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Department of Film, Television, and Scenography (ELO) student Pietari Peltola won the well-respected Sven Nykvist prize at the Gothenburg Film Festival, which drew to a close this weekend.

Peltola's cinematographic efforts on the Finnish film He ovat paenneet (They Have Escaped), directed by J-P Valkeapää, were rewarded with this prestigious prize. Peltola's work was described as powerful and courageous, and as the point at which dreams meet reality.

They Have Escaped also won the best film, director, editing, and sound design at this Sunday's Jussi Awards. The film was produced by Professor Aleksi Bardy's Helsinki-Film and edited by ELO alumna Mervi Junkkonen. The film's director, J-P Valkeapää, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and has taught as a guest lecturer at the Department of Film, Television, and Scenography for several years.

Several other ELO students, staff, and alumni also received Jussi Awards at this year's ceremony. Antti Heikki Pesonen, who graduated from the ELO Film Directing programme won the award for best screenplay for the film Päin seinää (Headfirst). Peter Flinckenberg received the Jussi Award for best cinematography for the film Tuulensieppaajat (Pixadores).