Experiencing Interruptions?

SAARI

SAARI is a film about longing and letting go. The Finnish word "SAARI" means an island. The film is an experimental video collage, based on late childhood videos. Through these videos the work explores themes like safety, distance and connection through a subjective memory.

The intricacies of the desire to preserve a memory while also attempting to move forward from it serves as an inspiration to this film.

The original raw video was filmed in 2006 in Finland with Sony Camrecorder and re-photographed in 2016 in Canada. Part of this work has also been filmed with a Bolex film camera and Polaroid camera.

  • Elian Mikkola
    Director
  • Ella Mikkola
    Writer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    SAARI
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 1, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada, Finland
  • Language:
    Finnish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Living Skies Student Film Festival
    Regina
    Canada
    March 4, 2016
    Premiere
  • Flamingo Film Festival
    Florida
    United States
    April 30, 2016
    United States premiere
    Winner of Best Overall Film and Sound Design
  • AE Film Festival
    Minnesota
    United States
    June 2, 2016
    AE Creative Vision Award
  • Saskatchewan Independent Film Awards
    Regina
    Canada
    November 24, 2016
    Best Technical Achievement, Best Student Film
  • Montreal Underground Film Festival
    Montreal
    Canada
    May 19, 2016
  • The Festival du nouveau cinéma
    Montreal
    Canada
    October 5, 2016
  • TIFF’s Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    January 26, 2017
Director Biography - Elian Mikkola


Finnish Filmmaker currently based in Montreal. Holds an MFA in Film Production from University of Regina.

Mikkola's debut film SAARI (2016) was selected to TIFF's Canada's Top Ten Film Festival in 2017.

Mikkola's work explores the borders of technologies, age and belonging through a queer perspective.

Add Director Biography