Director Visa Koiso-Kanttila has been awarded the Church Media Foundation's "Look at Me..." Award for his film Defiant (“Uhma”). The award was presented today, November 22, 2025, at the Oulu International Children's and Youth Film Festival in Finland, where the film competed in the Finnish Film Competition.
Defiant is a gripping drama about Vilma (Ona Huczkowski), who has lost her father and cannot find her place in the life of her blended family. As a result of her struggles, Vilma ends up in a youth home, where she refuses to be broken by the staff, who lead with arbitrary and harsh methods. This fiction film based on real events delves into the problems of child protection.
The award jury member was Rebekka Naatus, Head of Communications for the Vantaa parishes and a member of the Board of the Church Media Foundation. According to her, watching Defiant called for a moment of pause and courage.
"Watching Defiant was not easy. The film felt bad, but at the same time it demanded unwavering concentration. All in all, it was an intense experience," Naatus said in her statement about the award.
“I was particularly impressed by how emotions and motives were conveyed through gestures, touch, violence, and the distances between people. I felt that the film allowed me to see and experience things that can be difficult to see, understand, or even approach. The film left a strong impression and showed that light and hope are not necessarily as far away as it feels in the darkness," Naatus added.
The "Look at Me..." Award includes a cash prize of 1,500 euros. It is awarded annually at the Oulu International Children's and Youth Film Festival to a Finnish director of a feature or short film. The award aims to support Finnish films for children and young people and to encourage filmmakers to encourage filmmakers to reflect on themes of responsibility and values that resonate with Christian ethics.