Q-teatteri

With a distinctive approach to DJing, Maryisonacid seamlessly blends diasporic African sounds with groovy electronic tracks and techno, a style deeply influenced by her upbringing in Paris’s Barbès district and her involvement in Berlin’s eclectic and diverse party scene.

Maryisonacid’s passion for music is the cornerstone of her sets, transforming each listening experience into a unique and cinematic journey. She defies traditional DJ set conventions by incorporating elements of her heritage and traditions, infusing her performances with an experimental, punk ethos. “From Afro to Techno, and everything in between,” she approaches music in her own unapologetic way, ensuring no genre is outside the limits of her skills. Versatile as can be, you will find her spinning records at an art gallery just as much as at a steamy Berlin club.

Some of her remarkable past performances include Berghain’s Panorama Bar, Contact Tokyo, and Printworks London, as well as her current residency at Tresor Berlin. No matter where in the world, Maryisonacid delivers skillful storytelling through her sets, with the energy and ease of an experienced selector who knows how to provide the perfect soundtrack to the situation at hand.

Uncover the true cost of power in this party-based RPG deckbuilder with roguelite storytelling. Navigate treacherous sky islands, build unique decks for a crew of unlikely heroes, and breach the storm to deliver revolution to the skies.

In Against All Skies, you can explore themes of truth and hope, with a unique art style and challenging deckbuilder combat, set around a growing storm across the sky islands.

Against All Skies is showcased at ODDfest as a part of the Espoo Game LAB Game Corner.

Aino Ahlnäs is the Creative Director of Kalevala responsible for the company’s portfolio, brand, and marketing, and a member of the executive team. She has over 15 years of international experience in Finnish design and brand houses, including Marimekko and Fiskars, working with Iittala and Arabia.

At Kalevala, Aino boldly drives the company’s design heritage forward—combining a timeless, sculptural design language with contemporary brand thinking and the international design landscape. She is inspired by collaboration and by bringing together diverse talents in ways that spark something new and meaningful.

Among the first collections Aino has led for Kalevala Jewelry are the Männyt and Itu collections, as well as the Kalevala x Marimekko collaborations, all reflecting her vision of contemporary jewelry design.

At Kalevala, Aino is motivated not only by a people-centered culture but also by the company’s strong core values: all jewelry is made in Finland at its own factory, and one-third of Kalevala Jewelry’s profit is annually donated to charity projects and the well-being of the employees.

Aki Pöntinen is an expert generalist with a background in startups, gaming, consulting, and business development.

As COO of ODDfest, he is building a platform for the creative economy that connects talent, companies, and public sector actors — turning creativity into cultural and economic impact.

His work focuses on first-principles thinking, ecosystem building, and creating more human ways of collaborating across art, business, and society.

Having failed to become an international jewel thief, Alf Rehn currently suffers a professorship of innovation, design, and management at the University of Southern Denmark.

Alisha Hasan is a producer, strategist, and transmedia innovation advocate working at the intersection of film, television, gaming, and emerging storytelling formats.

She is the Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Helsinki Film Lab, a global platform that develops cross-industry education, curated matchmaking, and experimental programmes designed to unlock new pathways for creative IP.

Her initiatives include the Transmedia Accelerator Programmes (inc. game jams), Film × Game Matchmaking, the Beyond Gaming Transmedia Summit with Pocket Gamer Connects, and the Film × Game × Book online matchmaking series, all focused on helping creators and studios explore how stories and worlds can evolve across formats and industries.

With more than 16 years of international experience across Finland, the UK, and Malta, Hasan has worked across production, marketing, licensing, and branded content, including roles at TV5/Discovery, Yellow Film & TV, Red Bee Media, Kino Lorber, Game Lounge, and Gutsy Animations. Hasan is particularly interested in how rapid prototyping, cross-industry collaboration, and new development models can reshape the future of storytelling.

Amin Babadi is a Senior Game AI and Animation Programmer at Bugbear Entertainment, with over 15 years of experience in game development and applied AI and machine learning research. Currently, she serves as the main developer behind the AI and animation systems for Wreckfest 2, a racing simulator game for PC and consoles.

She also holds a Ph.D. in computer science and has published peer-reviewed work on character control and animation. More specifically, her thesis focused on machine learning techniques for synthesizing physically simulated animations.

Anastasia Lemberg Lvova is an artist and founder of De Structura, a contemporary art platform working in art-based cross-innovation. Her work operates at the intersection of art, policy, and social transformation, exploring how creative practices can contribute to more agile and forward-looking systems in Europe.

With a background in fine arts and experience in international cultural cooperation, she brings together artists, researchers, and professionals from diverse fields to develop new approaches to innovation. Through De Structura, she advocates for cross-disciplinary collaboration as a way to address complex societal challenges and rethink traditional institutional structures.

As both a practitioner and strategist, Anastasia engages with questions of Europe’s competitiveness, sustainability, and cultural development. Her work emphasises the role of artistic thinking in unlocking new perspectives and fostering meaningful change across sectors.

Anastasia Maydanova is a communications professional currently working at KONE on global modernization initiatives. Before moving into the corporate world, she worked at a creative PR agency, helping brands and creative projects build visibility through storytelling, partnerships, and strategic communication.

Her background combines corporate communications, startup ecosystem, and creative industries, which naturally pulled her toward broader questions around business, innovation, and growth. Outside of work, she is also interested in art and mixed media, especially as ways to explore ideas, aesthetics, and cultural narratives beyond traditional business environments.

She is especially interested in the intersection of strategy, communication, and emerging ideas: the point where storytelling stops being just marketing and starts shaping opportunities, companies, and communities.

Andrii Barmalii is a talented multi-instrumentalist and composer with a keen interest in exploring and expressing the world through the saxophone and interdisciplinary music-making. He delves into sensual reflection on the social, political, and personal, navigating the depths of technology and human destiny.

Widely recognized for his numerous collaborations with prominent Ukrainian bands, Barmalii has also contributed to theatrical productions and performed at major national and international festivals. He is a serving member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Anna is the Founder and CEO of Bamla, advising organizations on strategic communications, public relations, and public affairs.

She specializes in demanding communications and crisis situations, helping companies and communities navigate complex public environments. Before founding Bamla, she led communications and PR for organizations including Slush and the Finnish Venture Capital Association.

Annabelle Chansler brings a distinctly ODD energy to the intersection of games and culture, curating a gaming showcase, the Espoo Game LAB Game Corner, that celebrates creativity, community, and experimentation. She connects developers, players, and industry voices to create spaces where ideas can collide and evolve. Known for turning vision into reality, she combines sharp organization with a hands-on, get-it-done approach—whether coordinating demos, shaping speaker lineups, or making sure every detail runs smoothly behind the scenes.

Deeply passionate about indie games, Chansler champions projects that push boundaries and invite new ways of thinking about play. Her work reflects a belief that games are not just entertainment but a living, collaborative art form.

Anni Kröger, known for her powerful voice and energetic stage presence, is forging a new wave of country-influenced music driven by danceability and honest lyricism. Kröger aims to bring the relaxed and timeless spirit of country music into both Finnish everyday life and celebrations in Finland.

Anni Kröger will take the stage at ODDfest as part of the special festival edition of INDIE SHOWCASE.

Annieeva, a singer-songwriter originally from Oulu, opens the doors to her darker inner rooms and tells stories with raw honesty.

Creating pop schlager, Annieeva writes and composes her own songs. Through her music, she tells the story of the underdog finally daring to show the world who they truly are. Her songs serve as empowering reminders that sensitivity is strength and that the greatest stories are often born in the quietest corners.

Annieeva will take the stage at ODDfest as part of the special festival edition of INDIE SHOWCASE.

A sound mind in a sound body, Anttoni Palm creates audio without borders.

Palm’s diverse aural projects span, i.e., soundscapes, radio theater, masking solutions, branding, erotica, and kids’ audio games. He has produced audio concepts for marketing, education, wellness, health care, hospitality, culture, and much more. Is there anything he hasn’t done in the field of sound, you may ask? “Yeah, sonic weapons are a bit outside of my value map. Although some of my own music may be interpreted as such…”, Palm answers.

Currently, Palm builds soundscapes in physical spaces with his company, Äänitoimisto A#, and enhances customer experiences through sound. What we hear affects how we feel, and how we feel affects how we function. This, in turn, translates to better working spaces—and this is why thinking more about sound is a sound strategy for brands and organisations.

Anttu Koistinen is one of Finland’s leading AI experts, combining deep technological expertise with over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience. As the founder and CEO of CasvuGen Ltd, his mission is to make the professional use of AI accessible to anyone.

Koistinen is a central figure in Finland’s AI landscape. He serves as a trainer for the country’s top training companies, including Metropolia, Professio, and Tieturi, and is the lead trainer of the popular AI Master programme at the Management Institute of Finland. He also holds the position of Vice Chairman of AaltoAI, the artificial intelligence community at Aalto University.

With over 300 AI training sessions delivered and thousands of knowledge workers coached, Koistinen is known for his practical and energising style, and his ability to make AI feel approachable and actionable for anyone.

Ari Pulkkinen is an award-winning composer, sound designer, and the visionary Founder of AriTunes Ltd. With over two decades of professional experience in the vanguard of the Finnish game industry, Pulkkinen has defined the auditory identity of global icons and cult game classics alike. From the world-conquering melodies and sounds of the original Angry Birds to the high-octane, cinematic soundscapes of Housemarque’s Resogun, Nex Machina, and Super Stardust HD, his work is a masterclass in blending different genres with unique creative wonder.

His career began in 2003 as Audio Director and member of the Creative Director group and board at Frozenbyte, where he established the sonic foundation for the award winning Trine series and Shadowgrounds. This early fusion of leadership and creative execution shaped his creative philosophy: a commitment to vision with a unique sense of artistic wonder.

A “Pocket Gamer Hall of Famer” and “Finnish Game Developer of the Year”, Pulkkinen’s contributions have earned top honors from IGN, Red Bull Music, and the Game Audio Awards. Pulkkinen remains a dedicated world-builder and visionary, translating complex narratives into immersive emotional experiences that resonate across platforms and generations.

Asaf Peled is a Helsinki-based event producer and entrepreneur whose work spans club culture, festivals, concerts, and experiential productions.

As the co-founder of MISC., he has spent nearly three decades building events and concepts centered around atmosphere, community, and emotional connection, collaborating with artists, venues, brands, and cultural institutions both in Finland and internationally.

His work ranges from underground nightlife and large-scale public events to multidisciplinary cultural productions, including projects such as Classical Trancelations, combining electronic music, symphony orchestra, and immersive live experience. Drawing from a long background in electronic music and club culture, Peled focuses on how events can create genuine engagement, belonging, and lasting emotional impact.

“Culture Creator & Fan Advocate. I create unforgettable fan experiences…”

With over 20 years in brand marketing and live entertainment, Ashley has guided teams crafting award-winning experiences for beloved franchises like Rick and Morty, Powerpuff Girls, Steven Universe, League of Legends, VALORANT, and more.

Ashley is thrilled to be at Supercell Games, translating the worlds of Clash of Clans, Brawl Stars, and more into real-world adventures. She specializes in connecting fans to the stories they love through unexpected moments that foster community and drive new revenue.

From founding the Adult Swim Festival to launching viral campaigns for the legendary Beatles and indie acts like LCD Soundsystem, her work pushes the boundaries of creativity and executional excellence.

Ashley is always curious about what’s next. By leveraging emerging technologies, she enhances immersive storytelling to maximize impact. Ashley inspires teams with a clear vision, driving collective success while uplifting one another.

As she says: “Let’s create the impossible together.”

Assembly follows visionary artist Rashaad Newsome as he transforms a historic military facility into a Black queer utopia, blending art, AI, and performance. Through stunning visuals and deeply personal performances, Assembly captures the transformative power of creativity as a fractured community comes together to find strength, solidarity, and liberation.

With over 25 years of experience in leading change and innovation in media, education, and policy, Atte Jääskeläinen is currently the President of Sitra.

Prior to this, he was the Director General of Higher Education and Research policy at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland (2020-23). Jääskeläinen worked for 20 years as Senior Editor and CEO of three major Finnish news organizations (Yle, STT, and Helsingin Sanomat).

Jääskeläinen initially completed a law degree at the University of Helsinki, and was trained on the bench. He completed his dissertation in 2023 and is now a Doctor of Science (Economics and Business Administration). Jääskeläinen was also a Professor of Practice at LUT University (2018-20), a fellow at Oxford University’s Reuters Institute (2017-18), and a Senior Fellow at the LSE (2018-20).

A performance curated by Avanti!’s harpist Päivi Severeide tests the limits of the harp: how it works solo, what happens to it in a quartet—and what it sounds like when it encounters rap.

On the classical side, the program features the latest cutting edge of harp music from the output of Laura Hynninen, as well as timeless solo works by Kaija Saariaho. The stage will present a rare sight: four harps at once—a sound heard extremely rarely.

In the second half, things shift into a new gear as Paleface takes over the stage together with the harpists. The rhythm is handled by a backing section—the result is an exceptionally stylish collision between classical music and rap.

Avanti!:

Founded in 1983, the chamber orchestra Avanti! is known for its bold and open-minded programming: it has presented numerous world premieres and Finnish premieres, as well as created boundary-breaking concert concepts and interdisciplinary collaborations. A cornerstone of the ensemble’s activity is the Suvisoitto festival, held annually in Porvoo. Avanti! is based at Cable Factory (Kaapelitehdas) in Ruoholahti, Helsinki, which unique industrial setting can be experienced monthly through the Avanti! Club—always on the middle Saturday of each month. Since 2024, the ensemble’s Artistic Director has been pianist Joonas Ahonen.

Banjo Copilot is one of the worst-performing hire-on-demand musicians on Warp-a-Bard and has accumulated an unpayable amount of debt because of it.

For a shot at redemption and a clean slate, Banjo joins the reality show “The Unredeemables” on the planet with the worst music in the entire multiverse: Earth.

If success is impossible here, Banjo is truly unredeemable. Contractually required to constantly advertise songs and perform, failure to comply results in the loss of rights to self-expression, self-replication, and self-termination.

Britta Mischer is a filmmaker with a strong focus on culture and documentary storytelling, complemented by experience in investigative journalism, factual formats, and visual projects such as music videos and corporate films.

Her work centers on journalistic precision, a refined sense of dramaturgy, and a perceptive eye for people and their stories.

Mischer is especially known for her work on 25films’ Bar25—Days Out of Time (2012) and Boogie Entertainment’s Darüber staunt die Welt (2020).

“If you’re looking for safe, I’m not your guy. If you’re looking for change, I just might be.”

A disruptor and educator with a liking for Batman suits, Claus Raasted serves as Director of the College of Extraordinary Experiences, and is the International Dean at Bhavan’s College MSEED Management School of Events, Entertainment, and Design. When not at the office, he travels the globe as a keynote speaker, and is the author of 47 books, the latest of which has the title “UTOPIA LEADERSHIP: Six principles for leading with power”. Raasted also has a past in reality TV, but these days, who hasn’t?

Clavert is a Helsinki-based artist operating at the intersection of experimental hip-hop, electronic production, and contemporary Finnish expression. His music combines dense symbolism, instinctive lyricism, and emotionally charged storytelling, balancing raw immediacy with a cinematic and almost mythic atmosphere.

Built through an experimental and intuitive creative process, Clavert’s sound merges heavy, distorted textures with psychedelic minimalism, vintage synth tones, hypnotic rhythms, and contemporary rap aesthetic. His productions shift fluidly between expansive soundscapes and stripped-back intensity, creating music that feels both futuristic and deeply human.

Layered over this is a dynamic vocal approach that moves between melodic vulnerability, chant-like resonance, and explosive delivery, giving his performances a distinctive emotional range and presence.

Clavert has gained wide recognition with songs like “kirkko” and “blondi” from the 2025 project sorcery tape, which has accumulated over 33,000 streams and earned attention within the finnish independent music scene. His upcoming project ”clavertí” arriving in fall 2026 marks the next phase of his evolving artistic identity.

Connection Interrupted is a fresh electronic music act consisting of two cosmic adventurers. Their soundscape is driven by synthesizers, combined with industrial-inspired, aggressively pounding beats, cinematic ambient textures, dreamlike nostalgia, retro video game aesthetics, and striking visual elements.

Their stage design—built from recycled materials—along with programmed lights, song-specific visuals, and MIDI controllers integrated into the set pieces are all created by the duo themselves.

The result is an intense, visually unique, and immersive experience that feels like a story unfolding.

What sets the performance apart within Finland’s music scene is its DIY nature: a self-produced, independently funded spectacle that feels all the more soulful because of it. It’s like a journey through space, moving between dreams and nightmares, while keeping you dancing.

DanceWorks Helsinki is a fresh initiative in the Finnish dance field, established in 2024. Its mission is to strengthen the visibility and impact of dance art in Finland.

The organisation works to expand the audience base for dance by producing artistically high-quality, professional works not only within traditional dance institutions and stages, but also beyond them. It also seeks to spark critical discussion around the development of operating environments, education, and leadership practices within the dance sector, while encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with dance; both as participants and as audiences.

For ODDfest, DanceWorks Helsinki is bringing DanceWorlds. An event that brings peculiar moving and dancing creatures to life, embodying dreams, hopes, secrets, and desires, and igniting your imagination. You can let the creatures move you, touch you, maybe tell a story to you, or share a secret… or maybe you can share your dream, secret, or wish with one of them? Towards the end of this event, the creatures will gravitate towards the center of the main hall and transform into dancers of various styles. You are invited to join this party!

Dení Vázquez Ackermann is a Certified Whole Person Coach, Happiness Trainer, Public Image Engineer, and co-author of The Happiness of Coaching. With an MA in Public Image Engineering and a BA in Communications, she helps people reconnect with their emotions, gain clarity, improve relationships, and create more meaningful and fulfilling lives.

After years in the luxury industry, witnessing burnout and going through personal hardship, she discovered the transformative power of gratitude, purpose, and positive psychology, which led her to her true calling: the Science of Happiness. Today, she leads coaching programs, meditation workshops, conferences, and happiness training for companies and schools, focusing on emotional intelligence, resilience, wellbeing, and authentic leadership.

Her mission is to help people cultivate self-awareness, confidence, healthier relationships, and inner balance—contributing to a more conscious, loving, and human-centered world through happiness, beauty, and meaningful transformation.

Dennis Schmees works across culture, community, strategy, and public life, with a background spanning social work, philosophy, film theory, journalism, marketing, and communications.

Today, he works with Holzmarkt25/Kater Berlin and the European Commission in Brussels, focusing on cultural spaces, community, and the conditions that allow urban life to flourish. His work is driven by a long-standing interest in places where raw, real, or overlooked cultural energy demands attention.

Schmees has recently spoken about the loss of third spaces — the everyday gathering places beyond home and work where culture, art, stories, and community life take shape. His work argues for keeping culture central, accessible, and embedded in the heart of cities.

Dr. Psykerö & Mikko host a safely chaotic dancefloor ritual where bingo meets disco, eurodance, and beloved Finnish classics. With infectious energy, surprise prizes, and an epic finale, they turn your evening into a tasteless but tasty adventure!

Dottir is a law firm with a strong presence in the creative sector. Acting as a legal partner to clients across music, media and entertainment, Dottir provides its clients precise, in-depth, and practical advice on legal matters involving creative work.

Eeva Valtokari, alongside Emil Storgård, is the co-creator of Helsinki community media thehelsgoinon.

By documenting and uplifting grassroots culture, clubs, events, and activism, thehelsgoinon moves people concretely as well as opens dialogue about local and current topics.

In just half a year, and with members Saga Storgård and Ramy Essam joining, thehelsgoinon has built a strong brand and an audience of almost 37,000 without any marketing, advertising, or funding, breaking many rules considered vital for success on social media.

Want to hear how to create a phenomenon out of nothing? Valtokari believes that in this current saturated media field, the new generation yearns for human connection and interaction. She emphasizes the importance of strong ethics as well as refusing to use AI as a creative source.

Valtokari works in press photography and holds a Master of Social Sciences degree from Tampere University, with a major in Journalism.

Electric Elisa continues to enchant curious explorers of life with their music and energy. Helsinki-based Electric Elisa is an electronic (dance) music exploration field. Different genres blend with catchy earworms and euphoric, symphonic elements. Playful and thoughtful, the songs touch on themes of self-knowledge, the human psyche and the universe’s mysteries.

Live, this unique world unfolds through the trio’s sweaty rock-show energy. Raw and whimsical improvisation forms a passionate foundation in the band’s live electronic performance.

Electric Elisa’s debut album Fokus Lazer Sharp was released in early 2026 via Alakulttuuritalo.

Elina Anttila is Director General of the National Museum of Finland and has built her career across the Finnish museum field, from curatorial work to leading museum development at a national level.

Today, she is responsible for Finland’s national cultural history collections and the operations, exhibitions, and programmes of ten state-owned museums and historic sites.

Her work focuses on how cultural heritage stays relevant in a changing society. She has been a strong advocate for diversity, dialogue, and a more living relationship with culture — not as something preserved at a distance, but as something actively shaping how society evolves.

At the core of her thinking is a simple idea: for museums to remain meaningful, they need to continuously rethink how they operate — through new models, new concepts, and new kinds of collaboration.

Elina Sievänen is an experienced game developer and the chair of We in Games Finland Ry, a non-profit organization focusing on equity and inclusion in local games ecosystem. The association runs a mentorship program for people interested in entering, pivoting or advancing their current career in games. WiGFi also hosts a Speaker’s list that helps finding games specialists for interviews, conferences and panels. On top of hosting events in collaboration with various game studios and entities, such as Game Makers of Finland, WiGFi has also published event accessibility guidelines for organizers looking into improving event accessibility.

With over 7 years as a professional character technical director in AAA games and as an active voice in the Helsinki games scene, Elina can be often spotted in most Finnish game dev adjacent events either as a guest or a speaker.

Dr. Elisabet Lahti is a Finnish educator and researcher exploring what inner strength and leadership look like when grounded in the body, creativity, and our interdependence with nature and one another. Her work sits at the intersection of culture, community, and individual experience, with a focus on life-giving expressions of power in times of transformation.

Lahti is widely known for her work on sisu, the Finnish concept of deep fortitude. Her PhD research at Aalto University brought this age-old idea into contemporary conversations around leadership, resilience, and everyday life, drawing from applied psychology, somatic practices, systems thinking, and lived experience.

As part of her research journey, Lahti ran and cycled 2,400 kilometres across New Zealand to study how inner strength is accessed and sustained. Through talks, gatherings, and books such as Gentle Power and Sisun alkemia, she invites people to see strength as relational, creative, and shared.

Emma Ilves is the CEO of Helsinki Casting & Blockbusters Gang, Finland’s leading film and TV crewing and casting service. With a career rooted in film marketing and crew management since 2012, she brings a broad, hands-on understanding of the audiovisual industry. She also serves as Chair of Filmiaura, the organisation behind the Jussi Awards, and as a Board member of VFX Helsinki.

In 2023, Ilves founded a Creative AI peer network for film and media professionals in Finland. The network brings together industry professionals to explore what AI means for creative work both in practice and for the industry at large.

Emmi Kärnä is a Finnish game designer, creative entrepreneur, and experience design freelancer whose work spans immersive, narrative-driven experiences—from live escape rooms to large-scale participatory events, as well as experimental live experience concepts and narrative design within game development teams. Her practice centers on crafting “aha” moments through mystery, discovery, interpretation, and playful disruption, combining storytelling, spatial design, and collaborative processes. She has contributed to projects with major industry actors such as Netflix, Sanoma, and Supercell, while also developing independent, location-based works that foreground curiosity, mystery, and audience engagement.

Her work is further shaped by a strong research dimension in human-computer interaction and game studies. As a doctoral researcher at Aalto University, she explored interpretative and ambiguous player experiences, examining how uncertainty and interpretative player agency can enrich game design. She recently received an artist grant from Suomen Kulttuurirahasto to support her artistic work in immersive art experiences, alongside her ongoing practice at the intersection of research and creative production.

Erottajan Kulma is a duo serving up stories rooted in everyday life that cut deep on the dancefloor. Formed by Gedotebo and Ipo Laine, the project balances Laine’s delicate vocals with Gedotebo’s effortless storytelling. Founded in 2020, the duo’s music exists somewhere between Finnish rap and schlager-infused drill-house, maintaining a playful tone without compromising on narrative depth. Their inspiration comes from personal life events and the shared experiences of their wider friend group over the years.

Together with featuring artist Yannick, Erottajan Kulma will take the stage at ODDfest as part of the special festival edition of INDIE SHOWCASE.

Esa Saarinen is a regular guy from Hyvinkää, Finland, who lives in the center of Helsinki on the street Bulevardi (”the Boulevard”), a street he loves for its green, middle-European flavour and for its nearness to Cafe Ekberg, a favorite hang-out.

He is a philosopher of everyday life who wants to help people to flourish in their lives, who loves his family, and struggles to improve his own act. The big dream is to walk on his home street, Bulevardi, at the age of 80, completely bald, wearing a pink tuxedo, and tremendously in love with the Lady of His Life, the Queen, looking at her in the same way as he did at the time he was courting her in the early 1980’s (Saarinen already owns the Pink Tuxedo—a gift from participants of one of his Paphos Seminars).

Espoo Game LAB is a game development programme and creative hub based in Otaniemi, Espoo, supporting emerging developers and early-stage studios in building games and launching their careers in the industry.

Working at the intersection of creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship, the programme brings together talent from diverse backgrounds to develop playable games while gaining hands-on experience in game design, programming, content production, game production, and business development.

Espoo Game LAB is part of the Game Hub for SMEs in the Capital Region project (2023–2026), co-funded by the City of Espoo and the European Union.

At ODDfest, Espoo Game LAB co-hosts the Game Corner at Tavastia, showcasing a selection of upcoming studios and games developed within the programme, and creating space for new collaborations between games, art, and technology.

Kottonen

Eva Kottonen is an author and journalist who loves the magic and power of words. Kottonen enjoys talking to new people and learning from them, and is especially interested in neurodivergence, both as an individual experience and a cultural phenomenon.

Kottonen’s book with co-author, Jaana Haapaluoma-Höglund, ‘Aloittamista vaille täydellinen – ADHD työelämässä’ (Like, 2025) has inspired numerous readers and received praise for giving a voice to ADHD people themselves.

Haapaluoma-Höglund

Jaana Haapaluoma-Höglund is an Oulu-based journalist and non-fiction author for whom human connection and understanding human phenomena are at the heart of her work. Following her ADHD diagnosis in 2022, she co-authored the book ‘Aloittamista vaille täydellinen – ADHD työelämässä’ (Like, 2025) with Eva Kottonen. The book has since received widespread acclaim.

At the moment, Haapaluoma-Höglund and Kottonen are working on their second book about ADHD and neurodivergence.

Eve’s always around for the dance and the sound…

For a decade, Eve has been exploring alternative arts, cultures, and events around the world—smoothly shifting her perspectives from a creative producer to an immersed observer and a performing artist.

Inspired by the dancefloors, she’s been mixing music since 2024, with her public sets counting up to ten, in Finland and in Germany.

Eve has a clear and flowy intuitive audio vision, from which her distinct soundscapes are created and curiously curated for different spaces. Her bliss is in aesthetic cinematic sounds, wide and deep bass, nature-infused elements, and sparkling melodies—playing it soft and sweet, always unique.

Rush Tower is a Tower Defense game where new paths are procedurally added over the course of the game. Can you keep up as the enemy builds more paths in this ever more hectic war?

Rush Tower is showcased at ODDfest as a part of the Espoo Game LAB Game Corner.

Fanny Heinonen is the Director of the Film Tampere development program at Business Tampere, where she works to grow, internationalize, and future-proof the regional audiovisual industry. With a background spanning film production, casting, entrepreneurship, and business development, Fanny brings a rare inside-out understanding of how creative industries operate, from set floors to strategy rooms.

A creative leader with a passion for art, fashion, and design, her work lives at the intersection of business, creativity, and human performance. Alongside her role at Business Tampere, she coaches creative professionals and emerging leaders, helping them navigate sustainable careers in fast-moving industries.

Some may know Lybeck from the band Bad Sauna or his earlier solo project Kuuhullu. In January 2026, he released his first solo album (amatör) under his birth name, featuring his first songs in his mother tongue, Swedish.

At ODDfest, Lybeck willl present material from the aforementioned album, interwoven with improvised and unreleased pieces and fragments.

Filip Hiltmann began his career in music journalism and has since gone on to hold positions at Export Music Sweden and Sony Music Publishing.

Today, he leads marketing and press for Sweden’s Way Out West, one of Europe’s most acclaimed and innovative music festivals, while also driving the marketing for Way Out West’s parent company, promoter Luger.

Folded Visuals takes the viewer to a secret garden after dark. Visions of lakes, ferns, and soft moss blend into mysterious signals and a splash of circuit. Whispers and faraway wanders, restless dreams of a long lost drone.

A prominent VJ in the Helsinki club and underground scene since 2013, she has performed at festivals and events from Greenland to Kazakhstan.

At ODDfest, Folded Visuals will be performing a special show with VIRTA. This performance is brought to the stage in collaboration with Aavistus.

Föllakzoid is the project of Dominga, a musician, artist and director who has been the core member of the project since inception. She weaves her queer and trans identity into both the sound and the live presentation of the project, an element that Föllakzoid has always been known for. The resulting energy is one that seduces the listener straight to the dance floor.

Föllakzoid’s musical journey is one of sonic exploration and trance-inducing rhythms, with an emphasis on repetition. She has carved a unique niche in the global music scene, captivating audiences with immersive soundscapes and an evolving musical vision.

Formed in Santiago, Chile on 7/7/07, and now residing in Berlin and New York, throughout the first two releases Föllakzoid (2009) and II (2013), the project was revered for the unique blend of psychedelic rock, krautrock, and electronic elements, often filtered through
extensive jam sessions and improvisation, that resulted in music with the ability to induce altered states of consciousness. The energy within the project itself has allowed it to exist in multiple musical scenes simultaneously throughout the years, from metal to techno, from punk to classic, always deep, always dark, crossing barriers not only in the sound element and metrics deployed, but in the audiences it is being shown to.

On the last albums, III (2015), I (2019), and most recently V (2023), she has incorporated electronic elements and techno influences, expanding the sonic palette while retaining the signature immersive quality. Currently testing new extremely efficient pattern combinations in her live shows that will be recorded later this year as part of the upcoming sixth LP out on Sacred Bones Records in 2025.

Föllakzoid has collaborated with revered musicians the likes of J. Spaceman of Spiritualized and Atom™, toured the world extensively and performed at renowned music festivals like CTM Festival in Berghain, Primavera Sound in Spain, Portugal, Brazil and Argentina, Levitation, Roadburn, Desert Daze, and Roskilde to name a few.

Galit Ariel is a techno-futurist, author, and creative who explores emerging technologies’ wild and imaginative side and their impact on our culture, behaviours, and interactions. Through her experimental media art practice, she aspires to poke at our experience with(in) familiar worlds in new ways. Ariel’s immersive and digital art applies critical perspectives that evoke novel techno-social paradigms related to culture, technology, and humans ‘being’ in the world. Ariel’s research-creation PhD at York University (Toronto), explores emerging paradigms of embodiment and presence within immersive spaces, and the fluid intersection between embodied technologies and imagination.

Ariel has been featured as one of ‘Nine Women that are building the Metaverse’ by Unity, one of 40 influential futurists by Forbes (2022), and one of 100 best tech speakers by Women in Tech (2023). She is a sought-after keynote speaker who appeared at notable international conferences, agencies, and institutions, such as TED, Bell Labs, SXSW, The European Union, The City of Sydney, Microsoft, The Next Web, Slush Tokyo, PauseFest, Women in Tech Global Summit, and many more.

No one planned a band. Four veterans of the Swedish indie scene: Mats Björke (Mando Diao), Nicki Dar and Tyra Hasselrot (Dolores Haze), and Josefin Lyzwinski (Dead Vibrations) came carrying things that had run their course. Then one summer night in 2024, they ended up in a basement near downtown Stockholm with no agenda or expectations. Three songs got written that night before anyone thought twice. Gone Future was born.

Synth rock, kraut and post-punk, monotony colliding with melodic precision. Raw, direct, no filter. A live act to reckon with from the start, with more releases on the way later this year.

Hanna Arvela works in the interface of activism and contemporary art, using dark humour as a tool to raise questions and awareness about society and human behaviour. She is open to using different media and resources to achieve her visions for the projects she gets involved in.

Heidi Backman serves as the Permanent Secretary at Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture, placing her at the center of national cultural and educational policy. Her work shapes how arts, culture, and creative industries are supported at a structural level. Backman is recognized for her long-standing expertise in public administration and cultural governance. She plays a key role in defining the conditions under which creativity and culture operate in Finnish society.

Few creatives have shaped Finland’s recent pop-cultural imagery as decisively as Heikki Slåen. Known for creating striking visual worlds that resonate with audiences, he has played a central role in redefining Finnish music videos through his long-standing work with UMK, helping transform the competition into a local and global phenomenon. His directorial work reached international audiences through Käärijä’s Cha Cha Cha, quickly followed by Windows95man’s No Rules and Erika Vikman’s Ich Komme, where image, music, and identity merged into unforgettable cultural moments.

Working fluidly as a director, cinematographer, and actor, Slåen has built a versatile portfolio that crafts narrative universes marked by intensity, playfulness, and deep human sensitivity. Alongside his film and television work, Slåen also practices as a solution-focused therapist, bringing empathy, narrative insight, and practical strategy into his sessions to help cultivate trust, enable flow, and make space for both structure and creative freedom.

Heith’s music exists where organic and digital elements clash, merge, and transform. His songwriting evokes both reminiscence and curiosity, creating sonic spaces that feel both familiar and alien.

His latest album, Escape Lounge (PAN, April 25, 2025), charts unmarked musical territory—one that draws from the experimental pop of ’90s trip-hop, the introspective songwriting of 2000s indie-folk, and the lush, dreamlike haze of Mediterranean psychedelia. The album draws inspiration from contemporary digital spirituality and interpretations of experience that are crossing over from cultural niches into the mainstream – including internet-based conspiracy theories and psychological operations.

Since founding his label Haunter Records in 2013, Heith has played a key role in Milan’s music scene, also becoming part of the curatorial team at the legendary Macao space. Over the years, he has collaborated with artists such as James K and Günseli Yalcinkaya, Tarawangsawelas, Puce Mary, Visio, and Kareem Lotfy.

Ida Maria Martela is a professionally trained dancer, performing artist, director, and facilitator working at the intersection of embodiment, art, and human development. Her perspective is shaped by more than a decade as part of a research team focused on systems thinking and human flourishing, which continues to inform both her artistic and facilitative work.

Martela has worked as a performing artist and teacher of dance and improvisation for over 10 years. Her work is grounded in the belief that the body holds our deepest wisdom and untold stories. Alongside her artistic work, she designs and leads workshops for leaders and teams, drawing on improvisation and experiential learning to illuminate group dynamics and build more resilient, adaptive teams.

Iida Mäkikallio is a Finnish psychologist (M.Sc. Psych), executive coach, psychoperformative artist and keynote speaker specialized in relationship dynamics and emotional skills. She has been recognized as Speaker of the Year 2025 by MySpeaker, the leading speaking agency in the Nordic region, and is one of the relationship experts on one of Finland’s most-watched TV shows.

Mäkikallio works with both individuals and organizations, supporting founders, executives, and creative teams to foster high-quality relations at work. Additionally, Mäkikallio creates psychoperformative art experiences that bring psychological and cultural themes into embodied, multisensory form.

INDIE SHOWCASE is a Helsinki-born event concept that connects Finland’s indie artists with audiences and music industry professionals, putting rising talent in the spotlight. Rooted in community, the event creates opportunities for meaningful encounters and networking across the industry. Now already taking place across several locations in the capital region, INDIE SHOWCASE continues to captivate audiences and enrich Finland’s music landscape.

INDIE SHOWCASE will host a special edition of its event live at ODDfest.

Irene Campolmi is a curator, art historian, and researcher working at the intersection of art, science, technology, and performance, grounded in decolonial and interdisciplinary approaches. She is Curator for Art, Technology and Society at Amos Rex and Co-founder and Curator at Large of Yonder Art•Science at the Niels Bohr Institute, Copenhagen.

Her practice focuses on building cross-disciplinary networks and exploring humanity’s relationship with technology. Recent projects include Yet it moves at Copenhagen Contemporary, developed with Arts at CERN, DARK at the Niels Bohr Institute, and the Interacting Minds Centre at Aarhus University, examining motion as a fundamental phenomenon. Previously, she was Senior Curator at MAPS – Museum of Art in Public Spaces and Head of the Art Program at Enter Art Fair (2019–2023).

With over fifteen years of experience, she has curated internationally, including the Estonian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, and currently teaches at IED Florence while completing a PhD on curatorial ethics at Aarhus University.

Islaja is Merja Kokkonen: a composer, performer, and recording artist who after living and working in Berlin for over a decade, is now permanently back in Helsinki, Finland.

Since her debut in 2004, she has released four albums on Finland’s Fonal Records, one on Thurston Moore’s Ecstatic Peace label, one on Berlin-based monika enterprise, one on Svart Records, as well as a series of singles on labels such as Not Not Fun and Root Strata.
The most recent album Angel Tape, was released by Other Power in October 2023.

With her haunting vocals and shamanic melodies, Finnish composer and musician Islaja takes her audience on a journey to other worlds. Since the experimental, psychedelic folk music of her early albums, she has long embraced “warped and left-field” electronics. She has been compared to Björk, Syd Barrett, and Nico.

She earned quick praise in the international music press for her unique vocal style and daring DIY approach to music composition, with kudos from Wire magazine, Pitchfork, and Tiny Mix Tapes.

Ivan Tkalenko, Master Sergeant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Honored Artist of Ukraine, is a composer, bandura performer, innovative engineer, and educator.

On February 24, 2022, he joined the 128th Battalion of the 112th Territorial Defense Brigade and was later deployed to the Kherson and Kharkiv regions with the 11th Separate Special Purpose Battalion. From November 2023 to December 2024, he served as Master Sergeant of the 150th Army Boot Camp. He was awarded the Commander-in-Chief’s “Golden Cross” for valor.

The electric bandura, invented by Tkalenko, represents an innovative extension of the classical bandura tradition. It expands the instrument’s expressive language through powerful bass frequencies and the sustained, near-infinite resonance of its 60-plus strings—sonic qualities unattainable with the traditional acoustic instrument. This engineering innovation is further enhanced by parallel sound processing, which blends the instrument’s authentic timbre with multi-layered electronic treatment. The result is a richer, deeper, and more immersive sonic experience that carries the classical bandura into the future—a new chapter in Ukrainian musical tradition.

At ODDfest, Tkalenko will give a special performance with Maija Kauhanen.

J Fabric is a 24-year-old DJ and producer from Helsinki who has been making music for nearly a decade. He began his career producing English-language electronic music and has released tracks on international labels such as Protocol Recordings and HEXAGON. His productions have been supported by leading EDM figures including Martin Garrix, Nicky Romero, and Don Diablo.

J Fabric’s DJ sets consist of his own EDM versions of today’s most streamed songs. In particular, his Finnish EDM remixes have recently gained major visibility on TikTok.

In March 2025, J Fabric took a new step in his career by releasing his first original Finnish-language EDM track, Sä teet saman muille (feat. Mimosa).

J Fabric will take the stage at ODDfest as part of the special festival edition of INDIE SHOWCASE.

Jarkko Vilska is the Founder and CEO of TUNEMENT, a Helsinki-based audio branding studio helping brands sound like themselves. His work focuses on turning sound into a strategic brand asset—building recognisable and consistent audio identities across campaigns, content, and digital environments.

Vilska works at the intersection of music and brand strategy, exploring how sound shapes perception, memory, and emotional connection.

At ODDfest, he joins the conversation on the role of sound in a rapidly evolving landscape—from human expression to AI-generated audio.

What’s left of your brand when you close your eyes?

Joe Sauer is global authority on how emotion influences consumer decision-making. Building on over 20 years of experience in combining neuroscience, psychology, and marketing analytics, Sauer helps brands understand the subconscious impact of their marketing communications, with a particular focus on audio branding and identity.

Sauer pioneered the adaptation of Implicit Association Test (IAT) to measure emotional response to sound and music, enabling organizations to evaluate how branded audio assets shape perception, recall, and preference. His award-winning work is recognized for its scientific rigor, practical relevance, and strategic value, winning the 19th annual EXPLOR Award for methodological innovation in marketing research.

Johanna Rantanen heads Dottir’s Tech and IP practice and is the Chair of the Board at Dottir. Rantanen is also one of the founders of the firm. She has over 10 years of experience in assisting media companies in a wide range of matters, from contract negotiations to corporate transactions.

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Pyry Niikkonen acts as an IP lawyer at Dottir and has broad legal experience in the film, media, and music industries. Niikkonen’s expertise extends to navigating the legal complexities of emerging technologies, such as AI and blockchain. In addition to his legal work, Niikkonen has broad experience in creative work spanning graphic design, video editing, and music production.

Johanna Welander works as Business Developer for MarketHype in Finland. She has extensive experience from performing arts, events, sponsorship and Nordic networks, as well as the intersection between culture and business.

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Erik Lindholm is the CEO and Founder of MarketHype, with extensive experience in events, experiences, and technology. He was a co-founder of the Arvika Festival and has been involved in building Sweden’s largest ticketing system through Tickster AB. Through MarketHype, Lindholm pursues his vision of a more data-driven and communicative events industry.

Joona Kotilainen is a Finnish comedian, creative technologist, and the owner of Space Station, who works at the edge of humor, storytelling, and machine logic. He is known for building live comedy performances where artificial intelligence doesn’t just write jokes but steps on stage as different characters who are unpredictable and sometimes funnier than their creator.

With a background in innovation management and years of experience in public speaking, Kotilainen approaches comedy as an experiment. His work blends stand-up, improvisation, and technological demos into playful, slightly chaotic performances where humans and machines co-create the comedy show in real time.

Kotilainen has performed comedy across Finland and produces a popular comedy club that regularly sells out, drawing comedians from across the country.

At ODDfest, he brings a living system to the stage. Not a tool, not a script, but something in between. Machines that react, interrupt, and occasionally steal the show.

Jukka Niittymaa is Chief AI Officer and Principal Consultant at Nitro AIM Oy, where he helps organizations make sense of generative AI as a strategic, creative, and organizational force. His work connects hands-on AI experimentation with more than 25 years of experience in marketing, communications, sales, creative production, design, and management.

Originally trained in cinema and directing, Niittymaa has worked across video marketing, television advertising, and commercial communication before moving deeply into generative AI in 2022. Today, his focus is on how AI reshapes creative and knowledge work, communication, leadership, and value creation.

Alongside his consulting work, Niittymaa is completing a doctoral dissertation at the University of Jyväskylä School of Business and Economics on the impact of generative AI on communication & marketing. He also leads the Finnish LinkedIn community Tekoälyt testissä, with more than 7,500 members, and was named Talouselämä’s AI Influencer of the Year 2025.

Dr. Jukka-Pekka Heikkilä is a Finnish scholar, speaker, and science–art practitioner working at the intersection of research, creativity, and participatory cultures.

Heikkilä is a Senior Scientist at University of Turku and a visiting scholar affiliated with Harvard University and Stanford University. His work explores how people collaborate, self-organize, and create change in experimental communities and organizations. Heikkilä does occasional consulting gigs in CERN and is the founder of the Burning Stories science–art collective, which investigates transformative experiences in global festival cultures through innovative data collection and artistic dissemination.

Heikkilä’s projects combine research, AI, and visual storytelling to translate complex scientific ideas into immersive public experiences and new forms of collective knowledge.

Juska Wendland is a long-standing tastemaker in Finnish electronic music culture, known for his work as a DJ, radio host, music journalist, and podcast researcher.

For over two decades, he has introduced audiences to new sounds and underground movements through clubs, festivals, and broadcasting. Wendland’s influence lies in his ability to contextualize music within broader cultural shifts and bridging scenes, generations, and genres.

In his research, Wendland focuses on audience participation and new interactive methods in podcasting and audio production. Through both scholarship and broadcasting, Wendland shapes new ways of thinking around audio culture, community, and the future of media.

Wendland will be rising to the stage at ODDfest as both a speaker and a performer.

Jussi Venäläinen is an expert in flow state and wise work, the author of the book Flow-tila, and the Founder of Flow Akatemia. Venäläinen believes that now, more than ever, it is time to replace work practices and mindsets rooted in the industrial era with coaching-based self-leadership and smarter ways of working by strengthening the conditions that enable flow.

Venäläinen helps organizations remove unnecessary barriers to flow and supports individuals in becoming masters of their own work through flow training. His personal learning dream is to draw as much insight as possible from flow and refine those lessons into practical tools for others.

Jyrki Nummisto is a nighttime researcher and Executive Director of the Finnish nighttime advocacy organization, Nightshift Finland.

As a doctoral researcher and nighttime advocate Nummisto is investigating the possibilities and challenges of in inclusive nightlife futures. With a specific focus on queer communities Nummisto is one of the first researchers in the world to theorize and combine modern technologies such as AI and nightlife for radical participatory imaginaries on what an inclusive and safer nightlife in urban areas would look like. Using community-based approaches Nummisto aims to “see beyond” the present situation towards the club culture of the future.

Refusing to adhere to any genre conventions, Kaero seamlessly navigates heavy bass frequencies, evocative vocals, and fragmented drum breaks, weaving together high-energy sets of contemporary and deconstructed club sound—always with a spice of c*untiness.

Inspired by her multi-disciplinary practice as a DJ, curator, creative director & designer, she creates immersive, holistic experiences that push the boundaries of club culture, never afraid of questioning the status quo. In Helsinki, she’s the mother of the club concept Alternate Frequency, which seamlessly combines DJ sets with live electronic music, performance art, and visuals.

Karoliina Jarenko is an expert in organisational renewal, a public thinker, and the founder and CEO of Almanovia. She actively contributes to societal and professional conversations on the transformation of work, leadership and learning, particularly in relation to the changing role of humans in an era shaped by technology and AI.

Karoliina founded Almanovia to rethink organisational development by combining structures and ways of working with human experience, using artistic and experiential methods alongside analytical approaches. Her work focuses on a central question: what kinds of conditions enable thinking, learning and shared responsibility in a world where traditional leadership models no longer suffice.

In her leadership development work, Karoliina also uses clowning as a professional tool. Through it, she invites leaders to step out of their roles, face uncertainty and grow their capacity to hold themselves and others in rapidly changing environments. For her, play, confusion and humour are not opposites of serious development, but often its starting point.

Karoliina Korppoo is a game designer, TED speaker, creative leader, and worldbuilder best known as the Lead Designer of Cities: Skylines, the city-building game played by millions worldwide. With a career spanning 20 years, she has built games ranging from narrative mobile experiences to expansive simulation worlds.

Specializing in designing complex systems that feel alive—from cities and economies to player-driven narratives—Korppoo’s work blends creativity with structure, combining artistic vision with player psychology. Her philosophy is that virtual worlds, and being playful within them, can teach us a lot about ourselves and the world around us.

Korppoo also believes digital entertainment is one of the most accessible creative mediums of our time. Games invite people not just to consume stories, but to shape them; to build, experiment, express identity, and explore possibility in safe, interactive spaces. In a world that often feels overwhelming or exclusive, games can lower the threshold for creativity and joy, offering agency, connection, and meaningful play to millions.

Currently, Korppoo operates as the Creative Director of Day Off Interactive, an Ireland-based game development studio focused on creating innovative gaming experiences that build on the legacy of classics.

Karoliina Pärnänen is a graphic designer, 3D artist, and DJ working between Finland and the Netherlands.

She has a background as Art Director at Slush, where she shaped the visual identity of one of the world’s leading startup events. Today, she works as Creative Lead at ODDfest, focusing on building bold, interdisciplinary creative concepts.

Her work explores the evolving relationship between humans, technology, and nature across both visual and sonic mediums.

Paleface is one of Finland’s most influential hip hop artists, widely recognized for his award-winning music and his strong presence in public debate. A rapper, lyricist, and author, he has played a major role in shaping Finnish hip hop while addressing themes of politics, freedom of expression, and cultural identity. Beyond music, Paleface is known as a sharp societal commentator whose voice extends into literature and activism. His work shows how art can function as both cultural expression and political force.

Katja Lindroos is the co-founder and CEO of Urban Practice, a Helsinki-based office working at the intersection of urban strategy, inclusive citymaking, and the creative economy.

She has shaped creative industry strategies for Finland and cities such as Helsinki, facilitated the founding of Finnish Design Info, and built collaboration models between architecture, design and fashion to strengthen Finland’s international profile. Her work also includes evaluating culture promotion initiatives and advising on strategic communication for the competition process of the new Museum of Architecture and Design.

Most recently, she completed an international study on cultural diplomacy for the Finnish state, commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Culture, drawing on international benchmarks.

She lectures and tutors regularly at Aalto University. Katja holds a Master of Arts in audiovisual journalism and documentary film and has a background in journalism, having served as Managing Editor of Image magazine and editor-in-chief of Muoto, a leading design trade magazine.

Katriina Heljakka (Doctor of Arts, PhD) is a researcher of toys and play at the University of Turku, as well as an artist, curator, art critic, and designer of playable experiences. Her work explores the visual, material, and digital cultures of play, and the role of play across leisure, working life, and education. She is a Docent of Toy and Play Cultures at Tampere University and currently serves as a visiting scholar at Turku School of Economics, where she is also a Docent in Entrepreneurship.

Before academia, Heljakka worked in the toy industry as a game designer and creative manager, a background that continues to shape her research. Her interests include toy design, toy fandoms, playpreneurship, and lifelong and life-wide play, examining how playfulness functions as both cultural practice and serious creative force.

What do you get when you fuse the headiness of kosmische with the visceral impact of techno, the intensity of metal with the churning power of dark ambient? The answer can be found in Timo Kaukolampi’s discography.

Having co-founded K-X-P (whose albums are critically acclaimed by Pitchfork, MOJO, and The Quietus), Kaukolampi has released four albums with the experimental electronic trio.

Though his solo material draws on a wellspring of influences from the 1970s Berlin school to minimalist masters like Éliane Radigue, it all sounds thrillingly new. Starkly beautiful instrumental pieces are layered with bassy depths and glittering peaks, with networks of mazy, centre-less electronic pathways—has music ever sounded this pulverising?

At ODDfest, Kaukolampi will be performing a special show with VJ Indigo. This performance is brought to the stage in collaboration with Aavistus.

Klaus Hietala is a Finnish digital media producer who loves to experiment with new forms and formats. He is the CEO of Krash.fi and Founder of Lore Drop.

Kristoffer Lawson is a serial entrepreneur with a background in technology, startups, and creative culture. He was a founder of banking disruptor Holvi, computer company Solu, and several other ventures with a total of four exits.

Alongside advising companies and coaching startups at Startup Sauna, Kiuas, and Startup Wiseguys, Lawson has been a long-time public speaker and active contributor to the Nordic startup ecosystem. He also founded The Alternative Party, which became the largest digital art and demoscene festival in the Nordics.

In addition to his work in technology and entrepreneurship, Lawson has practiced martial arts for decades, holding black belts in aikido and iaido while also training in Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu.

Kuvittajat aka The Finnish Illustration Association is a non-profit organization for illustrators that promotes illustration in various fields and supports illustrators in their profession.

At ODDfest, Kuvittajat will present their annual Illustrator of the Year Award. The newly announced winner will then take the stage to reflect on their work and discuss creativity and curiosity with photographer and film director Silja Minkkinen.

The Illustrator of the Year Award is granted to an illustrator or collective that has made a significant contribution to the field. Now awarded for the eighth time, the €10,000 prize is not based on applications or competition. Instead, a rotating panel of industry professionals selects the recipient, aiming to reflect a wide range of styles, genres, and contemporary perspectives in illustration.

Lakeside Games is an independent video game studio made up of a dedicated team of artists, programmers, writers, and musicians, united by a shared passion for immersive, interactive worlds. We are committed to creating meaningful experiences—games that stay with you because of how they made you feel.

Our name reflects a Finnish virtue: the comfort of having somewhere quiet to return to. It also captures the essence of our style—tranquil, nature-rooted, and deeply reflective.

Our debut title, Twilight Ferry, which will be showcased at the EGL Game Corner is an adventure game inspired by forgotten Finnic epics, mythology, and folklore. It follows Tytti, the Ferrymaiden of Souls, who is destined to save humanity from extinction at the hands of Tuoni, the god of death. Twilight Ferry has been praised for its rich audiovisual experience and visual presentation.

Lauer

Philipp Lauer has had his fingers in quite a few pies over the last 2 decades or so, following the release of his debut 12” in 2000. As CEO of the infamous Pyramide II studio, his remix count goes way beyond 200 (still ceaselessly rising), including work for Sven Väth, Pet Shop Boys, M83, S-Express, Falco, and Tears For Fears, to name just a few. Moreover, he has released solo productions as Lauer on labels such as Running Back, Permanent Vacation, Beats In Space, LARJ, and Future Boogie.

To boot, Lauer’s diligent work as a team player makes him appear as one of the hardest-working people in the business, with releases such as Tuff City Kids with Gerd Janson, Black Spuma with Fabrizio Mammarella, and TNP with Tim Sweeney. Although Lauer’s Discogs page is already the size of a phone book and his tour schedule reads like an Odyssey, he’s only just warming up for whatever is coming next.

DENA

In 2012, Bulgarian-born, Berlin-based singer and songwriter DENA (born Denitza Todorova) established a unique brand of DIY-pop and R&B with her wave-making single “Cash, Diamond Rings, Swimming Pools”, released on French label Kitsuné. Following praise from prominent music media in Europe and around the world, as well as acclaim from a global fanbase, DENA released her debut album, Flash, in 2014, and an EP, Trust, in 2016.

Over the course of her musical career, DENA has worked between Berlin, Los Angeles, London, and New York, collaborating with musicians like Grammy-nominated writer and producer Mocky, recording with New York-based band Midnight Magic, and more, developing the sound, lyrics, and production tools to narrate her story. Since 2016, DENA has been signed to Domino Publishing as a songwriter.

At ODDfest, Lauer and DENA will be taking the stage together offering a special performance for the festival audience.

Lauri Järvilehto is a Finnish musician, writer, philosopher, and a father of five.

Throughout his career in music, Järvilehto has worked as a musician, producer, and composer on more than 70 music projects, including a stint as a theatre musical conductor. Järvilehto has also released eight solo albums, some under pseudonyms Songsworth and Lau.

When not making music or writing, Järvilehto sets his mind to trying to figure out how the world works.

A Nordic micro drama studio, Lore Drop focuses on original stories and localization of proven hit concepts for European audiences.

A wide-ranging industry professional, Lotta Savolainen has nearly two decades of experience across the local music landscape. She has worked with both major and independent labels, successfully combining roles as a musician, publicist, agent, mentor, curator, and journalist. Her work is rooted in championing diversity, strengthening ethical practices, and elevating the voices of independent artists.

Today, Savolainen serves as the CEO of Music x Media, Finland’s largest music conference, an afternoon host on Radio Helsinki, and a member of the expert committee for the Teosto Cultural Foundation. She has previously curated her own column, Löytöretkellä, for Soundi magazine, and acted as a judge and curator for platforms such as Emma Gala, Indie Awards, and the artist committee of the Lost In Music showcase festival, where she also served as the artistic director in 2025. Her dedicated work for the field has also been widely recognized as Savolainen was named Indie Co.’s “Indie Friend of the Year” in 2024 and awarded “Media Influencer of the Year” at the 2025 Industry Awards.

Lottaliina Pokkinen (LL.Lic.) is a violinist and an activist lawyer with a passion for copyrights, creativity, and negotiating skills.

Through her company, Lehtinen Legal, she represents leading artists, authors, and other creative professionals in their contract negotiations.

Currently, Lottaliina is also doing her doctoral research about how to best teach negotiating skills to law students.

Lyran & Akademen is an acapella group formed from the singers of the Swedish student choirs Lyran and Akademen.

The choirs have sung together for years and found that singing in a mixed quartet gives an extra bit of joy and spice.

Mari Savio is a design activist, author, and pioneer of participatory design. Her work brings together design, pedagogy, and urban culture, making creative practice more accessible, encouraging, and collaborative.

Savio is the co-founder of KAAOSSTUDIO, a new Finnish initiative dedicated to practising creativity through collective making, experimentation, and artistic exploration. She is known internationally for the book Surrur—Make Your Own Marimekko and for collaborative projects in Finland and abroad, including work with Milan Design Week, DesignMarch Reykjavik, Marimekko, Fiskars, and Helsinki Design Week. Within the academic space, Savio is also the founder of the Finnish Association for Design Learning, and she has previously taught at Aalto University.

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Milla Kokko is a creative strategist, concept designer and expert in radical creativity. Her work explores how creativity can become a shared and trainable human capability rather than a talent reserved for a few.

Kokko is the co-founder of KAAOSSTUDIO, a new Finnish initiative dedicated to practising creativity through hands-on experimentation, collective thinking and artistic exploration. She has also played a key role in the development of radical creativity initiatives at Aalto University.

Previously, Kokko co-founded the internationally recognised education concept HEI Schools and has an extensive background in strategy and concept design within the creative industries.

Maria Ritola is an entrepreneur, researcher, and Kundalini yoga teacher working at the intersection of technology and human behavior. In 2015, she co-founded Iris.ai, a pioneering company dedicated to building AI tools for the research community at Singularity University located at NASA Ames Research Centre. Today, Ritola focuses on how artificial intelligence impacts human interaction, cognitive work, and collective dynamics. Through her work with companies, communities, and interdisciplinary projects, she explores how emerging technologies redefine the way we think, connect, and collaborate.

While the intersection of AI and humanity is traditionally approached through the lens of the mind and intellect, Ritola believes there is a deeper layer to explore.

At ODDfest, Ritola uses Kundalini yoga and music to guide this exploration beyond the intellect—grounding our relationship with technology in the body and spirit.

Maria Sahlstedt is a strategy, business, and public affairs professional with over 20 years of experience in the events industry. She has worked with leading events, companies, and cities, shaping how experiences create value across sectors.

She played a key role in founding Event Industry Finland in 2020, contributing to the industry’s visibility and role in public discussion and governance. Today, she works at LIWLIG, one of the leading brand experience agencies in the Nordics, where she focuses on building trust and impact through shared experiences.

Sahlstedt combines strategic vision with strong execution, with a particular interest in growth, leadership, and ecosystem development.

A strategic marketer operating at the intersection of entrepreneurship, venture capital, and tech, Marina Yurchenko currently leads Marketing & Communications at Slush, the world’s most founder-focused event.

With over eight years of experience in creative agencies, startup ecosystem organizations, and international events, her work centers on shaping narratives that turn even the most complex ideas into sharp, high-impact messaging that truly resonates.

She approaches growth as a system, bringing together brand, partnerships, product, and community to turn attention into demand and ideas into projects with lasting cultural relevance.

Her work is rooted in the belief that creativity alone is not enough: distribution, timing, and positioning are what turn ideas into impact.

Marley Prudeaux is a leader in world-building and visual storytelling, currently serving as a Senior Visual Designer at Meow Wolf. Most recently, she co-led the Visual Development team for the Houston exhibition, where her creative approach shaped immersive environments that push the boundaries of narrative design. Over her six-year tenure at Meow Wolf, Marley has been instrumental in crafting some of the company’s most iconic experiences, including Omega Mart, Convergence Station, and The Real Unreal.

Originally from Los Angeles, CA, Marley now calls Santa Fe, NM, home. Her work is fueled by a deep passion for creating compelling characters and rich worlds, brought to life through the intricate details of props and environments.

Beyond her professional achievements, Marley is dedicated to fostering community and sharing knowledge. When she’s not designing immersive experiences, Marley hosts a Lord of the Rings book club, enjoys soaking up the sun with her three cats, and champions causes close to her heart.

Matti Nives is a Helsinki-based DJ, designer, producer and the founder plus artistic director of the music culture company We Jazz. His vinyl only DJ sets are filled with discoveries across the spectrum and timeline of adventurous music.

Matti Pietari Järvinen is a multidisciplinary visual artist working across painting, sculpture, performance, and animation. His work has been exhibited in Finland and internationally in Europe and the United States, including New York Fashion Week 2022, and his pieces are held in private collections worldwide. Järvinen’s visual language blends contemporary folk art and street art into raw, color-saturated characters and emotionally direct imagery.

At ODDfest, Järvinen presents Community artwork: Thousand RÄNDÖM ODDfaces, a guided community artwork made together with festival-goers and passers-by. A total of six meters of plywood will be set up for public painting, and Järvinen will guide the process throughout the day. The purpose is simple but striking: to see how a face changes when it passes from one person’s interpretation to the next. Each participant adds their own instinct, mood, and visual language, turning the “RÄNDÖM ODDfaces” into a layered collective portrait of the festival’s energy and the surrounding city, shaped by both intentional attendance and accidental encounters.

Järvinen lives by his motto: I’m making art—everything else is a waste of time!

Dorman

Luke Dorman is a Senior Creative Director at Meow Wolf, a Santa Fe-based arts and entertainment company recognized by Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. At Meow Wolf, Dorman leads design teams in the creation of immersive, interactive narrative experiences that transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms of story and exploration. He’s contributed to every Meow Wolf experience since 2018 (including the really obscure ones) and has worked as the lead designer of both Meow Wolf’s Denver and Houston exhibitions.

In addition to Meow Wolf, Dorman maintains an independent creative practice focused on design and illustration, creating poster designs for clients like Animal Collective, The Telluride Film Festival, and Red Wing Roots Music Festival. Prior to joining Meow Wolf, Dorman was a design educator and carries his passion for teaching, mentorship and community building into his work today.

Prudeaux

Marley Prudeaux is a leader in world-building and visual storytelling, currently serving as a Senior Visual Designer at Meow Wolf. Most recently, she co-led the Visual Development team for the Houston exhibition, where her creative approach shaped immersive environments that push the boundaries of narrative design. Over her six-year tenure at Meow Wolf, Marley has been instrumental in crafting some of the company’s most iconic experiences, including Omega Mart, Convergence Station, and The Real Unreal.

Originally from Los Angeles, CA, Marley now calls Santa Fe, NM, home. Her work is fueled by a deep passion for creating compelling characters and rich worlds, brought to life through the intricate details of props and environments.

Beyond her professional achievements, Marley is dedicated to fostering community and sharing knowledge. When she’s not designing immersive experiences, Marley hosts a Lord of the Rings book club, enjoys soaking up the sun with her three cats, and champions causes close to her heart.

Messy Micc is a rapper, DJ, and music producer from Helsinki, Finland. He is known as the driving force behind Pelkkää Hyvää Experience, but also performs solo, delivering a unique show that combines finger drumming and rapping.

His live-performed, sample-based beats, paired with his sovereign lyrical skills and powerful stage presence, create an impressive performance you won’t want to miss.

Michael Anders is a 23-year-old Finnish-Indonesian pop, R&B, and trap artist.

Anders’ music is uplifting and hopeful, intended to help listeners through everyday life. His songs explore emotions, dreams, and aspirations that emerge from difficult moments in life. Melody plays a central role in his music, highlighted by his bold use of distinctive tones and notes.

Michael Anders will take the stage at ODDfest as part of the special festival edition of INDIE SHOWCASE.

Miika begun his deep dive into the world of experiences when setting out to distill Finnish rye into beautiful whisky and gin, and founding Kyrö Distillery Company with his friends. This path has led him to think and research experiences of all kinds, a passion he also pursues as a Professor of Practice of Experience Economy at Tampere University.

Mikko Heikinpoika is a musician, educator, and facilitator working at the intersection of voice, embodiment, improvisation, and collective creativity.

Drawing from music pedagogy, breathwork, and movement practices, he designs workshops that invite participants into deeper presence, playful exploration, and authentic expression. His work emphasizes safety, curiosity, and the transformative potential of sound and embodied practice.

Mikko-Pekka Hanski is a builder, board member, cultural diplomat, and the Founder of Solovey, an initiative that bridges Ukraine and Finland through music and human stories.

Minna Mustapää is a beloved trainer and workshop facilitator focusing on early-stage entrepreneurship, personal development, and meditation. Her immersive meditation journeys are known for being surprisingly powerful, enabling participants to release stress and connect with inner peace—sometimes for the first time ever!

Mustapää is very impact-driven and has always enjoyed supporting fellow entrepreneurs on their journey. She is currently a board member of Helsinki Women Entrepreneurs, helping internationalise the legacy organisation, and a trainer at Helsinki Incubators Pathways program. In addition, she provides custom trainings, workshops, and meditation journeys upon request. Her previous clients include Suomen Yrittäjät, DNA, Lumoa, The Shortcut, Hatch, Echo, and DEI Forum Nordics, among others.

Minna Tervamäki enjoyed a long career as a principal dancer with the Finnish National Ballet and, over the course of three decades, performed nearly all the leading roles in classical ballet as well as works by major contemporary choreographers.

Since 2005, she has also worked as a choreographer. After leaving the National Ballet in 2012, her focus shifted toward interdisciplinary productions in which dance is created in close dialogue with live music. She has collaborated extensively with chamber musicians, opera singers, and composers, and has developed works where dance also intersects with circus arts. A unique collaboration with visual artist Hannaleena Heiska has now continued for over 10 years and continues to evolve into new forms.

Tervamäki’s work spans ballet stages, museums, festivals, and dance film. She also works as a speaker and pedagogue and has developed Minna’s Methods, a movement concept that brings together decades of performance experience and embodied thinking.

She has received, among others, the Philip Morris Dance Flower Award, the Edvard Fazer Award, and the Knight First Class official state decoration from the Order of the Lion of Finland.

Minttu Hellstén is a pump organ-driven synth-pop artist emerging as a new name in dark and deeply atmospheric art pop. Her music is a rare and arresting blend of organic and synthetic worlds, where deep bass frequencies meet honest vulnerability and the sound of the pump organ.

Born among the fields of Elimäki before eventually making her way to Eastern Helsinki, Minttu focuses on building immersive worlds and moods. Her music has been described as visual, cathartic, original, and emotionally embracing. Hellstén’s songs are paired with world-class electronic production created together with Tomi Hyyppä, internationally known from the acclaimed electropop duo Villa Nah.

Hellstén’s praised debut album Hiipivä, pimeä hiljaisuus was released in 2024. Tracks from the album have been featured on Spotify Editorial playlists and played on stations including Radio Helsinki and Yle Radio Suomi. Her latest single, Elimäki, was released in autumn 2025 in collaboration with Kuohu Records. She is currently working on her second album.

Minttu Hellstén will take the stage at ODDfest as part of the special festival edition of INDIE SHOWCASE.

Misha is a Finnish music producer-artist known for his numerous collaborations with GRAMMY-winning artists the likes of Lalah Hathaway, Nate Smith, Talib Kweli, and Moonchild’s Amber Navran. Misha moves effortlessly between alternative r&b, hip-hop, future soul, and nu-funk.

Along with over 100 million streams on Spotify, the prolific artist has received support from Okayplayer, Soulection Radio, BBC, and CBC. Misha’s songs have also appeared on Chris Pratt’s movie ‘Mercy’, HBO Max’s South Side, and G.R.I.T.S. TV Series. In 2024, Misha received two nominations at the Finnish Music Awards (Emma Awards) and was selected as a Recording Academy Voting Member.

Misha’s music represents a unique and modern sound hailing from Finland—alternative R&B infused with hip-hop, jazz, and soul, reflecting both Nordic melancholy and global influences.

Mitäs Mitäs Mitäs festival breaks barriers as an unprejudiced celebration of arts. The festival is organized in Nuutajärvi, Finland. A communal celebration of creativity in the natural beauty of Mitäs Land is born out of the versatile programme of multidisciplinary arts full of surprises, the mystical and inspiring setting, and the people’s warm-hearted interactions.

Mitäs Mitäs Mitäs will bring its magic to Tavastia through various decorations and installations. The scenography at Tavastia will combine the unique stage concepts of Club Taikayö and Varjo—blending mystery and light art into an immersive space delightfully unpredictable. For this, Mitäs Mitäs Mitäs joins forces with the creative light art group Flowers of Life.

Mohamed Ismail leads Global Office Experience at Supercell, designing environments that support creativity, collaboration, and culture across the company’s international offices.

With over 12 years of experience across hospitality, workplace experience, and concept development, he has led teams and projects ranging from innovative food and beverage concepts to large-scale creative work environments.

His work focuses on bringing people together through spaces, experiences, and organizational culture that enable creativity to thrive.

Keisala manages a project at the Finnish Museums Association focused on building new kinds of business partnerships between museums and companies.

Her work involves developing service models, strengthening business competencies within the museum sector, and creating collaboration frameworks that help cultural organisations become more financially sustainable.

Her expertise sits at the intersection of organisational development, learning, and business innovation, with a growing interest in how cultural organisations can reimagine their role in the market.

She is drawn to the kinds of work that bring fairness, joy, and movement.

Mr. Dad is a dadrock duo from Helsinki, Finland, formed in 2022, consisting of 2 singer-songwriters, Eugene Farmichaels (HP Siikasaari) and Lionel Burton-Hill (Wilhelm Enckell). Mr. Dad’s music relies on their witty and ironic storytelling, vocal harmonies, and catchy melodies. Their nostalgic soundscape is heavily inspired by 70’s and 80’s pop, rock, and disco classics.

During these 4 years of existence, Mr. Dad has already released more than 30 songs and played live at various festivals, including Tallinn Music Week, Helsinki Decompression, and Mitäs Mitäs Mitäs Festival.

Muovipussi is an electronic music group that blending different genres. The band members—Milla Lahtinen, Niklas Blomberg, and Heidi Finnberg—founded Muovipussi in 2018. Their music is based on exploring diverse sonic worlds, and their live performances are known for unusual and entertaining antics.

Pushing boundaries, Muovipussi draws inspiration from, among other things, knitting grandmothers and the heavy elements of metal music. Combined with fast rap, beautiful melodies, and theatrical performances, these elements are likely to evoke some kind of emotion in every audience member. If the audience is left amazed by what they see, Muovipussi’s vision has been fulfilled.

Mykola Sierga is a Ukrainian musician, television presenter, poet, and military officer serving as the Commanding Officer of Ukrainian Cultural Forces — a unit within the Armed Forces of Ukraine that uses music and art to support soldiers and strengthen cultural resilience during Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Before the war, Sierga built a successful career in entertainment as a musician and television host, while also studying psychotherapy. Since joining the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2022, he has worked at the intersection of culture, morale, and national identity, bringing performances to combat zones, hospitals, and international stages including Carnegie Hall and TEDx.

His work focuses on culture as a form of service — helping preserve connection, humanity, and psychological resilience in the midst of war. Sierga currently serves with the rank of Captain and has been recognized for bravery during his military service.

NAZVA is a Ukrainian musical band founded in 2019 by Pavlo Hots in Lviv. Defining itself as alternative ethno-art chaos, the band creates a unique sound through a blend of double bass, viola, keyboards, and floor tom.

The band began as a musical theater ensemble, composing soundtracks for art exhibitions and staging performances dedicated to Ukraine’s Executed Renaissance.

A finalist in Ukraine’s Eurovision 2024 National Selection, the band has carved out a place for itself in the crowded music scene. Pavlo Hots, the band’s frontman, is an active member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Night Owl Dynamics is a game development team founded in the fall of 2025. The team focuses on storytelling, simulation, current events, and financial games. The experience of team members Henri Hytönen and Kalle Böss in banking provides a solid background to create financial simulations.

The team’s first demo, Gentle Night Talk, is a cozy conversation and city exploration game set in nighttime Helsinki. The team is also developing another game concept, FX Dealer, set in the financial world of the 1980s.

Music conference and festival Nightlore blends popular and traditional music, creating unexpected experiences for both audiences and industry professionals.

NightShift Finland is the one and only association in Finland advocating night culture, and vibrancy in Finnish cities. Nightshift will contribute to ODDfest bringing the first ever cultural project, Helsinki After Dark to the stage. Consisting of a panel discussion and the launch of Night School—a mentoring program for young cultural producers organized together with Vibe Lab, the leading nightlife consultancy in the world. In the event, Nightshift dives into the timely discussion of what is the future of nightlife and how to make it resilient, vibrant and sustainable.

Niina Maria Luostarinen is a multidisciplinary game development powerhouse. She started playing games on consoles as a child, started her career in mobile games, and led an art team at a studio, expanding her horizons to PC in recent years. Lately, she has been (mostly) solo developing a game and has just released a game UX online course with another industry veteran, Emma Varjo.

To Luostarinen, business is a balance of art, UX, and design: making the most out of the project vision, matching and even expanding user expectations, while considering the resources at any given time, taking into consideration the strengths of the involved parties.

Talking about anything and everything related to game dev and service design, you can find her at Ari Pulkkinen’s casual jam-vibe talk about collaboration between different disciplines in game development.

With two decades behind the decks, Nikolucky fuses cinematic storytelling with deep, evocative soundscapes.

A vinyl-only DJ and an all-around creative based in Ibiza, he brings a narrative-driven approach to DJing, crafting immersive sets that blend energy, atmosphere, and emotion.

Rooted in underground culture and visual aesthetics, his style reflects the spirit of music with no boundaries and no genres, celebrating the artistry of timeless musical journeys.

Nordwave is a music and visual concept built on the idea that releasing a song is no longer enough. In a landscape where thousands of tracks are released every day, attention is earned through experience, not just sound.

The project brings together artists, producers, and a visual team to travel and create music from scratch in a mobile studio, capturing the entire process as a documentary. The first journey takes place in Lofoten, Norway, where music, visuals, and storytelling merge into one cohesive release.

Nordwave focuses on real-time content, raw moments, and immersive storytelling that brings the audience closer to the creative process. The goal is to turn each release into a complete experience rather than just a standalone track.

Nuua Company is a Finnish contemporary circus and visual theatre group founded in 2013. With Its Experimental works, Nuua has redeemed its place in the international performing arts scene. Nuua’s award-winning performances have received notable mentions from critics and books about the contemporary circus, and the performances have been touring in 21 countries.

Expanding the mind through the body

For ODDfest 2026, the Kamppi Chapel—a striking landmark of wooden architecture in downtown Helsinki—transforms into a dream portal where the body and the non-linear mind take centre stage. Over two days, experimental events unfold as an invigorating extension of this summer’s ODD universe. The chapel becomes a deep space satellite, exploring urgent themes ranging from work–life balance, mental health, money and value to planetary limits, AI and feminist futures.

We approach these themes through experimental sessions using movement, streams of consciousness, play and release. We move our bodies, shed the everyday mind, immerse in soundscapes and poetic visions, write and listen, open up, enter other frequencies—yet always returning to the ground.

ODD Deep Space is curated by artist and somatic facilitator Simo Vassinen, with guests ranging from thinkers to movers and makers. Visitors are invited to leave their 9-to-5 minds at the coat check. The space is safe, but brave. No prior movement experience is needed: all sessions are designed to be easy to enter. This is not about performativity, but about openness, curiosity and exploration.

We lean on each other in a shared space to access new ways of thinking. We turn to the poetic, comfortably unclear frequency of the Night to guide us through the Day. We explore how body-based practices and creative formats can deepen our engagement with these themes, and how tools of vitality can expand the social imagination. We shoot to the stars and see what lands.

Comprised of some of Finland’s top DJs—Justjulius, Gas Gas, Kevin Paul, Luoma, Cream and Samondatrack—Oddacity is known for delivering dynamic, unpredictable sets that span from hip hop to raw, dirty electronic sounds.

Oddacity performances are immersive, high-energy journeys designed to push boundaries and redefine the dancefloor experience.

With a rapidly growing following, Oddacity is not just a collective but a movement, dedicated to pioneering new standards, elevating club culture, and preparing audiences for the next wave of nightlife music.

ODDclub presents: Club Theatre is a multidisciplinary performance environment where club culture, performing arts, and spatial design converge into a single, evolving experience. Directed by Tyre, the work brings together dancers, DJs, actors, models, visual artists, and scenographic elements into a living composition shaped in real time.

Rather than a staged performance, Club Theatre operates as a participatory system. The space, the people, and the music co-create the dramaturgy as the night unfolds, shifting between moments of intensity, intimacy, and collective flow.

Presented in the main hall of Vanha ylioppilastalo, the work integrates contributions from artists such as the House of Xclusive Lanvin, contemporary circus group Nuua, Wanda O’rly, and Maryisonacid (African Acid is the Future).

Club Theatre extends the idea of the club into a total artwork—an emergent, embodied space where roles dissolve, and new forms of presence and connection can take shape.

Oki Tåg, the Founder of entrepreneurial education provider Trainshare, is happy to share what he’s learned over his two entrepreneurial decades: from building self-awareness, overcoming the challenges of learning, figuring out how to carry on after burnout, and accepting emotions, to how these issues reflect in the life of an entrepreneur.

During the past 20 years, Tåg has built and run 12+ incubation and acceleration programs, mentored over 1,500 entrepreneurs, and led 250+ different workshops. He has also been honoured to be part of organizations such as Microsoft Flux, where his team was awarded the first-ever Helsinki Startup Ecosystem Hero Award.

Olli Seuri is a journalist and media entrepreneur, and the founder of Uusi Juttu, a new Finnish media outlet exploring alternative models for journalism.

He has worked extensively across Finnish media as a reporter, editor, and commentator, with a focus on how journalism evolves in a changing media landscape. Through Uusi Juttu, he is experimenting with new ways of building independent, sustainable, and audience-driven media in the attention economy.

Seuri’s work centers on the future of journalism, media business models, and the role of trust and relevance in an increasingly fragmented public sphere.

Otto Yliperttula, widely known as YOTTO, is one of Finland’s most internationally recognized electronic music producers. His melodic, atmospheric take on deep house has earned him performances at Coachella, Tomorrowland, Electric Zoo, and festivals across Europe, North America, and Australia.

Yliperttula’s 2018 debut album Hyperfall on Anjunadeep topped Billboard’s Dance/Electronic chart and accumulated over 20 million streams, while his remixes for Coldplay, Gorillaz, Röyksopp, and RÜFÜS DU SOL have reinforced his global presence.

In 2019, he launched his own label Odd One Out to champion not just his own music but the sounds he’s passionate about. Quickly, the label has grown into a carefully curated hub that spotlights both established peers and emerging fresh talents.

Yliperttula will take the stage at ODDfest as a speaker.

A dance floor can tell you everything—if you know how to listen.

P o B learned that lesson from the crowd long before stepping behind the decks. Years spent on dance floors shaped his instinct for the subtle shifts of energy that move through a room. Today, that instinct defines his work as a DJ and selector.

P o B reads the room and lets the time unfold. His selections move through tension, surprise, and moments of melancholic euphoria—the kind that pull dancers inward before releasing them back into the collective rhythm. Unexpected turns are part of the language.

Most of his time is spent digging. Hours each day searching for both new releases and hidden gems. His sound drifts between indie dance, minimal, deep tech, progressive, deep house, and techno, guided more by feeling than genre.

Pascal Fischer is a DJ and the founder of Frankfurt-based smile. Festival. Driven by the belief that “the world is a playground, and he’s willing to play his part in it,” he creates spaces for connection through euphoric house music—whether behind the decks or through a festival built by friends, for friends. On dancefloors that feel like home, his work centers on shared energy, joy, and human connection.

Karvonen is a Helsinki-based artist working across sculpture, metal, material research, and spatial intervention. Her practice operates at the intersections of social and biophilic perspectives, material curiosity, and temporal and economic interdependencies. Central to her work is the concept of Metal Marriages—alliances between humans and metals—exploring metal as both a physical and cultural structure. Birch- and tree-based resins often function as a dialogical counterpart in her work through seasonal cycles and heat-based surface treatments that connect wider topics with contemporary and industrial questions.

Her works are often material situations shaped by time, behaviour, chance, necessity, and release. She is interested in understanding the world through action and being, and through how to spend time together. Alongside her artistic practice, she has over ten years of experience in metalworking, spatial projects, and public environments.

Pelkkää Hyvää Experience, who released its debut EP in December 2025, brings uncompromising energy, finely polished musicianship, and a socially conscious message to the stage.

The experience includes stories from frontman Messy Micc’s youth in the outskirts of Eastern Vantaa, powerful statements, and simply an insanely high energy and good vibes—driven by Finnish rap and big band tradition.

Perttu Pölönen is a futurist, inventor, and author. He has studied future technologies at Singularity University, based at NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, co-founded an edtech company in Myanmar, and won EU’s biggest science competition for youth with his patented MusiClock invention.

In 2018, MIT Tech Review honored him among the 35 Innovators Under 35 in Europe. Pölönen has also written three books and given over 1,200 keynotes in more than 20 countries surrounding the topic of future.

Pimu, also known as Ida Vakkuri, is a multi-talented artist and actor whose music blends organic pop seasoned with elements of blues and soul, sensual R&B, and deeply personal storytelling. Strong visual narratives are an essential part of Pimu’s artistry, and she is personally responsible for the artistic direction of her projects. So far, Pimu has released her debut album Renessanssi (2022), the Elementit EP (2023), and a series of singles from her upcoming album.

Pimu will take the stage at ODDfest as part of the special festival edition of INDIE SHOWCASE.

Pixiepilvi is a Helsinki-based indie pop artist and producer whose music combines electronic production with a strong melodic sensibility and a distinctive voice. Her expression is enriched by poetic lyrics and influences from international alternative pop. Over the past six months, she has released three singles from her upcoming debut album, and in January 2026 she was selected as a YleX Nosteessa artist.

Pixiepilvi will take the stage at ODDfest as part of the special festival edition of INDIE SHOWCASE.

Poker x Slots is a game developed by Oskar Valkamo, a solo game developer from Helsinki who is currently based in Åland.

The game centers on building and upgrading a poker-powered slot machine, then competing with it in a tournament setting.

Poker x Slots is currently in early development and will be showcased at the Espoo Game LAB Game Corner.

Q-teatteri is a Helsinki-based theatre company founded by a group of freelance actors in 1990. Since then, it has become a household name in the Finnish theatre scene.

The mission is to be a safe haven for contemporary theatre—constantly pushing the boundaries of modern drama. Q-teatteri strives to create performances that would be impossible to create anywhere else. The theatre stages only one production at a time, allowing for room to be as artistically and technically ambitious as possible.

Reetta Koski is a Finnish painter, art educator and wilderness guide based in Hämeenkyrö, Finland. She works primarily with oil paint and charcoal, approaching painting intuitively and allowing the process itself to guide the image.

Koski’s work often portrays animals of the Finnish forest as well as human portraits. A recurring theme in her paintings is the gaze—the moment of presence that emerges when the viewer meets the subject eye to eye. Her paintings aim to capture that quiet tension of being seen and seeing.

Alongside her studio work, Koski develops participatory art experiences through workshops, art camps, and retreats. She believes that every human being is born an artist and that art is not only a skill but a state of mind: a source of strength and expression available to everyone.

Her work is driven by a constant search for new ways to bring people closer to creativity and to the intuitive power of making art.

Reidar Wasenius brings together science, business, and creativity in a rare combination. As an AI researcher, his current work focuses on memetic AI, often described as the next paradigm beyond generative AI. Alongside research, he has been deeply embedded in the startup ecosystem from its earliest days, serving as an advisor, board member, and coach to founders across incubators and accelerators. Wasenius has led the Helsinki chapter of the Founder Institute and served as Managing Director of FiBAN, the Finnish Business Angels Network.

His tech career spans over three decades, with roles at Nokia, Samsung, Telecom Finland, Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), and Tekes (now Business Finland). Actively involved in every major tech wave since the 1980s, from microcomputers to AI, his interdisciplinary thinking is also reflected in Personal Brainer, co-authored with neurobiologist Tiina Huttu.

Rolf Ekroth is a Helsinki-based fashion designer and founder of his eponymous label. His path into fashion is unconventional. Before studying at Aalto University, he explored psychology and social work, and later worked as a professional poker player. These experiences continue to shape his perspective, combining intuition, observation, and a sense of risk in his approach to design.

Ekroth’s work explores themes of identity, nostalgia, and everyday life, often balancing emotional depth with a subtle sense of humor. Drawing from personal experiences, he creates collections that feel intimate and relatable while maintaining a clear contemporary aesthetic.

His designs focus on versatility, comfort, and the movement between private and public spaces, reflecting a modern way of dressing. Ekroth has presented his work internationally, including at Pitti Uomo, Milan, Copenhagen Fashion Week, and Paris Fashion Week, continuing to build a distinctive voice within contemporary menswear.

Rönkkö/Kuusijärvi is a duo formed by two distinctive visionaries, Harri Kuusijärvi and Tatu Rönkkö. Set to release their debut album in June 2026, the ensemble’s instrumentation consists of accordion-controlled synthesizers and a drum kit.

Harri Kuusijärvi is one of the most original figures in contemporary accordion music. He is known for his fearless projects that expand the traditional boundaries of the accordion and revitalize its expressive possibilities. Kuusijärvi’s albums have received prestigious recognition, including Teosto Prize and Emma Award (Finnish Grammy) nominations.

Tatu Rönkkö plays everyday objects and drums with a playful, open-minded approach, transporting his audience to other worlds through “off-kilter” beats and fluid improvisation. Rönkkö has built a versatile career as a drummer and sound designer in bands such as Efterklang and Lampen, as well as composing music for numerous dance and theatre productions. He has performed and recorded with internationally renowned musicians, including Raoul Björkenheim, Nils Frahm, Islaja, Jimi Tenor, and Lasse Marhaug.

Veikko “Rudi” Ruuskanen is a 67-year-old self-taught outsider artist (ITE artist) and long-time cultural practitioner whose work combines the aesthetics of music, light, and recycled materials.

His artistic journey has followed an unusually multidisciplinary path: from the early 1980s to the early 2000s, Ruuskanen worked as a lighting technician for bands, theaters, and various performance ensembles, and he has remained active as a DJ since 1975.

This decades-long experience with sound, rhythm, and lighting is strongly reflected in his current visual expression. Ruuskanen discovered visual art in the late 1990s, but his present artistic language has only fully crystallized in recent years. He has focused on steampunk-inspired sculptures and objects in which technological nostalgia, imagination, and craftsmanship converge.

His works are built on the principle of recycling: the materials consist of objects found on the street, forgotten items from storage, and discarded scrap, all of which are given new life as part of carefully composed assemblages. The use of new components is deliberate and complementary rather than dominant.

Ruuskanen embodies the core of ITE art: independent, self-directed expression that emerges outside institutional frameworks, where life experience and the joy of making are directly visible in the works themselves. His works do not strive for perfection but for vitality. They carry traces of use, history, and layers of accumulated meaning. Together, these works create a space in which the viewer can encounter both the ghosts of past technologies and the futures of imagined machines.

Salla Vallius is a Finnish arts and culture professional with over 15 years of experience in the music and events industry. She has worked across live music, festivals, advocacy, and cultural development as a producer, executive director, curator, and strategist.

Currently, Vallius works in programme planning and cultural production for the City of Espoo, while also leading development work for the legendary live music organization ELMU.

Previously, she worked as Helsinki’s first-ever Night Liaison, helping shape the city’s nighttime strategy and bringing together stakeholders across culture, nightlife, and urban development. Her background also includes roles at Helsinki Pride, LiveFIN, Flow Festival, and Sideways Festival.

Passionate about the future of the cultural sector, Vallius is especially interested in sustainable structures, inclusive leadership, and creating new ways for communities and creative professionals to thrive.

Salomé Daoudi is the Head of Agency & Partnerships at NusNus, a Copenhagen-based creative agency behind several major electronic music and cultural events, the likes of Distortion, Karrusel, and Kaleido. Both an event and idea agency, NusNus invents, produces, consults, promotes, and executes a wide range of gatherings, both public and private.

In her role, working with clients across diverse fields, Daoudi operates at the intersection of disciplines, industries, and artistic formats, with an aim to bring creative value to every commissioned project while involving creatives and artists.

Samppa Lappalainen is best known for leading complex projects and creative businesses, most notably during his nearly eight‑year tenure as CEO of JKMM Architects. In this role, he guided the most succesful architectural studios in Finland through high‑profile cultural projects while shaping its strategic and creative direction. Recently Lappalainen has chosen to pursue new challenges and fresh sources of inspiration, expanding his impact beyond a single practice.

Since founding his own studio in 2005, Lappalainen has worked across a broad spectrum of projects; from private homes and historic renewals to cultural hubs and sustainable urban developments. His work also includes leading innovative public service concepts and pioneering floating architecture projects.

Also known to many as the host of Grand Designs Finland, highlighting ambitious and inspiring home-building projects, Lappalainen promotes a culture of collaboration, trust, and empowerment, believing that architecture can actively drive sustainable societal progress.

Sanna-Kaisa Niikko is the Chief Marketing Officer of Marimekko, with a long career at the company across both Finnish and international markets.

She has held multiple roles in marketing and sales since joining in 2005, most recently serving as Global Creative Brand Marketing Director, where she led Marimekko’s visual communications, social media, PR, and brand collaborations.

Niikko is also the Chair of the Board of the Finnish Textile and Fashion association, contributing to the development of the wider industry.

Sarah Julia’s music is an exercise in tenderness, bound by sisterhood and defined by a haunting, piercing vulnerability. Their introspective indie folk is shaped by a shared childhood, carried through pure, intertwined vocals that explore love, heartache, and family.

From a young age, they bonded over music—trading artists like Bon Iver and Ben Howard alongside Cat Stevens and Jim Croce—before eventually turning to songwriting together during a significant change in their family, seeking shared catharsis.

This led to their debut EP How Do We Go Back To Being Normal? (2024), a snapshot of a time marked by grief and change, which quickly garnered a cult following. Their second EP, Only Making It Worse (2025), builds on this foundation, blending a slightly poppier sound with the same emotional depth, transforming frustration and pain into songs that offer both despair and comfort.

Sebastian Visa is a Helsinki-based artist creating Finnish pop with a bold approach. His music is energetic, unpredictable, and atmosphere-lifting. Visa’s sound blends genres fearlessly, making audiences dance, laugh, and think at the same time. His lyrics combine humour with sharp social commentary and clever observations about love and relationships. He is unafraid to speak directly, but does so in a style that is both entertaining and relatable.

Vgr is a “junttidisco” girl duo bringing a female perspective into Finland’s party music scene. Writing and composing their own material, the pair is unafraid to take a stand and call things by their real names. Above all, Vgr is a live act whose energetic, unapologetic, and wildly entertaining performances leave no one cold.

Sebastian Visa and Vgr will take the stage at ODDfest as part of the special festival edition of INDIE SHOWCASE.

Siamäk Naghian is the CEO of Genelec, the Finnish global leader in professional audio monitoring solutions.

He has been with the company for over three decades, playing a key role in its international growth and long-term development. Under his leadership, Genelec has combined technological innovation with a strong commitment to sustainability, design, and high-quality sound.

Naghian’s work focuses on building a globally competitive company rooted in Finnish values, while continuously evolving in response to changes in technology, creative industries, and the global market.

Silja Minkkinen is a photographer and a film director from Helsinki, Finland. She considers herself an expert in capturing moods, and loves working with different clients; always aspiring to create something fun & new. In her work she is most inspired by insects and scents, and feels that if one can smell the photo / film when looking at it, it’s done right. Her work is playful yet powerful.

She has worked with various different clients and projects, from directing music videos to creating visual identities to labels, and has experience from fashion to corporate, and everything in between.

She got an honor mention from Grafia as Rising Star by Finland’s most significant creative design competition Vuoden Huiput 2020, and since then has one Vuoden Huiput Silver 2021 in Brand Identity, for her work for Mö Kaurameijeri, as well as shortlisted for her work for Donier Gastronomy in 2023, and Scandy in 2024.

Her clients are e.g. Finlayson, Arabia, Marimekko, Let Me Wine, Kuvittajat ry, VR, Zodiak. Her services provide either her working individually in a lighter production, or gathering a group of trusted coworkers to form a whole production team and provide services from pre- to postproduction, depending on clients needs.

Simo Routarinne is an internationally recognized applied improvisation coach, interaction designer, and expert in status expression and power communication. With decades of experience working across cultures and disciplines, he helps people become more aware, playful, and powerful in their interactions. Routarinne is known for his warm presence, sharp insight, and disarming humor. His workshops blend improvisation, psychology, and embodied awareness to explore how status dynamics shape connection, collaboration, and creativity.

Participants value his ability to create a safe yet challenging space where deep learning meets joyful experimentation. At ODDference, Simo invites you to discover how subtle shifts in behavior can transform relationships, unlock authenticity, and bring more awareness and choice in behaviour.

Simo Vassinen (FI/DE) is a dancer, facilitator and researcher exploring how we can expand thinking through the body. His current work synthesises his background in futures research, journalism, translation, business studies, event production, contemporary dance, choreography and bodywork, always placing the body at the core. He seeks to puncture the everyday with collective vitality, to allow the Night to inform the Day, and to release norms in order to better face multi-level questions within our communities and desired futures.

He looks for connections that transcend the linear mind through movement, performance, touch, rave culture, psychoanalysis, dynamic meditation, mental health, and societal questions, drawing strength from the queer underground. These explorations take form in workshops, performances, and interventions, ranging from underground contexts to institutional settings.

Vassinen offers his body-forward concepts widely in Berlin and Central Europe (Sophiensaele, ImPulsTanz, Uferstudios, Radialsystem, Social Pleasure Center / Fortuna, Stretch Festival, Ponderosa), Helsinki (Kiasma, R4, Solstice Festival, Aalto University, Ateneum x UrbanApa, Zodiak, Demos Helsinki, Sweet Spot), and across the Nordics (The Borderland, Goethe-Institut Denmark).