Jenni Toivoniemi – Award-Winning Filmmaker, Writer & Master Storyteller

Jenni Toivoniemi is an acclaimed, award-winning filmmaker, screenwriter, and storyteller, known for her sharp wit, emotional depth, and remarkable versatility across genres and formats.

Her feature directorial debut, Games People Play (2020), premiered in Gothenburg Film Festival’s main competition and, despite the challenges of a pandemic release, gained international recognition, winning multiple awards and securing two Finnish National Film Awards (Jussi Awards) for Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor. Her sophomore feature, The Butterflies, written by Anna Brotkin, premiered in September 2024, further solidifying her reputation as a director with a keen eye for human relationships and complex emotions.

Toivoniemi’s skill in short-form storytelling is equally impressive. Her award-winning short The Date (2012) won the International Short Fiction Jury Award at Sundance and received a Special Mention at Berlinale Generation 14+. She co-wrote and co-directed The Committee (2016) with Gunhild Enger, which premiered at Locarno Film Festival and garnered multiple awards. Additionally, she was one of the writer-directors behind the groundbreaking film project Force of Habit (2019), an anthology feature composed of 11 short films, which earned several Jussi Award nominations.

Beyond film, Toivoniemi’s versatility extends into television, theatre, radio, and literature. She has co-written *two seasons of the acclaimed comedy series Carpe Fcking Diem (2020–)**, penned two feature films, two plays, multiple radio plays, and a novel.

With a career marked by bold storytelling, genre-fluid creativity, and a talent for crafting compelling narratives, Jenni Toivoniemi continues to push boundaries, captivating audiences across mediums.