Laura Hyppönen
Tutor; Film Production, Screenwriting & Acting
Laura is originally from Finland but spent 20 years living and working in the UK, as well as two years in Amsterdam. She currently considers Berlin her home.
She began working for Catalyst in 2024, where she teaches screenwriting on the Film Production and Screenwriting programmes, as well as directing characters on the Film Production programme and Screen Acting and Industry on the Acting programme. Before joining Catalyst, Laura spent 20 years working in the film industry in London, including 15 years running her own boutique production company. She holds an MA in Screenwriting and an MSc in Management with a specialization in Film Business. Her work primarily focuses on writing and directing narrative fiction, but she also enjoys directing music videos and artist moving image works. Laura is currently working on her second feature film as a writer-director.
Her decision to join Catalyst was driven by a desire to share her industry experience with a new generation of filmmakers. She was drawn to Catalyst’s international and diverse student body, as well as its talented and passionate faculty.
Laura excels at articulating feelings and experiences through words and images, crafting them into screen stories. She has developed a talent for recognizing people’s ideas and potential, and she enjoys helping them build confidence in their abilities. Her favorite part of her role at Catalyst is exploring students’ ideas and helping them grow as artists and individuals.
Outside of Catalyst, Laura spends time working on her own projects as a writer and director, people-watching at cafes, and attending performances at art spaces. She finds inspiration in people with passions and considers her life goal to inspire others.
Recent films that have made an impact on her include Isabella Eklöf’s Holiday (2018) and Ninja Thyberg’s Pleasure (2021). She also continues to draw inspiration from the works of Jean-Pierre Melville, Werner Herzog, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, the early films of Pedro Almodóvar, and Luis Buñuel.
Laura derives great satisfaction from seeing the images and characters in her mind come to life on the big screen. She also enjoys simple pleasures, such as walking her corgi in the rain and sharing a croissant with him afterward.