Born in Orimattila in Finland on 21.9.1955, he studied at the Munich College of Television and Film from 1977-81 and made a name for himself with ironic gangster films such as "Rosso" (1985) and "Helsinki Napoli" (1987). He co-founded the Midnight Sun Film Festival in Sodankylä, Sápmi in 1986 and moved to Brazil in 1992. Since making his punk documentary, "Saimaa-Ilmiö" (1981) his films have often portrayed Afro-American musicians, most recently Billy Cobham of the band "Sonic Mirror".

Source: 61. Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin (Catalogue)