Suvi West is a multiple award winning and critically acclaimed Indigenous Sámi film director and screenwriter currently based in the Arctic, Northern Finland. She has been directing and screenwriting films since 2005. Suvi´s films have been screened in the film festivals around the world and on European TV channels. Her latest film, feature documentary Máhccan –Homecoming (premiered in Toronto film festival in 2023) received many nominations and won awards such as the best documentary film and Nordisk Film prize in Finnish Jussi gala in 2024. In 2023 the Association of Finnish Film Directors chose Suvi as a Director of the Year. She was also granted with Indigenous film festival Skábmagovat lifetime achievement award. Beside the film directing West is known from starring and showrunning TV comedy series Wet Reindeer Fur Leggings (2011-2012). Suvi is Master of Arts graduated from ELO Film School, Aalto University Helsinki and the member of European Film Academy.
Suvi West
Director
Screenwriter
2023 Máhccan –Homecoming, feature documentary, director/writer, Vaski Filmi Ltd.
2021 Eatnameamet – Our Silent Struggle, feature documentary, director/writer, Vaski Filmi Ltd.
2019, The Killing of Čáhcerávga, Experimental film for Finnish pavilion in Venice Biennale, director/screenwriter in Miracle Maker´s collective, Frame Contemporary Art Finland
Finnish (native)
Northern Sámi (native)
English
Interests:
I grew up in a small Indigenous Sámi society and I have been surrounded by master storytellers my whole life. Since the childhood, the storytelling has always been my way to communicate with a world.
My professional background is both in societal documentaries and in TV-comedy. At the moment I want to focus more on artistic and fictional audiovisual stories as a director/screenwriter.
Currently I´m developing a feature fiction film and a depute novel that will be published in May 2025. The genre of both of these stories is surrealism combined with black comedy and societal issues. This genre is the most natural way for me to tell stories. I´m drawn into a quirky, magical, sexual, spiritual yet realistic realities. Themes that I love are sexuality, womanhood, love, inclusivity and decolonial healing. Because of my background, nature and spirituality have often strong and natural role in my storytelling.
I´m looking for universal stories, inspiring creative teams to join in, new challenges and new stories to fall in love with.
Filmography:
2023 Máhccan –Homecoming, feature documentary
2022 Sámi AssimiNation, online documentary series
2021 Eatnameamet – Our Silent Struggle, feature documentary
2019 The Killing of Čáhcerávga, experimental short film
2017 Under Two Skies, short film
2015 Me and My Little Sister, feature fiction
2009 Sister Eija: Caring for People, short documentary
2008 Little Sister, short documentary
2007 Sámi Children Sing and Play, children´s music and play collection
2007 Where Are You, Grandpa?, short documentary
2006 The Edge of Life, short documentary
2005 The Hardest of These is Love, short film
2004 The Greatest of These is Love, short documentary
Achievements:
2024 Best Nordic Documentary –nomination, Nordisk Panorama (Máhccan- Homecoming)
2024 Nordisk Film –award, Jussi-gala, Finland (Máhccan- Homecoming)
2024 Jussi-award for the best documentary film, (Máhccan- Homecoming)
2024 Special mention in the best Nordic documentary competition, Gothenburg
film festival (Máhccan- Homecoming)
2024 Skábmagovat Lifetime Achievement Award, The Indigenous Peoples film festival Skábmagovat, Inari
2023 Director of the Year –award, Association of Finnish Film Directors (Máhccan- Homecoming)
2022 State award for Public Information, Finland (Eatnameamet -Our Silent Struggle)
2022 Pro Feminism Award, The Left Women in Finland
2021 Best documentary, Nuuk International Film Festival (Eatnameamet -Our Silent Struggle)
2021 Best Nordic Documentary –nomination, Nordisk Panorama (Eatnameamet -Our Silent Struggle)
2021 Audience Award, Tampere International Film Festival (Eatnameamet -Our Silent Struggle)
2021 Church Media Fund Award, Tampere International Film Festival (Eatnameamet -Our Silent Struggle)
2017 State Quality Prize, Finland (Me and My Little Sister)
2016 Audience Award, Docpoint Film Festival (Me and My Little Sister)
2012 Best Comedy – nomination, Golden Venla (Wet Reindeer Fur Leggings)
2010 Audience Award, Arktista Vimmaa Film Festival (Sister Eija: Caring for People
