About Us

Snapper Films is a Helsinki- and New York-based production company founded by Juha Wuolijoki in 1998. Snapper specializes in selectively developing high-quality Finnish- and English-language films, and the company has an output deal with the major Scandinavian distributor Sandrew Metronome Distribution Finland Oy.

Currently Snapper Films is focusing on producing Finnish language films in partnership with Sandrew Metronome Distribution Finland Oy and co-producing international projects. The latest feature is the family film Christmas Story, which recounts the unknown tale of Santa Claus's childhood. The film opened in November 2007 on 60 prints across Finland and became an instant hit movie, winning #1 position at the national box office and pushing its total admissions to more than 65.000 in less than two weeks. Snapper Films is also developing a biopic based on the life of the famous Finnish playwright and politician Hella Wuolijoki, who collaborated with such artists as Bertolt Brecht. Both projects are budgeted at two million euros and have secured Scandinavian theatrical releases. Snapper is also developing several other Finnish- and English-language projects, including the comedy feature Flight Attendant Academy.

Recently Snapper Films produced the Finnish-language television film Gourmet Club starring Emmy Award -winner Michael Badalucco ("The Practice", "The Man Who Wasn't There"). Ben Barenholtz (the Coen Brothers' "Miller's Crossing" and "Barton Fink," and Darren Aronofsky's "Requiem for a Dream") of New York-based Barenholtz Productions Inc. served as the executive producer. Gourmet Club won the Venla award for best television movie of the year, as well as Golden Nymph award for best screenplay at the 45th Monte Carlo Television Festival and Best Foreign Film at the Long Island International Film Expo in New York.

In 1999 Snapper Films invested and formed a partnership with Open City Films, a New York-based production company whose credits include Sundance 1999 winner Three Seasons (distributed by October Films and starring Harvey Keitel) and Down to You (distributed by Miramax Films and starring Freddie Prinze Jr. and Julia Stiles).