Film Stills by Malla Hukkanen

Film still photographs, colloquially known as simply stills, are not freeze frames from the film reel, but rather photographers’ reinterpretations of scenes. The still photographer steps in with their camera once the scene has been shot. 

The still photographer’s goal is to capture the atmosphere of the scene — and at times of the entire film — into a single image. 

Marja-Leena “Malla” Hukkanen (b. 1959) has photographed film stills for more than four decades. She is one of the few Finnish photographers who have devoted their entire career to film still photography. 

Hukkanen is especially known for her collaboration with director Aki Kaurismäki. Altogether, she has photographed stills for over one hundred Finnish films.

Hukkanen’s photographs demonstrate that film stills are not merely a by-product of a film, but an independent art form that merges the frozen moment of photography with the vitality of cinema into a unique visual language.

The exhibition presents Hukkanen’s series Shadows in Paradise, based on Aki Kaurismäki’s films. Also on display are stills and behind-the-scenes photos from films selected by Hukkanen herself from across her career. 

Finnish Museum of Photography

27.3.-20.9.2026

Tue-Fri 11.00–19.00

Sat-Sun 11.00–18.00

Admission fee 0-16€