Paavo Hanninen

PAAVO HANNINEN is an Alabama born-and-raised, Texas educated, New Orleans-refined and Los Angeles-based writer/director.

Seasoned filmmaker living in Los Angeles. Currently in development on feature film with Verve Literary and Talent agency as writer/director for script which was a finalist for the Nantucket Screenwriters Colony and now has name talent attached.

-3x Short of the Week selection
-Criterion collection selection
-The New Yorker selection
-Omeleto, Nobudge, Directorsnotes selections
-Austin Film Festival, Cucalorus Film Festival, Maryland Film Festival, Sun Valley Film Festival, New Orleans Film Festival
-Austin Film Society grant winner
-Southern Producers' Lab project selection

As a Director of Photography, Paavo has shot documentaries, narratives, music videos, and branded content. Films he has shot have played at Rotterdam, Clermont-Ferrand, New Orleans Film Festival, Maryland Film Festival, and many others.

​He has worked with numerous notable directors including Garrett Bradley, Margaret Brown, Lee Hirsch, Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, and many others. Films he has DP-ed have been supported by Sundance, SF Film, Tribeca, Southern Doc Fund, Ford Foundation and many others. Recently, Paavo DP-ed the feature documentary "The Neutral Ground" which premiered at Tribeca Festival before playing on POV on PBS.