KAYA PAKASLAHTI (b. 1990) is a Finland-Swedish screenwriter and director from Helsinki.

Having produced work in Finnish, Swedish and English, cultural tensions and outsider dynamics are persistent fascinations in Kaya’s work. Other core interests include co-dependent relationships, group mentality and power struggles. 

As a director, she has worked extensively in both drama and comedy, including two recent series for YLE, psychological thriller LINDA’S ROOM and “cringe comedy” LIMBO. She is returning to direct LIMBO season two in spring 2024 for YLE. 

Outside of her prolific television work, Kaya is currently developing her debut feature, EROTTAJA/THE DIVIDER, a Helsinki-set romantic comedy about an unusual love triangle. Kaya is developing EROTTAJA through the Nordic Film Lab at The Gothenburg Film Festival, which she was invited to attend in January 2024. Other upcoming projects include the feature film, MAGPIE, a dark comedy about the boundaries between private relationships and the cannibalism of artistry. Kaya is also working on a new short film, exploring the same theme. 

After completing her BA in Film and television at Finland’s Arcada University, Kaya continued her education in Sweden in Dramatic Writing at Biskops Arnö followed by HDK-Valand’s MFA Film Directing program. After leaving film school, her graduation work BATHROOM STORIES was developed into an 18-episode series for the national broadcaster YLE in 2019. Kaya wrote and directed every episode of the comedy-drama, which was the first Finland-Swedish series to be screened at MIP COM Cannes, the largest television trade show in Europe. 

Kaya also hosts the Swedish-language film and culture podcast TRUE ROMANCE (link) with her frequent collaborator Sara Forsius.

Agent: Gro Janarv

SELECTED WORKS

LINDAS ROOM - TV series (conceptual director/all episodes) - 2024
Watch trailer
Watch here at YLE

LIMBO - TV series (conceptual director/all episodes) - 2023
Watch trailer
Watch here at YLE

MY MOTHER’S ISLAND - Short film (writer/director) - 2022

BATHROOM STORIES - TV series (writer/director) - 2019
Watch here at YLE

BADRUMSHISTORIER - Short film (writer/director) - 2017
Watch at Vimeo / Password: BathroomStories

Awards & NOMINATIONS

NORDIC FILM LAB 2024 PARTICIPANT
GOTHENBURG FILM FESTIVAL

LIMBO - 2023
Venla Gala, shortlisted for Best Youth Series

SVENSKA KULTURFONDEN
ONE YEAR WORKING GRANT FOR ARTISTS, 2020. 
Svenska Kulturfonden’s artist’s work grant for film: screenwriting 

BADRUMSLIV - 2019 
- Venla Gala, nominated for Best TV Series
- Serial Killer Festival, in competition for Best Web Series
- Fresh Tv-conference, Mip Com, Cannes
- MINIPUT festivalscreening, Barcelona
- Belgian remake of “Bathroom Stories”, dir. Eva Cools by Sputnik Media.

Early short film awards: 
- BADRUMSHISTORIER was awarded Best film, best screenplay and the audience favourite at Egilgalan 2017. 
- THE POSTCARD CLUB was awarded best screenplay and best music and the audience favourite at Egilgalan 2014.

LINKS

Link to Kaya Pakaslahti’s Vimeo

Link to Kaya Pakaslahti’s Instagram