Finnish Production Companies Merge to Create Whatever Pictures

Finland’s Whatevergroup and Mutant Koala Pictures have joined forces to create Whatever Pictures, positioning itself as a scripted studio with global ambitions.

Located on Finland’s northwestern coast in Oulu, the merged venture promises to draw inspiration from its extreme surroundings as it works across scripted and select high-end documentaries. The new business intends to align with writers, directors and other talent, domestically and globally, to develop new projects. It will also engage in co-productions, provide production services and post-production coordination.

Projects in the works include Torna a Surriento, a European co-production with Glassriver in Iceland, Rein Film in Norway and Viola Films in Italy for Finland’s Yle, Icelandic streamer Siminn and Italy’s RAI.

“Our job up here is equal parts grit and ambition,” said CEO Antti Kaarlela. “Crossing a swamp on Tuesday and a red carpet on Friday are part of the same week. We know the North, we know our craft, and we believe the extremes we live with every day—light, dark, isolation, humor—are the perfect foundation for stories that resonate everywhere.”

Jukka Vidgren, creative producer, added: “Creating stories people want to watch is what we have done separately for a long time—in Finland, across Scandinavia, and around the globe—and now, collectively. We know the North, we know our craft, and we believe the best stories are the ones worth sharing everywhere.”

The Whatever Pictures team also includes Antti Kairakari as creative producer, Pia Ervasti as CFO and line producer, Aleksi Puranen as head of development and Petteri Staven as VFX supervisor.