Joona Mäkelä (1986) is a filmmaker, performing artist, and musician. He is interested in ways of approaching the materiality and agency of film, and has explored experimental and eco-friendly ways of developing and dyeing film. For his short film, The Fleeting Horizon (premiere at Docpoint film festival 2024), Mäkelä developed the 16mm black and white films partly with a chemical developer and partly with a developer made out of spruce needles, Vitamin C, and sodium carbonate. As a film director, he wants to develop new collective and experimental working methods. Mäkelä’s background is in composing and performing music, literature studies and craft beer brewing, which he now continues in the context of film brewing. Mäkelä is part of Rindamus collective, a group of artists who have committed to a long-term residency process and to return yearly for a month to the Mustarinda residency in Paljakka, Hyrynsalmi, Finland. At the moment, Mäkelä studies documentary filmmaking at Aalto University. Mäkelä lives and works in Helsinki, Finland.
EDUCATION
2020– BA + MA / Documentary Film. Aalto University, School of Arts, ELO Film School Finland 2020 Bachelor of Arts / Finnish literature studies. Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki 2011–2013 Wood Craft Artisan Studies. Luksia, Nummela 2006 Upper Secondary School Graduate. Eiran aikuislukio, Helsinki.
FILMS
2024 The Fleeting Horizon (director, screenwriter, film developer, composer) 19’ ELO Film School Finland. [Premiere at Docpoint film festival 2024.]
2022 The Visitors (director, screenwriter, editor) 7’ ELO Film School Finland
FESTIVALS
DocPoint Helsinki International Film Festival 2024 (The Fleeting Horizon, 2024 – World Premiere)
Vienna Shorts (The Fleeting Horizon, 2024 – International Premiere)
Tampere Film Festival 2024 (The Fleeting Horizon, 2024)
Lapinlahden Elokuvajuhlat 2024 (The Fleeting Horizon, 2024)
AWARDS AND MENTIONS
Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film festival 2024 – Market Staff Pick (The Fleeting Horizon 2024)
VIDEO WORKS (selected)
2023 aspen, aspen, aspen film installation. (filming, film developing, film dyeing, editing)
2022 Tulkinnanvaraista at Forum Box gallery. Cornelius Cardew: The Great Learning, Paragraph 7. (filming, editing, directing)
2021 Tulkinnanvaraista at Balder Hall, Tampere Biennale. John Cage: Aria, Concert for piano and orchestra, Song Books, WBAI, Winter Music. (filming and directing as an adaptation of John Cage WBAI)
2021 Tulkinnanvaraista: Musiikillinen metsäretki. (directing, filming, editing and sound designing)
2020 Love Sport – Giant Hoof music video. (directing, filming and editing)
2015 Phenomenal Creature – Illusion Love music video. (direction, animation, editing)
LIVE ART AND PERFORMANCES (selected)
2022 Sacking and Weaving. Kino Lumbardhi, Prizren, Kosovo (making a short film for the performance, light designing, performing)
2021 UMUU-ensemble at Balder Hall, Tampere Biennale, Helsinki. (Performing, filming)
2021 Fjolla Hoxha: An Exercise with Modified Circumstances, Vapaan taiteen tila, Helsinki. (Making and video installation for the performance, light designing, performing)
2021 kohinapisteviiva, sound and video performance, MUU Helsinki gallery, Helsinki (performing, vj)
DOCUMENTATIONS (selected)
2023 Video documentation of artist Timo Viialainen exhibition. Gallery Sinne, Helsinki 2022 Video documentation of artist Timo Viialainen performance FERVOR, Kino Lumbardhi, Prizren, Kosovo 2022 Video and photo documentation of artist Minerva Juolahti performance ☐☐☐, Kätilöopisto, Helsinki 2021 Photo documentation of Tulkinnanvaraista: Cornelius Cardew: The Great Learning, Paragraph 7. Forum Box, Helsinki 2021 Photo documentation of artist Dash Che performance How To Like Finland and How Finland Can Like Me (too), Helsinki. 2021 Live filming of Viika & Tikka performance in MUU Helsinki Gallery, Helsinki
FILM MUSIC COMPOSING
2024 Joona Mäkelä: Pakeneva horisontti (composed together with composer Saara Viika) 2022 Joona Mäkelä: Out of the Cocoon. 2017 Tuuli Tuominen: Propagnosia.
RECORDINGS AND ALBUMS
2025 Mäkelä & Musta kolibri: Luopuu EP (comp. & arr. & lyrics) (UPCOMING)
2017 Phenomenal Creature: Vettenvalvoja LP
2017 Käsityökerho: Pikkukoski EP
2016 Käsityökerho: Raatokärpäsparvi LP
2015 Phenomenal Creature: Bade made EP
2014 Mäkelä: Mäkelä & Markus EP
2013 Phenomenal Creature: LP
2012 Lady Escape: Festive Harts LP (arr.)
2009 Lady Escape: Unsung Land LP (arr.)
2009 Phenomenal Creature: EP
2007 Lady Escape: Messy Envelopes EP (arr.)
2005 Lady Escape: Sally EP (comp. & arr.)
WORKSHOPS AND RECIDENCIES
2025 Mustarinda AiR, Hyrynsalmi (UPCOMING)
2024 Mustarinda AiR, Hyrynsalmi
2024 Interaction: DOC workshop 12th edition, Užice, Serbia
2023 Mustarinda AiR, Hyrynsalmi
2022 Mustarinda AiR, Hyrynsalmi
GRANTS
2022 Working grant (The Arts Promotion Centre Finland / Taike) 2021 Working grant (The Arts Promotion Centre Finland / Taike) 2018 Grant for music video production (Musiikin edistämissäätiö / MES) 2017 Grant for music video production (Musiikin edistämissäätiö / MES)
MEMBERSHIPS
Association of Finnish Film Directors (Suomen elokuvaohjaajaliitto) / SELO
The Finnish Documentary Guild (Dokumenttikilta)
The Union of Journalists in Finland (Suomen journalistiliitto)
TEOSTO
GRAMEX
Rindamus -collective