PAAVO HANNINEN
is an Alabama born-and-raised, Texas educated, New Orleans-refined and Los Angeles-based writer/director.
Seasoned filmmaker living in Los Angeles. A 2025 Davey Foundation grant recipient for his forth-coming short film White Italian Truffles in Brine. Currently in development on his feature debut, Remote View, as writer/director for script which was a finalist for the Nantucket Screenwriters Colony and now has name talent attached. His feature script Deep Fake was named a finalist for the Film Independent Screenwriters' Lab and the Story Incubator Writers' Lab.
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-3x Short of the Week selection
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-Film Independent Screenwriter Lab finalist
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-Criterion collection selection
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-The New Yorker selection
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-Omeleto, Nobudge, Director's Library selections
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-Austin Film Festival, Cucalorus Film Festival, Maryland Film Festival, Sun Valley Film Festival, New Orleans Film Festival, Sarasota FF, Curitiba
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-Austin Film Society grant winner
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-Southern Producers' Lab project selection
As a Director of Photography
Paavo has shot documentaries, narratives, music videos, and branded content. Films he has shot have played at SXSW, Tribeca, Rotterdam, Clermont-Ferrand, New Orleans Film Festival, Maryland Film Festival, and many others.
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He has worked with numerous notable directors including Katie Mathews, CJ Hunt, Garrett Bradley, Margaret Brown, Lee Hirsch, Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, and many others. Films he has DP-ed have been supported by Sundance, SF Film, Tribeca, Southern Doc Fund, Ford Foundation and many others.
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Most recently, Paavo DP-ed the forthcoming feature Serious Play (dir. Kate Mason & Lindsey Phillips) executive produced by Neon Heart. Before this, Paavo DP-ed the feature documentary "Roleplay" which premiered at SXSW 2024. Before this, he shot "The Neutral Ground" which premiered at Tribeca Festival before playing on POV on PBS as well as "Last Dance" (d. Coline Abert) which premiered at Frameline 2022.
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Festivals & Recognition
Contact
Austin Film Festival
Maryland Film Festival
Sarasota Film Festival
Berlinale Short Film Cloud
Sun Valley Film Festival
Nantucket Screenwriters Colony Finalist
Cucalorus Film Festival
Davey Fest
Sarasota Film Festival
Curitiba International Film Festival
SF Shorts--Winner Best Direction
Oxford Film Festival
New Orleans Film Festival
Sidewalk Film Festival
Indy Film Fest
Tallgrass Film Festival
Beeston Film Festival
Lake Placid Film Festival
Micheaux Film Festival
Tonkawa Film Festival -- Winner Best Drama
Dumbo Film Festival
The New Yorker
Shortoftheweek.com
Omeleto selection
Nobudge.com selection
Directorsnotes.com
Austin Film Society grantee
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage grantee
Threadhead Foundation grantee
Filmshop Breakthrough artist
WarnerMedia SouthPitch Finalist
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For commercial opportunities:
Bernadette Rivero @ Cortez Brothers