Department of Film (ELO)

The Department of Film, ELO, is the only university-level film school in Finland. It is a vital combination of innovative art academy and an active, practice-based and artistic research unit. It teaches all aspects of filmmaking and performance design as separate skill sets. Our faculty consists of international-level practicing filmmakers, scenographers and researchers.

We value our 60-year-long tradition but at the same time actively explore future challenges and emerging technologies. The department works closely with the audiovisual industry, theatre, and emerging contemporary groups in performing arts.

Education draws on artistic and pedagogical traditions, passing it on creatively and developing new forms of expression. During the education students are familiarized with artistic processes, team work, historical and critical thinking, observations and interpretations of reality. This knowledge is applied in practical exercises and student film productions.

The department's research brings new understanding of the forms of expression and production processes in cinematic and scenographic art and opens paths to international research. The research orientation is based on a fruitful dialogue between theory and practice.

Contact the Department

The Department of Film has offered filmmakers and production designers the opportunity to pursue doctoral studies for nearly 30 years. The department's doctoral program equips students to integrate theoretical, practical, and artistic thinking through their own research questions.

The aim of the research is to generate new understanding of the expressive tools and creative processes in film and production design. This understanding allows for the uncovering, reassessment, alteration, and development of the underlying assumptions embedded in established working methods and solutions. In addition to the research component, doctoral degrees may include one or more practical productions.

Costume in Focus (CiF)

Costume in Focus (CiF) is the first research group with sharp focus on developing research in the field of Costume Design.

The Expanded Scenography research group

The research group was initiated in 2015 for developing the artistic research and practice in the 'scenographic' field in change.

Critical Cinema Lab

The Lab hosts a project Images of Harmony and Rupture - Documentary Film Reflecting Fractures in the Scandinavian Welfare State Ethos. It is funded by the Kone Foundation and headed by
Professor Susanna Helke. DAs Jouko Aaltonen and Timo Korhonen work as postdoctoral researchers.

Reetta Huhtanen: Economic Forecasters (2015)

Elements of Success in the Finnish Film Production

The project studies processes, film production cultures and contemporary film audiences. The focus is on the factors that contribute to a film’s success.

Virtual Cinema Lab

Virtual Cinema Lab is a multidisciplinary arena for those interested in new and emerging technologies.

The programmes and major subjects at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture provide high quality teaching in a diverse and student-centred manner. Our school began implementing a reform of bachelor's and master's degrees in September 2014.

The new degree structures offer students the opportunity for more in-depth studies in their own major or a field of their master's programme, or to utilise Aalto University's multidisciplinary course offering in minor subjects and elective studies. Our school offers a wide variety of minors, many of which are carried out in cooperation with other Aalto University schools. Students can also apply for minor studies at other Finnish universities through JOO studies, or complete part of their studies during an international exchange.

For more info on our Master's programmes:

Costume Design: Performing Arts and Film - Film and Television, Master of Arts (Art and Design)

The Costume Design major of the Master’s Programme in Design for Theatre, Film and Television aims at creating the future professionals for the field of costume design, supporting the development of a dynamic artistic vision and a research-oriented approach for the performing arts and the film and media creative industries.

Production Design - Film and Television, Master of Arts (Art and Design)

The major in production design involves training artistic designers who are responsible for the visual, operational and production entity of a film production.

Image of a film set which resembles a café.

Cinematography - Film and Television, Master of Arts (Art and Design)

In Master’s Programme in Film and Television, major in Cinematography, the student deepens his/her vocational competence to achieve a greater mastery of the overall artistic, production and technical entity of his/her professional area in various film, TV and advertising productions.

A student in a hat filming in front of a red curtain.

Documentary Film - Film and Television, Master of Arts (Art and Design)

The goal of the major in Documentary Film is to form innovative, critical, and analytical documentary filmmakers for both the national and international arenas. The students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the history and conventions documentary filmmaking. Moreover, the program will encourage students to engage future perspectives of documentary filmmaking as a storytelling, art and research form.

Students will be able to develop their artistic and research skills through creative enquiry, practice and collaboration. They will be able to combine practical mastery and conceptual thinking, increasing their professional competence and situating them at the forefront of the documentary filmmaking field.

Film Directing - Film and Television, Master of Arts (Art and Design)

Master’s programme in Film and Television, major in Film Directing in Elo Film school Finland strengthens the student’s capacity to generate and develop cinematic ideas, storybuilding and narration skills in addition to developing the director’s personal cinematic style and directorial identity.

Film Editing - Film and Television, Master of Arts (Art and Design)

The aim of the MA degree is to develop the student into an expert of viewing and seeing, a storyteller and an artist.

Two students are laughing at the computer.

Film Sound Design - Film and Television, Master of Arts (Art and Design)

In film and television production, sound design plays a vital role in creating an end product that gives the viewer a holistic, artistic experience.

Film and Television Producing - Film and Television, Master of Arts (Art and Design)

The goal of the Master’s Programme in Film and Television, major in Film and Television Producing, is to deepen the student’s skills in their chosen direction – towards independent audiovisual entrepreneurship, a research or development project in the film producing field, a deeper understanding of artistic leadership or some corresponding advanced competence planned together with the student.

Two students with a camera in front of a red curtain.

Screenwriting - Film and Television, Master of Arts (Art and Design)

The aim of the Master's Degree Programme in Screenwriting for Film and Television is to strengthen the student's individual expression, skills in writing for film and the abilities required in artistic and production-related process work and group work. Master’s students become familiar with the central theoretical questions in the field and its research.

Two students sorting post-it notes on the wall.

School of Arts, Design and Architecture

One of the most prestigious universities in its fields. We educate our students to create imaginative, collaborative, compassionate and unconventional approaches to the most pressing challenges of today.