the team
Laura Birn as IRIA
Laura Birn is an award-winning Finnish film and theatre actress who has starred in roles in historical dramas, lighthearted comedies, and thought-provoking art-house films with equal finesse. In 2013, Laura won The Finnish Film Academy Award for her role as Aliide in the film Purge. Purge was also Finland’s entry for the Oscars and won Laura a nomination for Best Leading Actress at The Satellite Awards of the International Press Academy in Los Angeles. Some of her latest work includes The Crow by Rupert Sanders, Helene by Antti Jokinen, Void by Aleksi Salmenperä, A Walk Among the Tombstones by Scott Frank, The Ones Below by David Farr, as well as the Netflix series The Innocents, and AppleTV’s Foundation.
Marita Hällfors – CINEMATOGRAPHER
Marita Hällfors is a Finnish cinematographer who has filmed over 60 documentary films and nine full length fiction films over the last 30 years. Many have won awards at international film festivals, such as the documentaries Karaoke Paradise (2022), Dance of Outlaws (2012), Winter Reise (2007), Father to Son (2004), Kusum (2000), as well as the narrative films Stars Above (2012) and Jill and Joy’s Winter (2015). In 2003, Marita won the special prize in cinematography for the documentary Face to Death at Tampere International Film festival, and in 2004 the cinematography for the film Brothers brought her the Golden Bowl at Shanghai International Film Festival. In 2010, together with director Saara Cantell, she was awarded the State Art Prize for the fiction film Heartbeat. In 2019, the DocPoint Film Festival presented her with the Apollo Award for her career as a cinematographer.
Vanessa Chartrand – COMPOSER
Vanessa Chartrand is a Berlin-based Canadian composer and conductor who has received recognition for her works both on stage and on screen. Her latest soundtrack for the short film A Body Like Mine received many awards, including Best German Documentary at DOC.Berlin and Best LGBTQ+ Film at Boston Short Film Festival and Ghent Viewpoint Documentary Film Festival. Vanessa’s rich background as a classical singer and viola da gamba player uniquely colors her work, creating new original soundscapes each time. Her new orchestral composition Human Talking will be premiered by award winning ensemble Tafelmusik in Toronto, Canada next season.
Janna Kyllästinen – DIRECTOR
Janna is a documentary filmmaker living and working in New York City originally from Finland. In her films, she examines stories at the intersections of art, myth and memory, imbuing her experimental works with a distinct sensitivity for the abstract and metaphysical. Her works have screened at film festivals around the world, and published on platforms such as The Criterion Collection and The New York Times’ Women In The World, among others. She holds a master’s degree in political history from the University of Helsinki. IRIA is her first feature documentary.
Kati Aho – CREATIVE PRODUCER
Kati Aho is a creative industry executive director and producer, originally from Finland. With nearly two decades of experience in the fashion, media, arts and advertising sectors, she has led creative teams and worked on numerous campaigns for clients such as Chanel, Missoni, Valentino, Supreme, and Stella McCartney in her role at Theo Wenner Studio, and worked with companies such as Marimekko and Tiina the Store. Her portfolio reflects a passion for storytelling and a profound understanding of the intersection between artistry and commerce.
Daniel Salemi – CINEMATOGRAPHER AND ARCHIVIST
Daniel Salemi is a photographer based in New York and Helsinki whose work investigates art, design, architecture and the built environment. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Architectural Digest, Dwell, and others. On the IRIA film, Daniel is working as cinematographer and archivist, sifting through the vast amount of negatives and slides Iria left behind.