Experiencing Interruptions?

Snowball Effect

SNOWBALL EFFECT thrusts you into one of the most electrifying political scandals, with implications that resonate far beyond Finland. This groundbreaking documentary has not only captivated audiences but also reignited judicial investigations, compelling prosecutors to present new evidence to the Supreme Court.

Snowball Effect intricately maps out the convoluted events within a small community. It delves into the compelling story of how the election of a bold, young feminist mayor triggered a chain reaction of events that highlight the fragility and resilience of democratic systems everywhere.

Dive into this spellbinding narrative that unravels the mysteries behind the infamous 'snowball effect,' offering a powerful commentary on democracy and its impact on any society.

  • Pauliina Punkki
    Director
    Fengshui
  • Pauliina Punkki
    Writer
    Fengshui
  • Pauliina Punkki
    Producer
  • Kaisa Astikainen
    Producer
    Toivola (Heart of the land)
  • Theofanis Kavvadas
    Cinematographer
  • Salla Luhtala
    Composer
    Condictivity
  • Kirsi Korhonen
    Sound Design
  • Pauliina Punkki
    Film editing
    Who Will Be A Gurkha, The Italian Key, Within limits, Hearbeats, Y in Vyborg
  • Markus Leppälä
    Film editing
    Eatnameamet
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Lumipalloefekti
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 30 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 19, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    320,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Finland
  • Country of Filming:
    Finland
  • Language:
    Finnish
  • Shooting Format:
    HD, UHD, Arri Amira
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Helsinki International FIlm Festival Love & Anarchy
    Helsinki
    Finland
    Finnish Festival Premiere
  • Jussi Awards (Finland's Oscars)

    Finland
    Best Documentary Nominee 2024
  • Midnight Film Festival
    Sodankylä
    Finland
    June 12, 2024
    Official selection
Distribution Information
  • Ida Productions
    Distributor
    Country: Finland
    Rights: All Rights
  • PEK, Pirkanmaan elokuvakeskus ry
    Distributor
    Country: Finland
    Rights: Theatrical
Director Biography - Pauliina Punkki

Pauliina Punkki is a Lapland born producer, writer, director and film editor. She has a Master of Arts degree in film from the University of Art and Design, Helsinki. Her resume from 20 years in film and television as director and film editor includes several award-winning shorts, feature films, documentaries and tv-series.

Punkki is an alumni of Berlinale Talents, Berlinale Visitors program as well as IDFAcademy and Womarts programs among others. Snowball Effect is Pauliina Punkki’s first feature as director and producer and 6th feature length film as Film editor. Punkki is a board member of Finnish Cinema Editors. Last three years she was also board member of The Finnish Documentary Guild.

Pauliina Punkki founded her production company Ida Productions together with her San Francisco based sister, choreographer, producer and artist Raisa Punkki in 2017.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I am interested in studying human nature with the means of cinema. I got the idea for Snowball Effect while following the media circus around Kittilä town in Northern Finland. The stories around Kittilä reminded me about my childhood atmosphere of the 80’s in my small hometown in Lapland.

Not much had changed I figured - This was something I needed to examine more closely - so I did. In 2018, almost 9 months pregnant with my first child, I traveled to Northern Finland to follow a first Kittilä municipality court case. When my daughter was 4 months old we moved to Kittilä so I could get in the middle of what was happening in Kittilä.

My daughter turned 5 years old this year. Snowball Effect is a film from me as a Mother to my daughter, a compass to her future and my small way to make a difference in the world.