Directing

Diana Ringo

Biography

Diana Ringo (born March 8, 1992) is a Finnish film director, composer, and visual artist, known for her distinctive blend of metaphysical themes and dystopian narratives. Often compared to visionary filmmakers like Andrei Tarkovsky, Alexander Sokurov and Terence Malick, her work explores the boundaries between the physical world and the abstract realms of thought, memory, and identity, often set against dystopian backdrops that highlight human fragility and authoritarian systems. Raised in Helsinki in a family of artists and scientists, Ringo's artistic talents were evident from an early age. By five, her perfect pitch was discovered, leading her to study piano under Dmitry Soloviev. She later trained with renowned pianists and attended master classes by Hollywood composer Lalo Schifrin and directors like Paul Verhoeven and David Lynch. Ringo is fluent in English, Finnish, Russian, and German. Ringo's directorial debut, Quarantine (2021), a dystopian drama, earned critical acclaim and a spot on the shortlist for the 2022 Golden Globe Awards. In addition to directing, she composed 26 original tracks for the film’s score. Following this success, she adapted George Orwell’s 1984, released in 2023, which quickly gained a modern cult following, further cementing her status as a rising cinematic talent. As a classically trained pianist and composer, Ringo draws inspiration from composers such as Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin, alongside film score icons like Ennio Morricone and Giorgio Moroder. Her score for Million Loves in Me won the Best Original Score at the 2020 LAFA Awards. She has also contributed music to other films, including the short film Hinge, produced by Salvador Carrasco. Beyond filmmaking, Ringo works in various visual art forms, including oil painting, gouache, and digital media. In 2020, she became the first Finnish woman to appear in Playboy Spain. She is also the founder and director of the Prague Independent Film Festival, promoting independent cinema and new talent.