Film director Selma Vilhunen has won the Church Media Foundation’s 2026 prize for her documentary film Gate to Paradise (Portti Paratiisiin).
The documentary was awarded in the national competition at the Tampere Film Festival, Finland (March 4-8, 2026), which featured a total of 41 films. In Gate to Paradise, actor Ville Virtanen visits his elderly aunt Ulla Perho-Nummikoski, who once saved a forest that later became important to both of them.
The jury for the Church Media Foundation’s prize was Outi Freese, deputy board member of the foundation and executive director of Koulukino.
“In the film Gate to Paradise, actor Ville Virtanen reflects on forest conservation and the importance of nature to humanity together with his aunt, textile artist Ulla Perho-Nummikoski.
This conversation gives rise to a powerful statement in defense of nature. The documentary is skillfully constructed and perfectly paced. The precision with which its message reaches the viewer is masterful.
At the same time, the documentary is also a small portrait of Ulla Perho-Nummikoski, who already in the late 1970s protected her beloved forest”, Outi Freese explains in the prize citation.
The Church Media Foundation’s prize amounts to €1,500. The prize has been awarded at the Tampere Film Festival to one Finnish film director each year since 2017.
The award criteria emphasize the technical and artistic quality of films, as well as themes that invite viewers to reflect on Christian values.