Photo: Elena Ringo / CC BY 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Public records list Aki Kaurismäki as a film director, film editor and actor. Aki Kaurismäki was born on April 4, 1957 in Orimattila, Päijät-Häme, Finland. That works out to 69 years old in 2026. Education on record includes University of Tampere. Listed accolades include Knight of the Legion of Honour (2001), Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland (1994), FIPRESCI Prize at Berlinale (1992) and 5 more.
My Take
Aki Kaurismäki is, to me, one of the most trustworthy storytellers in world cinema. I love his deadpan humor and the boundless tenderness he extends to society's downtrodden, from The Man Without a Past to Fallen Leaves. He says so much with so few words. Despite a Cannes Grand Prix, the Legion of Honour, and Locarno's Leopard of Honour, he never abandons his gaze fixed on ordinary, struggling people. Because he refuses to manufacture sentiment, his films linger. I keep returning to him precisely because he respects his characters and his audience in equal, unfashionable measure.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Aki Kaurismäki
- Name (Japanese)
- アキ・カウリスマキ
- Reading
- あき・かうりすまき
- Born
- April 4, 1957 (age 69)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Rooster
- Origin
- Orimattila, Päijät-Häme, Finland
- Occupation
- film director / film editor / actor / film producer / theatre director
2. Background
- University
- University of Tampere
Awards & achievements
- 2001 Knight of the Legion of Honour
- 1994 Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland
- 1992 FIPRESCI Prize at Berlinale
- 2002 Nordic Council Film Prize
- 2002 Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix
- 2005 Berliner Kunstpreis
- 2006 Leopard of Honour
- 2016 Carrosse d'or
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Aki Kaurismäki born?
Born April 4, 1957 (age 69).
Where is Aki Kaurismäki from?
Aki Kaurismäki is from Orimattila, Päijät-Häme, Finland.
What does Aki Kaurismäki do?
Aki Kaurismäki works as film director, film editor, actor, film producer, theatre director.
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