Rotterdam Lab

Marja Pihlaja

Marja is a producer based in Helsinki. She holds a Master of Arts degree in film and TV producing from Aalto University. Marja has produced several short films that have screened at festivals like Visions du Réel, Karlovy Vary, and Hot Docs, among many others. Since 2018 Marja has been working at Tekele Productions. She was the line producer of the company’s two feature films and is now developing her own films as a producer. She is an alumna of Berlinale Talents and Nordic Talents. For the year 2021 Marja was selected for EAVE Producers Workshop and Berlinale Talent Project Market with the feature film Viva la Vida.

Tekele Productions – Finland

Tekele Productions, founded in 2017, is a Finnish production company that focuses on feature films and TV series. Every now and then we also love to make a short film if the project feels right. Original content, contemporary stories and a sensitivity to different audiences are the core of the company.

Our team of four producers aims to produce and co-produce content for both domestic and international audiences. We want to be a company that provides real working opportunities for new talent. The company is currently growing to be more international. The producer Miia Haavisto is attending ACE Workshop 2021-2022 and the producer Marja Pihlaja just graduated from EAVE Producers Workshop in November 2021.

Projects in development
Viva La Vida by Ulla Heikkilä (feature film)
Matriarchy by Tinja Ruusuvuori (documentary)

Projects in post-production
Service by Mikko Mäkelä (short film)

Released films
Untitled (Burned Rubber On Asphalt, 2018) by Tinja Ruusuvuori, 2019 (short documentary, 20 min)
#Barewithme by Ulla Heikkilä, 2017 (short fiction, 9 min)
After The Reunion by Kirsikka Saari, 2016 (short fiction, 14 min)
Golgotha by Ulla Heikkilä, 2016 (short fiction, 28 min)

+ as a line producer:
Eden by Ulla Heikkilä, 2020 (feature film)
Bad Women by Niklas Lindgren, 2022 (feature film)

Marja Pihlaja