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The film is set in a Syrian prison, and the events are seen through a small opening in the cell door, from the perspective of a young student. The protagonist sees only fragments of what is happening, leaving plenty of room for the viewer’s imagination. The film is based on real-life, notorious torture centers from the era of Syria’s now-deposed dictator Bashar al-Assad. The film’s visuals are powerful and believable — and it is quite surprising that the film was shot entirely on the Aalto University campus in Otaniemi. 

My Name is Hope won the Grand Prize in the domestic competition at the Love and Anarchy 2025 festival and has now won the 2025 Jussi Award for Best Short Film. 

MY NAME IS HOPE
Sherwan Haji, Director
Hadi Nikzad, Producer 
Kari Ahotupa, Producer
Maté Papp, Cinematographer
Saku Anttila, Sound designer
Jette Keedus, Editor
Ville Väisänen, Set designer


ELO alums and students well represented in other Jussi Awards 

Many of the Jussi awardees are ELO alums.

Film of the year: Jossain on valo joka ei sammu (A Light that Never goes Out)
Director Lauri-Matti Parppei, Producer Ilona Tolmunen 

Director of the year: Jossain on valo joka ei sammu
Director Lauri-Matti Parppei

Original Screenplay: Jossain on valo joka ei sammu
Director, Screenwriter Lauri-Matti Parppei

Cinematography: Orenda
Cinematographer Max Smeds

Musical Score: Jossain on valo joka ei sammu
Lauri-Matti Parppei

Sound Design: Jossain on valo joka ei sammu
Sound designer Juuso Oksala

Editing: The Helsinki Effect
Editor Markus Leppälä

Documentary Film: The Helsinki Effect
Producer Sandra Enkvist