News

Laureate of the Underground Spirit Award is Mika Taanila

19.06.2024.

This year's laureate of the Underground Spirit Award is Mika Taanila, a film director and visual artist from Helsinki. His projects often explore the interaction between man and machine. Taanila's experimental films have been screened at international film festivals and special events such as Berlinale, TIFF Toronto, IFFR Rotterdam, CPH, Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Midnight Sun Film Festival, IDFA Amsterdam and Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen.

Regarding the award that he will be presented with at the European Film Festival Palić, Mika Taanila said: "I am happy to have received the news about the Underground Spirit Award at the 31st European Film Festival Palić. For me, the word underground represents a specific mental state, which essentially correlates with adventure, curiosity and a happy free style. This applies to all forms of art, be it music, visual arts, literature or film. I am deeply honored to be the one to receive this treasured award this time. Your short focus on my film works is very emotional for me. Thank you very much!"

Mika Taanila's audio-visual installations and collage works have been exhibited in many solo and group exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale (2017), Aichi Triennale (2013), Kassel Documenta (2012), Shanghai Biennale (2006), Berlin Biennale (2004) and Manifesta 4 in Frankfurt (2002). He has had solo exhibitions at Padiglione de l'Esprit Nouveau in Bologna (2020), Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma in Helsinki (2013–14), the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (2013), TENT, Rotterdam (2013), Badischer Kunstverein, Karlsruhe (2008), Dazibao, Montreal (2007) and Migrosmuseum, Zurich (2005).

Taanila is one of the founders of the film production company Testifilmi, which is run by artists.

photo by Sibylle Meier, copyright by Filmpodium Zurich