Hazel Annikki Savolainen

Hazel was born in Perth but moved around a lot as a child, her father being a Finnish naval architect. She attended John Curtin College of the Art, where, at age twelve, she was selected for the Specialist Drama Program. After finishing a Screen Acting Diploma at the Film and Television Institute of WA, Hazel moved to Sydney, Australia, where she attended the International Film School Sydney. Her work is recognisable for it's brave vulnerability, both in her acting and her directorial choices. She has a specific taste of a black humour she acquired from her Finnish father. Since graduating from film school, Hazel has been in post production for her major piece, 'Finger Painting', which will be hitting the 2015/16 festival circuit. The film features Hazel as a young chronic masturbator who threatens to castrate herself. She ends up in the hands of an unorthadox therapist who takes full advantage of her vulnerabilities. She does not play victim for long, however, and finds validation in the fact she was desired in her most vulnerable state.