Jussi Sandhu’s feature doc project But I’m No Influencer picked up the Best Documentary Project award, valued at €3000, at the close of Finnish Film Affair 2024. The project producer is Pasi Hakkio of Wacky Tie Films.
“In March 2022, the world’s first-ever higher education program for social media was launched in Tampere,” Hakkio tells Business Doc Europe. “But I’m No Influencer explores the questions of education export and social media through the eyes of a Filipino immigrant, Mark. But what should we all really learn about Influencing?”
“It deals with global questions of education and social media. Rarely can such a character-driven story open up themes this big,” he adds.
The FFA jury comprised Marianna Kaat, director/producer and Associate Professor at Tallinn University; Iris Olsson, film director and script consultant, and Freja Johanne Nørgaard Sørensen, senior sales and acquisitions executive at DR Sales.
First-time director Sandhu is usually to be found in the edit suite,” Hakkio tells BDE. “Jussi is surely one of the most experienced debut directors you’ll meet; he has his background in editing, and has worked on Venice and Locarno-winning titles. He is one of the most asked-for editors in Finland, with a growing international demand. Jussi has a great understanding of narration and is able to knit together multiple storylines of different scale in rich, complex structures.”
Hakkio further described the visual look of the film. “Visually it’s an ambitious film that parallels the intimate yet disruptive nature of social media stream with wide, cinematic landscapes. There’s a poetic feel to DOP Ville Hakonen’s striking cinematography.”
Before the prizes were handed out, Hakkio also described what he was looking to achieve in Helsinki. “We are coming out with the film to get feedback outside of our Finnish bubble and so far it looks amazingly good,” he said. “We are also in a stage where it would be a good time for a co-producer to join in. Especially in FFA we want to meet festivals to be ready for the film coming out early 2026.”
