Sawandi groskind
Writer, Director & Producer
B. 1984, Memphis, USA
Lives and works in Helsinki
Co-Founder of Post Post Ab
Sawandi Groskind was born in Memphis, TN, USA, and raised in Jakobstad (Pietarsaari), Finland. He began making films and experimental shorts in early 2000s while attending art school and has since written and directed a number of award-winning shorts that have been shown at renowned festivals around the world. His work often features non-linear storytelling and frequently explores themes of loss, desire, and family history. Working outside Finland’s commercial film industry, Sawandi has actively promoted experimental and hybrid narrative filmmaking both locally and internationally.
Selected films
2026 Staubwelt (feature)
2024 XXL (feature)
2020 Where to Land (short)
2018 How to Approach a Giant Hole (short)
2016 Here Before (short)
2014 Sulaiman (short)
2011 Eloge (short)
Awards
2021 Main Prize Under 30 min, Tampere Film Festival - Where to Land
2021 Golden Shade Award, Tampere Film Festival - Where to Land
2020 Deframed Award, Hamburg ISFF - Where to Land
2020 Uusi aalto Award, Helsinki IFF - Where to Land
2019 Best Nordic Short, Minimalen Short Film Festival - How to Approach a Giant Hole
2018 Nordic Mid Competition, Film Fest Sundsvall - How to Approach a Giant Hole
SELECTED FESTIVAL PREMIERES & OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
2024 Göteborg Film Festival - XXL (World Premiere)
2024 FID Marseille - XXL (International Premiere)
2024 Warsaw International Film Festival - XXL
2024 São Paulo International Film Festival - XXL
2024 Kokkolan Kinojuhlat
2024 Nordic Film Days Lübeck - XXL
2021 Tampere International Film Festival - Where to Land
2020 Hamburg International Short Film Festival - Where to Land
2020 Helsinki International Film Festival - Where to Land
2020 Locarno Film Festival - Where to Land (World Premiere)
2019 Film Fest Sundsvall - How to Approach a Giant Hole
2019 Minimalen Short Film Festival - How to Approach a Giant Hole
ADDITIONAL MERITS
2025 Jury Member, National Competition, Tampere IFF
2025 Guldbaggen nomination for Best Visual Effects - XXL
2024 Kino Regina, ohjaaja klubi - XXL
2024 IFFR Rotterdam - CineMart Selection - Skarpnabba
2023 AVEK Kehittämö Program Script development
SELECTED GRANTS & FUNDING
2024 Working Grant - Svenska kulturfonden
2022 Development Grant - Svenska filminstitutet
2022 Script Development Grant - Konstsamfundet
2021 Script Development Grant - Svenska filminstitutet
2020 Working Grant - Svenska kulturfonden
2019 Short film development - AVEK
2018 Kortfilm 2018, 120,000 € funding for short film - YLE, SES
EDUCATION
2007-2012 Yrkeshögskolan Novia, Film and TV Production, BA