Whatever Pictures has announced its launch following the merger of Finnish scripted independent production companies, Whatevergroup and Mutant Koala Pictures. The two Finnish scripted indies working side by side in the country’s far north form a new scripted studio with global ambition and northern soul.
Headquartered in Oulu, Whatever Pictures draws inspiration from the extreme environments of its surroundings; the harsh winters, midnight sun, and untamed wilderness. These captivating elements shape the narratives of their productions, imbuing them with tension, resilience, and unexpected humour.
The company’s slate spans thrillers, mysteries, dramas, comedies, and select high-end documentaries. What unites them is a commitment to sharp storytelling and international reach.
Whatever Pictures will collaborate with top-tier writers, directors, and creative talent, both locally and internationally, developing projects from the ground up to ensure originality, strong concepts, and market viability. The company also partners with trusted co-producers, sales agents, and broadcasters, building long-term relationships based on trust, creativity, and shared ambition. The company will produce original productions, co-productions, provide production services and post-production coordination.
On the Whatever Pictures slate is Torna a Surriento, a European co-production with Glassriver in Iceland, Rein Film in Norway and Viola Films in Italy for Finland’s YLE, Icelandic streamer Siminn and Italy’s RAI. More news on original and co-produced series and feature film projects will be announced soon.
“Our job up here is equal parts grit and ambition,” says CEO Antti Kaarlela. “Crossing a swamp on Tuesday and a red carpet on Friday are part of the same week. We know the North, we know our craft, and we believe the extremes we live with every day — light, dark, isolation, humor — are the perfect foundation for stories that resonate everywhere.”
Jukka Vidgren, Creative Producer says “Creating stories people want to watch is what we have done separately for a long time – in Finland, across Scandinavia, and around the globe – and now, collectively. We know the North, we know our craft, and we believe the best stories are the ones worth sharing everywhere.”
The Whatever Pictures team is formed of:
- Antti Kaarlela – CEO / producer
- Jukka Vidgren – Creative producer
- Antti Kairakari – Creative producer
- Pia Ervasti – CFO / Line producer
- Aleksi Puranen – Head of Development
- Petteri Staven – VFX Supervisor
With this merger, Whatever Pictures steps onto the European stage as a production company that blends tech-savvy entrepreneurial drive with the grit of the Arctic. Its mission: to create stories people want to watch — in Finland, across Scandinavia, and around the globe.
