Jalmari Helander
Finnish screenwriter and film director (born 1976)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jalmari Helander (born 21 July 1976)[1] is a Finnish screenwriter and film director. He is known for the 2010 film Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, the 2014 action-adventure Big Game starring Samuel L. Jackson, and the 2022 WWII action film Sisu. Before turning to feature films, Helander directed several short films and award-winning television commercials.[2] In 2025, it was announced that Helander would direct John Rambo, the upcoming prequel to First Blood (1982) in the Rambo franchise.[3][4]
Big Game (2014)
Sisu (2022)
Onni Tommila (nephew)
Jalmari Helander | |
|---|---|
Jalmari Helander in 2010 | |
| Born | 21 July 1976 Helsinki, Finland |
| Occupations | Film director, screenwriter |
| Notable work | Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) Big Game (2014) Sisu (2022) |
| Relatives | Jorma Tommila (brother-in-law) Onni Tommila (nephew) |
Helander is the brother-in-law of actor Jorma Tommila and the maternal uncle of Jorma's son Onni, both of whom have acted in his films.[citation needed]
Personal life
Helander has stated that he has panic disorder [5]
Filmography
Short film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Jäämies | Yes | Uncredited | Also editor |
| Maximillian Tarzan | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2001 | Ukkonen | Yes | Yes | |
| 2003 | Rare Exports, Inc. | Yes | Yes | |
| 2005 | Rare Exports: The Official Safety Instructions | Yes | Yes | |
| 2006 | Fakiiri | Yes | Story | Also producer |
| 2011 | Viimeinen pisara | Yes | Yes | |
Feature film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale | Yes | Yes |
| 2014 | Big Game | Yes | Yes |
| 2022 | Sisu | Yes | Yes |
| 2025 | Sisu: Road to Revenge[6] | Yes | Yes |
| 2027 | John Rambo | Yes | No |
TV series
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2017–2018 | Wingman | 9 episodes |
| 2020 | Perfect Commando | 10 episodes |
| 2021 | Karkurit | 1 episode |
