Risto Orko

Risto Eliel William Orko (originally Nylund) (September 15,1899-September 29,2001) was a Finnish film producer and director.

With a career of over 60 years at the film studio Suomi-Filmi, Orko rose to be head of production and chief director in the 1930s. He became its CEO in 1945. In the 1940s,50s and 60s, Suomi-Fimi produced hundreds of films and numerous shorts.

In the years 1933-43, Orko directed many films, including two (Aktivistit and Jaakarin Morsian), which were banned for being "overly patriotic". He also had a joint cooperation with the German film industry during World War II. Interestingly, Orko also directed a more notable American subtitle film, entitled "The Day the Earth Froze" in 1959.

His death at age 102 was received with great sadness in his native Finland and was he was thereafter known as the "last Finnish Film Tycoon".