Aake Kivalo is a Helsinki based cinematographer who has worked in various projects ranging from tv-series, feature documentaries, short films and video art. His recent television shows include The Children Are Grumpy (in production, release date 2027) directed by Ima Iduozee and Larppi (2026) directed by Jojo Erholtz. Both series are commissioned by the national broadcasting company YLE.
Kivalo is also working on a feature documentary A Quiet Spring (2027) directed by Elias Kahla. The film concentrates on the Russo-Ukrainian war through the perspective of birds and war invalids. Pepe (2024) by Severi Koivusalo, a feature documentary about the famous finnish musician Pepe Willberg, was nominated for a Jussi award for the best documentary film in 2025.
Besides longer projects, Kivalo has also worked with various different directors on many short films, both fiction and documentary: GAP (2026) directed by Malin Nyqvist, Viimeinen Sopimus (2024) directed by Siiri Halko, A Beauty Odyssey (2024) directed by Rosaliina Paavilainen, Isän Mäyrä directed by Sameli Muurimäki and Olipa Kerran Lama (2023) directed by Elias Kahla.
Kivalo has been a frequent collaborator of artist Nastja Säde Rönkkö filming numerous video art works for her. At the moment works in progress include Rönkkös new multi-channel video work Arcana Maiora (2027). In the past, Kivalo has filmed the following art works for Rönkkö: Salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears (3-channel video work, 2023) displayed at Beaconsfield Gallery in London 2023 and Serlachius Museum in Mänttä 2024, Survival Guide for a Post-Apocalyptic Child (26-channel video work, 2022) displayed at Lönnström Art Museum in Rauma 2023, HAM Helsinki 2024 and Prospect Cottage in Kent 2025, Those Who Kept the Light (10-channel video work, 2022) displayed at Chart Art Fair in Copenhagen 2022 and Turku Art Museum 2024.
He holds a Master of Arts degree in cinematography from the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. He graduated in 2023.
Contact:
+358 50 574 5593
aake.kivalo@gmail.com