Katariina Lillqvist

The title artist of this year’s Annikki Poetry Festival, Katariina Lillqvist is a film director, radio drama creator, artist and cultural influencer based in both Finland and the Czech Republic. Since the early 1990s, she has directed over twenty animated films and documentaries, in addition to creating radio drama, radio documentaries and installations. Lillqvist is known as a boundary-breaking artist who has brought puppet animation to the attention of the general public in Finland.

Hailing from Tampere, Katariina Lillqvist is also widely recognised internationally, having received awards such as the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and a special prize at the Montreal World Film Festival. In Finland, her work has been honored with the State Prize for Art and several grand prizes at the Tampere Film Festival. Many of Lillqvist’s works are deeply intertwined with Romani history and culture. She and Academician Hilja Grönfors – who will also perform at the festival – are long-time collaborators, and together they bring a strong emphasis on Romani culture to this year’s programme.

The Exhibitions

At the Annikki Poetry Festival, puppets from Katariina Lillqvist’s animations will be on display at the Annikki Stone Kiosk (Kivikioski), while her films on Romani themes can be viewed non-stop in the Cellar Gallery (Kellarigalleria). Additionally, the large lace roll installation Kovaa pitsiä (Hard Lace) and other works will be exhibited in the courtyard.