Film director Aki Kaurismäki to be named as Academician

Aki Kaurismäki

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The Arts Council of Finland has proposed that film director Aki Kaurismäki, 50, be named an Academician, in other words made a member of the Academy of Finland, the prime funding agency for basic research in the country.
      President Tarja Halonen is to nominate Kaurismäki as the 8th Academician for the arts next month at the latest.
      The news were first released by the Finnish tabloid Ilta-Sanomat.
     
The qualifications of Kaurismäki will be announced in connection with the nomination, while it is evident that Kaurismäki’s long career in the Finnish film industry and his exceptional international success both speak in support of the nomination.
      Academician is an honorary title which can be given to persons of outstanding merit representing science and arts. In Finland, there can be no more than eight Academicians representing the arts at any one time.
     
Aki Kaurismäki is to succeed film director Rauni Mollberg as an Academician representing the Finnish film industry. Mollberg died last autumn.
      The other seven Academicians representing the arts are: poet and playwright Paavo Haavikko, graphic artist Outi Heiskanen, theatre and film director Ralf Långbacka, architect Juha Leiviskä, writer Veijo Meri, textile designer Vuokko Nurmesniemi, and conductor and composer Jorma Panula.
      The Academy of Finland operates within the administrative sector of the Ministry of Education.


Links:
  Aki Kaurismäki (Wikipedia)
  Academy of Finland
  Arts Council of Finland

Helsingin Sanomat