi tuhatta kiloa kastematoja) A documentary film about an organic farmer, a cow and a crane 60 min., Tekstivirta Production Company & YLE TV2, 1996

The Magic of the Wilderness (Erämaan lumo)
A six part documentary series about the wilderness areas of Finland, their nature and immaterial natural values.
6 x 30 min. HDCam, DocArt Production for YLE TV1. 2015

Enclosed by Water (Veden saartamat)
A six part documentary series about the life on the most beautiful Finnish islands. 6 x 30 min. HDCam, DocArt Production for YLE TV1. 2013

Lakes of Finland (Järviemme helmet)
Documentary series about the finest lakes in Finland
6 x 30 min. HDCam, DocArt Production for YLE TV2. 2012

Frontier Life (Rajankäyntiä)
A six part documentary series about the border between Finland and Russia
6 x 30 min., S16 mm, HDCAM, Digital Beta, DocArt production for YLE TV2, 2009

The Finest Rivers of Finland (Jokiemme helmet) A six part documentary series about Finnish rivers. 6 x 30 min., DocArt production for YLE TV2, 2006

Pearls of the Baltic Sea (Itämeren helmet)
A six part documentary series about the exceptional wildlife of the Baltic Sea islands and the historical change of the everyday life of the islanders
6 x 45 min., Tekstivirta Production Company, YLE TV2, 2004

TV-documentaries
Teema, 2002

Call from Usambara (Kutsu Usambarasta)
A documentary film about one of the most valuable tropical forests in the world
30 min., Tekstivirta Production Company, The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, YLE TV2, YLE-

How Green is Your Banana? (Halvan herkun kallis tie)
A documentary film about the dark side of banana production in Costa Rica 43’03’’, Tekstivirta Production Company, YLE TV2, Finnida, 1997

The Whitebacked Gentleman (Valkoselkäinen gentleman)
A documentary film on the life and protection of the rarest forest bird in Finland, the whitebacked woodpecker
41’01’’ min., Taiga Films Ltd & YLE TV2, 1997, with Juha Taskinen

2

Short Films

Nature Wonderland

Aatelisluostarin aamusoitto

A documentary film about Konevitsa Island, Ladoka Lake and a monastery

30 min., Tekstivirta Production Company & YLE TV1, 1996

Beef

A documentary film about beef business

International co-production (YLE and George Weiss Filmproduktion), Shootings in Finland, 1996

The Traitors (Isänmaanpetturit)
A documentary film about the environmental movement, media, forestry and international network
30 min., Diart & YLE TV2, 1995, with Ismo Tuormaa and Kari Rissa

French Heels (Ranskalaiset korot)
A documentary film about the author and intellectual Jussi Kylätasku 30 min., YLE TV1, 1995, with Pertti Rönkkö

Kuumat paikat

A documentary film about the future’s advanced energy resources

30 min., Diart & YLE TV2, 1995

Yhden hevosvoiman monitoimikone

A documentary film about an old-time lumberjack and a Finnish horse

26 min., Tekstivirta Production Company & YLE TV2, 1994, with Ismo Tuormaa

Short film about the Finnish National Parks

DocArt, Metsähallitus, 2015

Kingdom of Four Seasons

Short Film about Oulanka and Paanajärvi National Parks

DocArt, Metsähallitus, 2014

Ice Canyon 1-3
The Stream of Life 1-5
Short films for the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia DocArt, Metsähallitus, 2013
Käsikirjoittaja, ohjaaja, kuvaaja, leikkaaja, tuottaja

The Myth

Trailer for the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia (www.haltia.com/vieraile-haltiassa/nayttelyt/) DocArt, Metsähallitus 2013

Visit Finland

Short films for the Official Travel Site of Finland: Lapland – The North of Finland, Lakeland and Coastal Areas and Archipelago

The Official Travel Guide of Finland

DocArt, Finnish Tourist Board, SEK&Grey, 2012

Child of the Ice Age

Short film about the Archipelago National Park DocArt, Metsähallitus, 2004

The Incredible Baltic Sea

Short film for children

DocArt, Metsähallitus, 2004

Metsähallitus at Sea

Short film about the marine nature conservation work of Metsähallitus

Tuotantoyhtiö DocArt, Metsähallitus, 2004

Place in the Sun

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Music Videos Magazine Programs

Other Artistic Film Work

Meri mieltäni ajaa

AWARDS, MERITS, FESTIVALS

A cross art work blending cinema and live music, produced for the celebrations of Finland’s 90th year of indepencence.
DocArt, YLE, Sitra, Finnish Ministry of Environment, SYKE, MMM, OPM. 2007

Wildlife Vaasa Nature Film Festival 2014. Best Finnish Nature Film for Enclosed by Water

Heritage of Water –short film screened at Frankfurt Book Fair 2014
Matsalu Nature Film Festival 2014, 1st Prize for the Best Photography for Enclosed

A film about solar energy in different countries

Tekstivirta Production Company, NAPS, 1997

Trio Suo’s music video. 2010

Noah’s Arc (Nooan Arkki)
Wildlife program series about the Finnish nature
18 X 30 min, Tekstivirta Production Company, YLE TV2, 2002-2005

Pinnan alta

6 programs about the underwater life in Finland, 6 x 30 min.

Tekstivirta & YLE TV2, 1996

Heritage of Water

Stage work blending cinema, live contemporary dance and live folk music

2013

Nature of Finland Cinema Concert

by Water

Porvoo Art Association. Cultural Achievement of the Year 2013
Wildlife Vaasa Nature Film Festival 2012, 2. prize in the category of Finnish nature films

for Lakes of Finland.
Green Vision Festival 2011, St. Petersburg. Best film in the Baltic Region for Frontier

Life, Episode 1, Oil on the waves

Matsalu Nature Film Festival 2010, Estonia. Frontier Life, Episode 1, Oil on the waves: – Grand Prix
– Special Prize of the Estonian Greens
– Special Prize of the Estonian WWF

– Special Prize of the Haapsalu Town
Wildlife Vaasa Nature Film Festival 2010. Best Nordic and Finnish Nature Film for

Frontier Life, Episode 4: Hidden Paradise of Russian Karelia

International Wildlife Film Festival (IWFF) 2010, Missoula, USA. Merit Award to Frontier Life, Episode 4: Hidden Paradise of Russian Karelia

YLE TV2: Partner of the Year 2009 –award
Moscow International Film Festival 2009. Sergei the Healer selected to the Free Thought

Documentary Program
The Silver Horn Award at Krakow Film Festival 2009 for Sergei the Healer

The World of Knowledge, IV International Film Festival of Popular Science Films, St.Petersburg 2009. The Nature of Finland won the Special Jury Prize and diploma for the best camera work

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Festival de Cine Ecologico y de la Naturaleza de Canarias, Spain, May 2009. Sergei the Healer in the competition category

Dialektus Festival, March 2009, Budapest. Sergei the Healer was selected to the final competition in the category of Human Stories

DocPoint 2009, Helsinki. Sergei the Healer was selected to the category of New Finnish Docmentary Films

Prix Europa 2008, Berlin. Sergei the Healer was selected to the final competition in the category of the Best TV-documentary

Merit Award for Beauty and Humanism at XII International Environmental Film Festival Green Vision 2008 in St. Petersburg for the Nature of Finland

The Porvoo Citizen of the Year 2008, awarded by Porvoon Nuorkauppakamari, the Junior Chamber International Porvoo

Highly Commended at Matsalu International Wildlife Film Festival in 2007 for The Finest Rivers of Finland, Episode 2 – Oulanka

The Culture Prize of Porvoo Town in 2006
The Best Film Made by Environmental Friendly Company at Wildlife Vaasa Terranova Nature

Film Festival in 2006 for Metsähallitus at Sea
Second Prize in the Category of the Best Finnish Film at Wildlife Vaasa Terranova Nature Film

Festival in 2006 for Pearls of the Baltic Sea, Episode 1 – Åland
Merit Award for Original Storytelling at the International Wildlife Film Festival (IWFF) in

Missoula, Montana in 2006 for the Sisu Stone
1st Prize in Category “Man and Nature” in Matsalu Wildlife Film Festival in 2005 for Pearls of the

Baltic Sea, Episode 5 – Hailuoto

Honourable Mention of Koura Foundation for the best television programs broadcast in Finland in 2004 for the Pearls of the Baltic Sea –documentary series

Jury’s Special Award in Terranova Nature Film Festival in Vaasa in 2004 for the Sisu Stone 3rd Prize for the Sisu Stone in Vera film festival in Mariehamn, Finland, in 2004.

Grand Prize at the biggest nature film festival in Asia, the Japan Wildlife Festival in 2003 for Village of the Sleeping Beauty

Prix Europa festival in Berlin 2002: Village of the Sleeping Beauty
was selected to the final competition and it was ranked to the Top5 list of European tv- documentaries

Honourable Mention in the category of documentaries in Barents TV Festival in 2002 for Village of the Sleeping Beauty

Pärnu VISU Prize in the 16th International Documentary and Anthropology Film Festival in Estonia in 2002 for Village of the Sleeping Beauty

Special Prize of the Jury in Wildlife Europe Film Festival in Sundsvall in 2001 for Village of the Sleeping Beauty

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Best Environmental Documentary for Wild Wild Canary – The Last Whistle of the Guanche in EcoTourIndFilm Festival in Romania in 2001

Best Documentary Film by SIYAD (Cinema Critics Associations) for Wild Wild Canary – The Last Whistle of the Guanche in 5th International Environmental Film Festival in Istanbul in 2001

The Finnish Prize of The Henry Ford European Conservation Awards in 1997 for the Whitebacked Gentleman –documentary

The Finlandia Prize of Environmental Merit (Ympäristö-Finlandia) in 1993 for Environmental News