Turku UAS Film Alumni Recognised at Inari 150 Screenwriting Competition
Two alumni of the Film Programme at the Arts Academy of Turku University of Applied Sciences (Turku UAS), Jaakko Ylitalo (Film class 2021-2025) and Emilia Kovanen (Producers class 2021-2025), were among the award recipients at the final of the Inari 150 Screenwriting Competition, held on 6 October 2026 at the Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos in Inari. The final took place as part of the inaugural Inari TV and Film Industry Seminar.
Organised by the Municipality of Inari as part of its 150th anniversary celebrations, the competition sought new audiovisual stories inspired by the unique environment, cultures, history, and languages of Finland’s northernmost region. Finalists pitched their projects to an audience of film and television professionals and representatives of leading industry organisations.
Among the Arts Academy alumni, Jaakko Ylitalo was recognised for his project Flipping Inari. As part of the award, production company Dreammill Productions will provide production supervision and access to filming equipment to support the project’s further development.
Emilia Kovanen received an award for her project Jäämerentie (The Arctic Ocean Road). Her project was granted development and sales mentoring provided by NTRNZ Creative, helping advance the concept towards future production opportunities.
In total, six projects received development-oriented awards from the competition’s industry partners. All eight finalists were also selected to participate in a two-day screenwriting workshop designed to further strengthen their projects and professional skills.
The success of Ylitalo and Kovanen highlights the quality of film education at the Arts Academy and demonstrates how graduates continue to build their careers through new stories, creative collaborations, and industry networks long after completing their studies. Their achievements also reflect the growing presence of Arts Academy alumni within Finland’s audiovisual sector.
The prizes of the Inari 150 scriptwriting competition have been awarded! – INARI.FI
Photo caption:
Arts Academy alumni Jaakko Ylitalo and Emilia Kovanen presenting their projects at the final of the Inari 150 Screenwriting Competition and pictured after the event. Photo: Marko Luukkonen / Turku UAS.