Photo: Sanna Anemaet
RESUME
19 July 2026
Name: Mari Soppela
Nationality: Finnish, Dutch
Occupation: Documentary filmmaker and producer
Education: MA, Middlesex University, London, UK
I am a Finnish-born artist and documentary filmmaker based in Amsterdam. My journey into visual storytelling began with studies in videography, computer graphics and interactive art.
Since the early 1990s, I have worked across moving image, interactive media and documentary film. This broad background enables me to work across all stages of documentary filmmaking, from writing and directing to cinematography, editing and producing. My work often grows out of personal experiences that open up broader social questions.
In 2006, I co-founded LPMA Productions, a media production company based in Finland. Since then, together with Leo Anemaet, we have produced four of my five feature documentaries. Working with a small international team, we value creative synergy and believe that making a film requires not many people, but the right imaginative ones.
FILMOGRAPHY
IT’S RAINING WOMEN (2022)
Documentary, 86 min
Writer, director, cinematographer, editor, producer
DocPoint, Helsinki | Hof International Film Festival, Hof | One World, Prague
Theatrical release in the Netherlands
Broadcast on Arte France, Arte Germany and Yle (Docventures)
MOTHER LAND (2021)
Documentary, 79 min
Writer, director, cinematographer, editor, producer
DocPoint, Helsinki | Pärnu Film Festival, Pärnu
Broadcast on Yle
WHO THE DEVIL CAN SEE IN THE DARK (2015)
Documentary, 70 min
Writer, director, editor, producer
DocPoint, Helsinki | Tampere Film Festival, Tampere
Broadcast on Yle
HOME RECORDINGS (2008)
Documentary, 75 min
Writer, director, producer
IDFA, Amsterdam | Visions du Réel, Nyon | Solothurn Film Festival, Solothurn
Broadcast on Yle
FAMILY FILES (2002)
Documentary, 72 min
Writer, director, editor, producer
Tampere Film Festival, Tampere | Nordisk Panorama, Malmö
Theatrical release in the Netherlands
Broadcast on SF Schweizer Fernsehen, Yle
CROSS-MEDIA WORKS (selection)
HEAVENLY PICNIQ (2025-)
Participatory performance
Flevopark, Amsterdam
Concept and realization in collaboration with Isabel Pérez and Nicholas Ferguson
HEIMOLA (2000)
Interactive installation
Concept and realization
DEAF_00, V2, Unstable Media, Rotterdam
FAMILY FILES CD-ROM (1998)
Interactive Super 8 family album
Concept and realization
Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki | Neuer Berliner Kunstverein, Video-Forum, Berlin
Microwave Festival, Hong Kong | Rotterdam International Film Festival, Rotterdam
DOORS OF PERCEPTION CD-ROM 1 (1994)
Interactive documentation of the Doors of Perception conference
Interface and interaction design, programming
The Netherlands Design Institute
Ars Electronica, Linz | Revue Virtuelle, Centre Pompidou, Paris | Videofest, Berlin
TRUTHTABLE (1993)
Interactive video installation
Concept and realization
Foro Artistico, Hannover | Paradiso, Amsterdam
LUMI (1992)
Hybrid video with 3D animation
Concept and realization
London Film Festival, London | Hong Kong International Film Festival, Hong Kong
STORY OF EYE (1990)
Video installation
Concept and realization in collaboration with Stella Barnes and Matti Ollikainen
Opening of Oulu Museum of Art, Oulu
JÄKÄLÄ (1989)
Video art
Concept and realization in collaboration with Stella Barnes
Kuopio International Video Festival, Kuopio
Broadcast on Yle
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
2022 IT’S RAINING WOMEN
Nomination for DocPoint Yle Award
2003 FAMILY FILES
Main Prize, Nordisk Panorama
2002 FAMILY FILES
Quality Grant, Ministry of Culture Finland
Main Prize, Tampere Film Festival
1999 FAMILY FILES CD-ROM
Nomination for International Award for Video, ZKM, Karlsruhe
1995 DOORS OF PERCEPTION CD-ROM
Meta Design Award, Digital World & Interactive Media Festival, Los Angeles
Design Excellence Distinction, ID Magazine, London
First Prize, New Voices, New Visions, Voyager Company and IDEO Design, New York
PUBLIC FUNDING
Finnish Film Foundation
Netherlands Film Fund
Icelandic Film Centre
Amsterdam Fund for the Arts
AVEK
The Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture