Awards

2017
Berlinale, Internationale Filmfestspiele, Berlin, Germany
Silver Bear for Best Director
Toivon tuolla puolen (2017) (The Other Side of Hope)

2016
Cannes Film Festival, Festival de Cannes, France
Carrosse d’Or Award (Golden Coach)
awarded by French Directors’ Association SRF

2012
Filmiaura, Association of Finnish Film Professionals
Best Direction Jussi Award
Best Film Jussi Award
Best Script Jussi Award
Le Havre (2011)

National Society of Film Critics NSFC, USA
NSFC Award, 3rd place
Le Havre (2011)

Palm Springs International Film Festival, USA
Bridging the Borders Award, 2nd place
Le Havre (2011)

Viitasaari Film Week, Finland
Humanismin käsi, the Honorary Humanism Award
Le Havre (2011)

2011
Cannes Film Festival, Festival de Cannes, France
The International Federation of Film Critics, Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique FIPRESCI Prize, Competition
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury, Special Mention
Le Havre (2011)

Chicago International Film Festival, USA
Gold Hugo, Best International Feature
Le Havre (2011)
For the mastery of film director Aki Kaurismäki and his stylized yet very humane depiction of illegal immigration.

Torino Film Festival TFF, Italy
Gran Premio Torino Award
Le Havre (2011)

St. Petersburg International Film Festival Kinoforum, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Audience Award
Le Havre (2011)

National Board of Review (of Motion Pictures) NBR, USA
Top Five Foreign Language Films Award
Le Havre (2011)

Louis Delluc Award, Prix Louis –Delluc, France. Louis Delluc was the first french filmjournalist.
Prix Louis-Delluc, Best French Film
Le Havre (2011)

Munich Film Festival, Filmfest München, Germany
Arri-Zeiss-Award, Best Foreign Film
Le Havre (2011)

Reykjavik International Film Festival RIFF, Iceland
RIFF Audience Award
Creative Excellency Honorary Award
Le Havre (2011)

2008
Academician of Art. President of Finland Tarja Halonen nominated Aki Kaurismäki as the new Academician of Art on May 23.

2007
Filmiaura, Association of Finnish Film Professionals
Best Film Jussi Award
Laitakaupungin valot (2006) (Lights In the Dusk)

Italian Film Festival, Il Cinema Ritrovato organized by the film archive Cineteca Bologna
Pier Paolo Pasolini Prize
Aki Kaurismäki thanked for the prize “My heart is full”. The prize was given by the Pasolini Foundation for the second time.

2006
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Tallinna Pimedate Ööde Filmfestival PÖFF,Estonia
Lifetime Achievement Award
Laitakaupungin valot (2006) (Lights in the Dusk) was the closing film for the 10th edition of the festival.

International Baltic Star Prize, Saint Petersburg, Russia
The prize is given to people who work in art and culture in the Baltic area. It is given as recognition for work that develops and strengthens humanitarian contacts in the area.

Association of Finnish Film Directors SELO r.y.
Director of the Year Award

Viitasaari Film Week, Finland
Certificate of honour for humanistic input and artistic achievement.

Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
State Quality Prize for Film
Laitakaupungin valot (2006) (Lights in the Dusk)

2005
Arts Council of Finland
Five year grant starting 1 Jan 2005

Academy of the Arts, Berlin, Germany
Berlin Art Prize
Kaurismäki donated prize money to building 300 wells in Africa.

2004
Association of Film Critics and Scriptwriters, Associació Catalana de Crítics i Escriptors Cinematogràfics de Catalunya, Spain
ACCEC Award, Best Foreign Film
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) (The Man Without a Past)

The International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography Plus Camerimage/Camerimage, Toruń, Poland
Special Award, Best Duo: Director – Cinematographer shared with Timo Salminen.

2003
Filmiaura, Association of Finnish Film Professionals
Best Direction Jussi Award
Best Film Jussi Award shared with producer Ilkka Metsola.
Best Script Jussi Award
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) (The Man Without a Past)

Palm Springs International Film Festival, USA
The International Federation of Film Critics, Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique FIPRESCI Prize
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) (The Man Without a Past)
For touching representation of a man who, in spite of tragic circumstances, reinvents himself without losing his humanity and humour. In a droll style and with deceptive simplicity, the film evokes a classical moviemaking approach.

Bangkok International Film Festival, Thailand
Golden Kinnaree Award, Best Screenplay
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) (The Man Without a Past)

Fajr International Film Festival, Iran
Crystal Simorgh, International Competition – Best Screenplay
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) (The Man Without a Past)

Berlin International Film Festival, Berlinale, Germany
European John Templeton Film Prize given by INTERFILM, International Interchurch Film Organisation.
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) (The Man Without a Past)

National Society of Film Critics NFSC, USA
NFSC Award, Best Foreign Language Film
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) (The Man Without a Past)

Swedish Film Institute, Svenska Filminstitutet
Guldbagge Award, Best Foreign Film
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) (The Man Without a Past)

Danish Church
Gabriel Prize
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) (The Man without a Past)

Amnesty International, Finnish section
Kynttilä Prize. In recognition of working for human rights.

2002
Cannes Film Festival, Festival de Cannes, France
Grand Prix
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) (The Man Without a Past)

Huesca International Film Festival, Festival Internacional de Cine de Huesca, Spain
Luis Buñuel Award
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) (The Man Without a Past)
The award is given in recognition of accomplishments in film to a director or an actor still active in the field

Flanders International Film Festival, Internationaal Film Festival van Vlaanderen – Gent, Ghent, Belgium
Grand Prix
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) (The Man Without a Past)

Hamburg Film Festival, Filmfest Hamburg, Germany
Douglas Sirk Award
The award is given to a personality who has made outstanding achievements within film culture and film industry. Named after director Hans Detlef Sierck. The award has been given at Filmfest Hamburg since 1995. Sierck worked in Hollywood and later changed his name to Douglas Sirk.

Lübeck Nordic Film Days, Nordische Filmtage Lübeck, Germany
Audience Award of the Lübecker Nachrichten newspaper
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) (The Man Without a Past)

San Sebastián International Film Festival, Festival de San Sebastián, Spain
The International Federation of Film Critics, Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique FIPRESCI
FIPRESCI Prize, Film of the Year
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) (The Man Without a Past)

Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
State Quality Prize for Film
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) (The Man without a Past)

Nordic Council´s Film Prize
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) (The Man without a Past)

Central Organisation of Finnish Film Producers SEK ry
Kultainen kela Award, Producer Of the Year

Social Policy Association in Finland
Social Policy Award

Suoja-Pirtti ry, Finland
Arskan patsas -statue
Mies vailla menneisyyttä (2002) (The Man without a Past)

2001
National Order of the Legion of Honour, L’ordre national de la Légion d’honneur,France
Badge of honour, Knight

Helsinki Animal Protection Society, HESY ry
Topelius Prize for animal protection

1999
Berlin International Film Festival, Berlinale, Germany
International Movie Theatre Association, Confédération Internationale des Cinémas d’Art et Essai
C.I.C.A.E. Award – Honorable Mention, Forum of New Cinema
Juha (1999)

1997
Filmiaura, Association of Finnish Film Professionals
Best Direction Jussi Award
Best Film Jussi Award
Best Script Jussi Award
Kauas pilvet karkaavat (1996) (Drifting Clouds)

Italian Cultural Institute and Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
International Ennio Flaiano Prize for Literature, Theater, Cinema and Television
Golden Pegasus Award, Best Director tied with Gabriele Salvatores for Nirvana (1997)
Kauas pilvet karkaavat (1996) (Drifting Clouds)

Tromsø International Film Festival, Tromsø Internasjonale Filmfestival TIFF, Norway
Import Award
Kauas pilvet karkaavat (1996) (Drifting Clouds)

Belgian Film Critics Association, Union de la Critique de Cinéma UCC
Grand Prix, Best Film
Kauas pilvet karkaavat (1996) (Drifting Clouds)

Anjalankoski Film Prize, Finland
Kauas pilvet karkaavat (1996) (Drifting Clouds)

Gijón International Film Festival, Festival Internacional de Cine de Xixón, Spain
Lifetime achievement award

National Council for Cinema, Finland
State Prize for Cinema

1996
Cannes Film Festival, Festival de Cannes, France
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury – Special Mention
Kauas pilvet karkaavat (1996) (Drifting Clouds)

São Paulo International Film Festival, Mostra Internacional de São Paulo, Brazil
Audience Award, Best Feature
Kauas pilvet karkaavat (1996) (Drifting Clouds)

Sarajevo Film Festival, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Honorable mention
Kauas pilvet karkaavat (1996) (Drifting Clouds)

Vevey International Comedy Film Festival, Vevey Festival International du Film de
Comédie, Switzerland
Chaplin´s Golden Stick Prize
Vevey Communal Prize
Golden Chaplin Press Prize
Kauas pilvet karkaavat (1996) (Drifting Clouds)

Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
State Quality Prize for Film
Kauas pilvet karkaavat (1996) (Drifting Clouds)

1995
Filmiaura, Association of Finnish Film Professionals
Best Production Jussi Award
Pidä huivista kiinni, Tatjana (1994) (Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatiana)

1994
Pro Finlandia –medal given by the Order of the Lion of Finland

Nordic Film Festival in Kaliningrad, Festivalj kino Severnyx stran, Russia
Special Award of the Jury
Special Award of the Critics
Pidä huivista kiinni, Tatjana (1994) (Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatiana)

1993
Filmiaura, Association of Finnish Film Professionals
Best Direction Jussi Award
La Vie de Bohème (1992)

Italian National Syndicate of Film, Sindicato Nazionale dei Giornalisti Cinematografici Italiani
European Silver Ribbon, Nastro d’argento Europeo
La Vie de Bohème (1992)

National Society of Film Critics NSFC, USA
NSFC Award, 2nd place, Best Foreign Language Film
Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö (1990) (The Match Factory Girl)

New Zealand International Film Festival NZIFF former Wellington Film Festival
Projector Operator´s Choice for Best Short Film
These Boots (1992)

1992
Berlin International Film Festival, Berlinale, Germany
The International Federation of Film Critics, Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique FIPRESCI
FIPRESCI Prize, Forum of New Cinema
La Vie de Bohème 1992 (Boheemielämää 1992)

New York Film Critics NYFCC, USA
NYFCC Award, 2nd place, Best Foreign Language Film
Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö 1990 (The Match Factory Girl 1990)

Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
State Quality Prize for Film
La Vie de Bohème 1992 (Boheemielämää 1992)

1991
Filmiaura, Association of Finnish Film Professionals
Best Direction Jussi Award
Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö 1990 (The Match Factory Girl 1990)

National Society of Film Critics NSFC, USA
NSFC Award, Best Foreign Language Film
Ariel 1988

Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
State Quality Prize for Film
I Hired a Contract Killer 1990

Animalia, Federation for the Protection of Animals,
Pro Animalia Prize to a person who has visibly improved the rights and well-being of animals

Anjalankoski Film Prize, Finland
Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö 1990 (The Match Factory Girl 1990)
I Hired a Contract Killer 1990

Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
State Quality Prize for Film
I Hired a Contract Killer 1990

1990
Berlin International Film Festival, Berlinale, Germany
International Interchurch Film Organisation for Cinema, Internationale Kirchliche Filmorganisation INTERFILM
INTERFILM Award, Forum of New Cinema
Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö 1990 (The Match Factory Girl 1990)
International Catholic Organization for Cinema and Audiovisual OCIC
OCIC Award, Honorable Mention, Forum of New Cinema
Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö 1990 (The Match Factory Girl 1990)

National Society of Film Critics NSFC, USA
NSFC Award, Best Foreign Language Film
Ariel (1988)

Viitasaari Film Week, Finland
Humanismin käsi, the Honorary Humanism Award
Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö (1990) (The Match Factory Girl)

1989
Moscow International Film Festival, Moskóvskiy myezhdoonaródniy kinofyestivál MIFF, Russia

The International Federation of Film Critics, Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique FIPRESCI
FIPRESCI Prize
Ariel (1988)

Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
State Quality Prize for Film
Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989) and Tulitikkutehtaan tyttö (1990) (The Match Factory Girl)

1988
Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
State Quality Prize for Film
Ariel (1988)

1987
Filmiaura, Association of Finnish Film Professionals
Best Film Jussi Award
Varjoja paratiisissa (1986) (Shadows in Paradise)

Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
State Quality Prize for Film
Hamlet liikemaailmassa (1987) (Hamlet Goes Business)

1986
State Film Award for Artist, Finland

1984
Filmiaura, Association of Finnish Film Professionals
Best Debut Film Jussi Award
Best Script Jussi Award shared with Pauli Pentti
Rikos ja rangaistus (1983) (Crime and Punishment)

Viitasaari Film Week, Finland
Humanismin käsi, the Honorary Humanism Award
Rikos ja rangaistus (1983) (Crime and Punishment)

1983
Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
State Quality Prize for Film
Rikos ja rangaistus (1983) (Crime and Punishment)

1982
Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
State Quality Prize for Film
Arvottomat (1982) (The Worthless)

State Film Award for Artist, Finland