Inka Rusi is a filmmaker and director working across documentary, fiction, and scripted TV. Drawn to character-led stories, she believes film is an artform of emotions in which complexity, contradiction and vulnerability coexist.
With over ten years of experience and an earlier background in fashion design, she brings a timeless visual sensibility to her work. Her process is grounded in openness, trust and close collaboration, creating a safe space for actors and participants alike. Alongside her long-form work, she directs commercial campaigns for leading Nordic brands and has co-founded production company Onerva Pictures with her sister Tanja Rusi.
She was the creative producer on the feature length documentary film BRAINWASHED: SEX-CAMERA-POWER executive produced by Tim Disney and Abigail Disney that premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2022 and went on to screen at festivals such as The Berlinale Panorama, CPH:DOX, The BFI Film festival and IDFA.
Inka graduated from the California institute of the Arts in Los Angeles with an MFA in Film Directing in 2020. She is a Fulbright and Thanks To Scandinavia Scholar. Her thesis film BIND (2021) a psychological thriller was selected to 2021 CAA Moebius Showcase.
She is a member of SELO The Finnish Film Director’s Guild and SUNKLO The Writer’s Guild of Finland. Inka also completed a year long Drama Intensive in Series Directing by YLE Lume Lab & YLE Drama in 2023.
“I'm absolutely fascinated by the messiness of the human experience. Give me stories that shove our prejudices in our faces, make us squirm a bit, and force us to rethink our values. I’m after that sweet spot where we find slivers of humanity even in the absolute darkest moments.”
IMDB
