The competition is organised in collaboration with Nordic music creators’ organisations and music export offices, with support from the Nordic Film & TV Fond.

Composer Panu Aaltio has won the prestigious HARPA Nordic Film Music Award for his score for the film Little Siberia (Pikku Siperia). The award was presented on Saturday, 14 February 2026, during the Nordic Film Music Days held in connection with the Berlin International Film Festival.

Little Siberia is a black comedy set in the remote village of Hurmevaara, where everyday life is turned upside down when a meteorite crashes through the roof of a car one night.

At the heart of the story is Joel, the village priest and former peacekeeper, who is tasked with guarding the meteorite in an old museum. While protecting the stone from professional criminals, Joel also tries to unravel a major mystery in his own life.

“A musical bridge between the everyday and the absurd”

Particular praise was given to Aaltio’s ability to build a musical bridge between the everyday and the absurd. In the national selection jury’s statement, his professionalism and inventiveness were highlighted, especially the way he combines modern electronic sound design with traditional Finnish folk music. The result is a unique sonic world that lives and breathes with the story, masterfully shaping the rhythm of the on-screen events.

The international jury, which made the final decision, stated the following in its citation:

“Comedy is a difficult and challenging genre, but in Little Siberia the music succeeded in elevating the film to an entirely new level. It featured multiple layers, and conveyed epic emotions; even certain musical excesses worked to its advantage, helping the absurd scenes find the right tone. The score combined a wide range of sounds, from folk music to electronic textures, and the orchestral arrangement was excellent. The soundscape was distinctive, playful, and perfectly suited to the film.”

The film is directed by Dome Karukoski, and is the first Finnish Netflix original feature film. Based on the novel published in 2018 by Antti Tuomainen, the film is currently available to stream on Netflix. The film was originally released on March 21, 2025.

About the HARPA Award

The HARPA Film Music Award has been presented annually since 2010 to Nordic film composers. Aaltio’s win marks Finland’s fourth victory in the history of the award.

The competition is organised in collaboration with Nordic music creators’ organisations and music export offices. Finland is represented in the collaboration by the Finnish Music Creators (Suomen Musiikintekijät) and Music Finland.