Born in Helsinki in 1982, Pihla Viitala began her acting studies at the prestigious Theatre Academy Helsinki in 2004, and since then, she has appeared in a wide range of theatre, TV and film productions.
Her first feature film was the acclaimed GANES (JP Siili, 2007), the story of the Finnish rock band, The Hurriganes. She followed this up with a leading role in the award-winning, TEARS OF APRIL (Aku Louhimies, 2008) and in 2009, HELLSINKI (Aleksi Mäkelä) and her first English language film, REYKJAVIK WHALE WATCHING MASSACRE (Julius Kemp).
Her most recent role is in the Aki Kaurismäki production, BAD FAMILY (Äleksi Salmenperä, 2010), which had its International premier in the Panorama section of the 2010 Berlin International Film Festival.
Gifted in music, and multi-lingual, Pihla recently wrote and directed her first short film.
Jury's comment: "Her presence on the screen is a wonderful mixture of classic beauty and unconventional emotional power. With subtle grace, she exhibits a strong dramatic presence of both elegance and unpredictability."
Photo © Marko Rantanen