is a film production company founded in 1990. It is owned by producer-director Hannu Tuomainen and its central focus is on independent fictions and on films for children and young audience.
Cinemaker’s latest production is a feature length GGI-animation NIKO & THE WAY TO THE STARS, which premiered in Finland October 2008. NIKO is the most successful Finnish movie of all times; it has reached over 3 million cinema viewers world wide and its distribution rights have been sold to over 100 countries. NIKO was also nominated in 2009 by European Film Academy with two other movies as Best European Animation. In Finland Niko won Jussi-statue (national Oscar) for Best Picture and Best Screenplay.
Currently there is a sequel for NIKO in the development.
Before NIKO Cinemaker produced in 2002 a youth film ONE-WAY TICKET TO MOMBASA, a feature that has been well received both at home and abroad; it has won altogether 26 international awards.
Hannu Tuomainen’s first feature as a producer was a family adventure TOMMY AND THE WILDCAT in 1998, which is also one of the most successful Finnish films of all times. In Finland Tommy reached 400.000 admissions and was sold to over 40 territories.
During 1990’s Cinemaker produced nine short films, directed by Arto Koskinen, Paul-Anders Simma, Ville Suhonen, Hannu Tuomainen and others. Company also acted as a co-producer for five international documentaries together with Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Belgian and French companies.
All in all, Cinemaker’s productions have collected numerous foreign awards over the years. In Finland company have been awarded with the State Quality Prize altogether seven times.