BIO
Maria Santto is a documentary photographer and videographer, born to a Finnish Russian parents in Helsinki Finland. She has a One Year Certificate degree in Documentary photography and Photojournalism from International Center of Photography, NY 2014 and a BA Hons in Documentary Film and TV from the University of Wales, Newport, UK in 2006.
Work includes BBC, BBC Wales, Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE, MTV (Finnish TV) IFRC, ICRC, Finnish Red Cross, Finnish Church Aid, Finnish and European news publications and NGO's.
Currently working on a personal documentary project “Atlas” on family connections, memory loss and mental health. Due to corona insanity based mainly in Finland at the moment, but open for opportunities world wide.
Languages: Finnish, Russian, English, French, German, Swedish and very basic Arabic
GRANTS
2020 TAIKE grant for “Will you be coming home tonight?”
2020 Patricia Seppälä photography grant “State of Emergency”
2017 Kordelin foundation - grant for cross-media project "Welcome to Vihti"
2017 Taike / Taiteen edistämiskeskus - grant for cross-media project "Welcome to Vihti".
2014 Patricia Seppälä grant for photojournalism studies at the International Center of Photography (ICP)
2014 Finnish Cultural Foundation (Kulttuurirahasto) grant for studies at the ICP, New York
2012 Journalist travel grant, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland
SHOWS
2014 "Elective Affinities," International Center of Photography, New York, New York
2013 World Village, Maailma Kylässä festival, Helsinki, Finland
2012 3 rooms, 3 photographers – exhibition, St.Petersburg, Russia
2012 Palestine, Hyvinkää townhouse, Finland
2006 Cannes Film Festival, Shortfilm Corner. Final degree film shown at Cannes Shortfilm Corner