Hailing from the quaint town of Raahe, Finland, Vesa Manninen took his first steps into filmmaking with a deep love for storytelling. After graduating from the Turku Academy of Arts, he developed a personal style, drawing inspiration from the daring approaches of the 1970s' "movie brats," the captivating stories of magical realism in Hollywood, and the profound narratives of classic European and Asian art house cinema. Manninen's journey has led him through various forms of media, including engaging TV commercials, touching short films, and vibrant music videos, all of which have been well-received at international festivals. Always looking to blend the charm of traditional filmmaking with the possibilities of new technology, Manninen crafts stories that touch the heart and spark the imagination. His efforts to explore emotional depths and bring imaginative worlds to life have made his work stand out in the crowded field of cinema. So, from the cozy corners of Raahe to the global stage of film festivals, Manninen continues to mix old-school charm with digital age sparkle, proving that the magic of cinema isn't just in the stories told—it's in the heart of the storyteller.