International Guests 2026

Karhupuisto Film Festival 7.-13.9.2026

Alex Russell

Alex Russell, a writer, director, and producer from California, made his debut with the award-winning film Lurker, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Russell is also known as a co-executive producer of the award-winning series Beef (Netflix/A24) and as a writer and producer for the Golden Globe and Emmy-winning series The Bear (Disney+).

Lurker + Q&A screening

Anna Roller

Anna Roller, a graduate of the renowned University of Television and Film, is a Munich-based director whose debut feature film, Dead Girls Dancing, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2023.

Her second film, Allegro Pastell, is based on Leif Randt's generational novel, which became a bestseller in Germany. The film premiered at the Berlinale in spring 2026.

Allegro Pastell + Q&A Screening

Matty Wishnow

Matty Wishnow is a documentarian, journalist, writer, record store owner, and record label founder who splits his time between Texas and Vermont. He is the founder of New York-based Tiger Style Records and insound.com, which was called "the internet's first record store."

The Last Critic is Wishnow's debut film. It premiered at the SXSW festival, where it won the Special Jury Award.

The Last Critic + Q&A screening

Isabel Sandoval

Isabel Sandoval is a Filipino filmmaker and actress who lives in the United States. According to the prestigious The Criterion Collection, she is considered “one of the most intriguing and multitalented filmmakers in the indie scene, with a bold cinematic approach.”

The film will have its Nordic premiere at the Karhupuisto Film Festival, where Sandoval will attend as a guest.

Moonglow + Q&A screening

Martin Sandin

Martin Sandin is a director and screenwriter based in Stockholm, specialising in character-driven documentaries.

His previous directorial works include the mountaineering-themed Brave - How the Mountains Saved My Life, Mwuana – Above All, which tells the story of rapper Mwuana, and Mad Dog – From Chaos to Comeback, which follows UFC fighter Reza Madadi.

The Return of the Ark

Vytautas Katkus

Vytautas Katkus is a Lithuanian director, screenwriter, and cinematographer, whose debut short film Community Gardens was selected for Cannes Critics' Week in 2019.

Svečias – The Visitor is Katkus's first feature-length directorial work. It won the Best Director award at Karlovy Vary.

Svečias – The Visitor + Q&A screening

Marija Razgutė

Marija Razgutė is a Lithuanian producer, founder of M-films, and a key figure in the rise of Lithuanian cinema to the forefront of world art-house cinema.

Razgutė's fiction films, documentaries, and animations have been screened at the world's most prestigious film festivals, from Cannes to Sundance and from Karlovy Vary to Venice.

Svečias – The Visitor + Q&A screening

Karolis Kaupinis

Karolis Kaupinis studied political science and worked as a TV host and editor for a political current affairs program before becoming a filmmaker.

Kaupinis's debut feature film, Nova Lithuania, set in pre-war Lithuania in the 1930s, premiered in Karlovy Vary, won six awards at the Lithuanian "Jussies," and was noted as Lithuania's Oscar candidate.

Hunger Strike Breakfast + Q&A Screening

Ineta Stasiulytė

Ineta Stasiulytė is a Lithuanian actress, television personality and performer. She has played leading roles in films such as The Millionaire's Legacy (Milijonieriaus palikimas), Laimingos žvaigždės, Legendinės legendos. FELICITA and Hunger Strike Breakfast, for which she received a Best Actress nomination at the Lithuanian Film Awards.

Hunger Strike Breakfast + Q&A Screening

Florian Gaag

Florian Gaag is a Munich-based screenwriter, director, musician and producer, who studied film at New York's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts. Wholetrain was Gaag's debut as a feature film director. His latest work is the drama series Almost Fly for Warner TV.

Wholetrain show

Colas Quignard & Mitia Capellier

Colas Quignard and Mitia Capellier, the young acting talents of La Gradiva, will arrive at Karhupuisto as guests for the film's Nordic premiere on Tuesday, September 8, and for an additional screening on Wednesday, September 9.

Among others, The Guardian's chief critic Peter Bradshaw praised the film as "astonishing" and lauded its brilliant acting.

Gradiva + Q&A screening