The Finnish feature film A Light That Never Goes Out (Jossain on valo joka ei sammu) is nominated for the 2026 Nordic Council Film Prize. The nominees are director and writer Lauri-Matti Parppei and producer Ilona Tolmunen. Synopsis Successful classical flutist Pauli (29) returns to his small hometown after a breakdown. Reconnecting with old schoolmate Iiris, he is drawn into experimental music. Pauli, who has always sought perfection, is drawn to her chaotic energy and finds comfort in their sonic experiments.
Rationale
The Finnish nominee highlights the meaning of friendship and how making art can both heal and be a force that guides you through difficulties. The film charms with an authentic sense of place and lived emotions that make its world exceptionally strong. A love for experimental music, rarely heard in films, permeates every moment and expands the audience’s understanding of the scope of musical expression. The ensemble of up-and-coming actors plays seamlessly: the whole work seems to have been born out of authentic collaboration, much like the creative process depicted in the film.
Biographies
Lauri-Matti Parppei is a filmmaker, musician, and visual artist based in Helsinki, Finland, with a unique storytelling style and intimate, sensitive approach to actors. Their debut feature, A Light That Never Goes Out, had its premiere in Cannes Film Festival ACID 2025 and won seven Finnish Film Academy Awards (Jussi) including Best Directing and Best Screenwriting. Their first midform television series, A Strange Summer (2022) was selected for the Series Mania competition. They have also directed several award-winning short films, including Silent as Murderers (2019) and The Last Day (2020). Beyond filmmaking, Lauri-Matti is the singer-songwriter of the band Musta valo.
Ilona Tolmunen has been CEO of the Finnish production company Made since 2019. She has produced and co-produced several internationally recognised films and is an EAVE alumni. A Light That Never Goes Out had its premiere at Cannes Film Festival ACID 2025 and won seven Finnish Film Academy Awards (Jussi) including Best Picture. Isabella Eklöf’s Kalak (2023) was a Danish–Swedish–Norwegian–Greenlandic–Finnish–Dutch co-production, and won two awards at the San Sebastian Film Festival. Aino Suni’s Heartbeast (Sydänpeto, 2022) – a co-production between Finland, France, and Germany – had its premiere at the Göteborg Film Festival and won two Finnish Film Academy Awards (Jussi). She also produced Lauri-Matti Parppei’s television series A Strange Summer (2022), which was selected for the Series Mania competition.