Markus Lehmusruusu’s Finnish Oscar Entry ‘The Squirrel’ Earns Aki Kaurismäki’s Stamp of Approval: ‘He Said It’s Like ‘2001: A Space Odyssey,’ but Better Because It’s Full of Humanism’

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Markus Lehmusruusu’s Finnish Oscar Entry ‘The Squirrel’ Earns Aki Kaurismäki’s Stamp of Approval: ‘He Said It’s Like ‘2001: A Space Odyssey,’ but Better Because It’s Full of Humanism’

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Markus Lehmusruusu’s absurdist eco-sci-fi feature The Squirrel has been selected as Finland's official submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Produced by Bufo, the film follows Pasi, a lonely synthetic pet designer in a sterile future where nature has completely vanished. His predictable life is upended when he encounters the world's last living squirrel, an event that awakens genuine human emotion and triggers unexpected complications involving a welfare official. The movie earned praise from legendary Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki, who compared its scope favorably to classic science fiction while highlighting its deep humanism. Released theatrically in Finland in April 2026, the film prepares for its international premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. Finnish selection committees praised the project for its distinctive world-building, sharp domestic humor, and strong contemporary resonance regarding environmental loss and technological isolation, positioning it as a unique contender for the international race.

Published 2026-09-16 09:45:25 UTC · Published by JQJO

Prepared by Ayesha A. · AI assisted

More context

Timeline

On October 4, 2024, production announcements detailed international co-production partnerships across Europe.
On April 2, 2026, the film premiered in Finnish cinemas nationwide.
On May 25, 2026, early updates tracked the film toward award consideration.
On August 19, 2026, producers announced an upcoming international premiere at Fantastic Fest.
On September 9, 2026, Finland officially selected the film for Oscar consideration.
On September 17, 2026, the international premiere approaches at Fantastic Fest in Texas.
In coming months, the film will campaign among Academy voters globally.
During late 2026, international distributors will expand festival and theatrical screenings.
Throughout early 2027, the Academy will narrow contenders down toward nominations.
In March 2027, the 99th Academy Awards winners will be announced.

Why it matters

Immediate US impact: Expands US arthouse distribution interest for Nordic speculative cinema. Possible long-term US impact: Elevates global awareness around Finnish ecological science-fiction cinematic storytelling. Most affected groups: Independent film enthusiasts, international cinema fans, and specialty festival attendees. Reader priority: Monitor specialized entertainment trades and festival screening schedules closely.

Coverage notes

Left: Emphasizes environmental themes, systemic critique, and modern ecological anxiety. Center: Focuses on official selection facts, artistic merits, and festival debuts. Right: Highlights traditional national achievement, cultural prestige, and creative industry success.