The Squirrel

  • a film by Markus Lehmusruusu
  • Feature Film
  • 93 Min.
  • 2026

Finland’s Official Entry for the Academy Awards® – Best International Feature Film

Trailer
Info

  • Genre

    • science fiction romcom

  • Contries of Production

    • Finland , Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden

  • Language

    • Finnish

  • World premiere

    • 2nd April 2026 – cinema release Finland

  • a production by

    • BUFO

  • in co-production with

    • Pallas Film, Volya Films, Zentropa Sweden, Fireframe Studios, Gotlands Filmfond

  • in association with

    • YLE

  • with the support of

    • Finnish Film Foundation, DFFF – Deutscher Filmförderfonds, MDM – Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, Netherlands Film Fund, Svenska kulturfonden, Konsamsfundet, Netherlands Film Production Incentive, MBB – Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg

  • World Sales

    • REinvent International Sales

  • Distribution

    • Progress Filmverleih
Synopsis

In the far future, in a sterile world without nature or animals – Pasi, a lonely, compassionate designer of synthetic pets, stumbles upon the last surviving squirrel by chance. Pasi decides to defy the rules and help the squirrel, but things don’t go quite according to plan – the squirrel gets depressed, and Pasi falls in love.

Cast

  • Pasi Toivonen

    • Miro Lopperi

  • Emilia Vala

    • Mimosa Willamo

  • Jimi Alkio

    • Hannu-Pekka Björkman

  • Sebastian Laine

    • Roderick Kabanga

  • Ava Elo

    • Pirjo Heikkilä

  • Tony

    • Eero Ritala

  • Sofia

    • Ella Mettänen

  • Vera

    • Pirjo Lonka
Crew

  • Written by

    • Markus Lehmusruusu

  • Directed by

    • Markus Lehmusruusu

  • Producers

    • Misha Jaari & Mark Lwoff / Bufo

  • Co-producers

    • Thanassis Karathanos & Martin Hampel / Pallas Film
    • Denis Vaslin, Fleur Knopperts / Volya Films
    • Ronny Fritsche, Lizette Jonjic / Zentropa Sweden

  • Director of photography

    • Max Smeds F.S.C.

  • Editor

    • Florian Mioske

  • Set design

    • Michael Randel

  • Music

    • Freya Arde

  • Sound Design / Mix

    • Ranko Pauković

  • Costume Designer

    • Mikko Kodisoja & Roosa Toivonen

  • Make-up Designer

  • VFX Supervisor

    • Patrick Menge

  • Executive Producers

    • Mikko Kodisoja & Roosa Toivonen
Festivals
  • Göteborg Film Festival, Sweden
  • Midnight Sun Film Festival, Finland
  • Fantastic Film, Austin/Texas

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