Competition Line-Ups announced for the 32nd Oulu Music Video Festival
The Oulu Music Video Festival has unveiled the line-ups and screenings for its 32nd edition’s competition series.
A total of 116 music videos were submitted to the festival’s first-ever Nordic Music Video Competition, aimed at directors from or residing in the Nordic countries. Submissions came from Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, and Sápmi. From these, 12 videos were selected, including I’m Not Done (Therapy Sessions) by Swedish director Martin Falck for electro-pop icon Fever Ray, and Dreamweavers by Danish director Jonas Bang for Trentemøller.
“There’s an incredible passion for music videos across the Nordics, ranging from DIY no-budget pieces to high-end productions. Our selection reflects this diversity, from cinematic storytelling to 3D and puppet animation,” says OMVF’s artistic director Joel Karppanen.
The Finnish entries in the Nordic competition include:
Orvokki – Sinä lennät kuin minä by Johanna Vapaavuori
Paradox Obscur – Switch to Love by Mariangela Pluchino
Lyyti – Tuolileikki by Vili Järvinen and Vilma Inkeri Tietäväinen
Alma Alanko – Mä Pelkään Sua by Seena Talve
Hildá Länsman & Tuomas Norvio – Dajan by Kim Saarinen and Alice Jekteveki, a Finnish-Norwegian-Sámi co-production.
The Nordic jury includes artist Mika Taanila, director Marcus Söderlund, and musician-filmmaker Billy Roisz. Awards will be given for Best Nordic Music Video and an Honourable Mention.
Finnish Competition features top directors and rising talents
This year, 288 music videos were submitted to the Finnish Music Video Competition, now in its 32nd edition. From these, 74 were selected. Instead of the usual ten screenings, the competition will be presented in seven curated programs.
“A tighter competition means higher overall quality and sharper curation, benefiting both the audience and the artists,” says Karppanen.
The selection includes fresh new talents as well as OMVF alumni. Two-time Kultapumpeli winner Miikka Lommi returns with a video for Sisko by emma & matilda. Last year’s award-winners Ilona Lehtonen, Paula Vesala, and Perttu Inkilä are also back with new work. Featured artists include Mirella, OLGA, goodboys, ibe, Erika Vikman, Scandinavian Music Group, Modem, Grande Mahogany, and Sexmane.
The screenings embrace the festival’s Hyper Realities theme and are named after reality TV classics—from Survivor to Big Brother and Love Island.
“In 1992, MTV’s The Real World laid the foundation for modern reality television. Over time, the channel shifted from music to hyperreal relationship drama. Now it’s time for a counterstrike!” Karppanen declares.
The Finnish jury consists of journalist and author Anton Vanha-Majamaa, filmmaker Mika Ronkainen, and Lisa Hoen, festival director of Tromsø International Film Festival. Awards include the Golden Pumpeli for Best Video, the Teen Pumpeli for Most Promising Director, the Lens Pumpeli for Best Cinematography, and the Post Pumpeli for Best Post-Production. Four Honourable Mentions will also be awarded.
More festival highlights
The Broken Edge art exhibition at Valve Gallery explores hyperreality through Northern lenses. Curated by Antti Tenetz, the show delves into how we experience and resist the loss of agency in both digital and physical worlds—through art, music, and video. Featured artists include Alan Abrahams, Liina Holmes, Monika Hauck, Krasimir Jovanovic Hyvärinen, Ola Lysgaard, Hugo Murtoniemi. The exhibition runs from August 5 to 24.
For accredited professionals, the industry program offers new networking opportunities at the Northern Finland Film Commission’s event and a joint reception hosted by OMVF and the Air Guitar World Championships. One-on-one mentoring sessions also return, giving music video creators confidential feedback from top professionals.
The UFOP afterparty on Thursday expands with a performance by Nykypost, a group blending aesthetics from sub- and countercultures.
The Oulu Music Video Festival takes place August 21–24 as part of Oulu August Festivals. Full festival program and schedule available at www.omvf.net. Tickets go on sale online and at Valve Culture Centre on August 9 at 12:00.
