Misko Iho

Misko Iho (born Mikko Iho; May 9, 1975, in Helsinki) is a Finnish film director.

In the mid 1990s, he was part of the computer demo group, Future Crew, and later worked designing computer game graphics in the United States. He also worked in organizing a number of music events, and later as a commercial and music video director - winning a number of Finnish and international awards.

Life and work
Misko Iho was born on May 9, 1975, as Mikko Iho in Helsinki, Finland. From 1992 to 1994, Misko was a part of a now-defunct computer demo group, Future Crew, as the graphic artist named "Pixel". Noteworthy demos by Future Crew include Unreal (released at Assembly 1992), Panic (released at The Party 1992), and Second Reality (released at Assembly 1993). Slashdot voted the Future Crew Demo Second Reality as one of the "Top 10 Hacks of All Time".

During 1994, Misko spent a few months in the United States designing computer game graphics for the game Epic Pinball by Epic MegaGames as well as Ken's Labyrinth.

From 1997 to 2001, he worked as a visual effects artist and editor creating visual effects for commercials, feature films, and music videos for bands like Bomfunk MC's, JS16 and Darude (Sandstrom, Feel the Beat, Out of Control). Darude's Sandstorm was the best selling 12" worldwide in 2000.

Misko was also busy from 1997 to 2004 running a club concept in Finland called "Screen". During those years, he was involved in organizing over a hundred club events and bringing some of the most-influential club deejays in the world to Finland. Screen guests included deejays like John Digweed, Carl Cox, Deep Dish, Josh Wink, Dave Seaman, Nick Warren, Sander Kleinenberg, Danny Rampling, Steve Lawler, Sister Bliss, and many others.

In 2001 he started working as a commercial and music video director in Finland directing music videos for Finnish artists like Maija Vilkkumaa, Waldo's People, Cristal Snow, Sunrise Avenue, Dallas Superstars, Jenni Vartiainen, Kristiina Wheeler, Haloo Helsinki!, and J. Karjalainen. His most-known Finnish works include the commercial film series for the Finnish Railways and award winning music videos for the Finnish singer Chisu.

2010 Iho's music video for the Finnish singer Chisu was chosen as the 'Music Video of the Year' in Finland at the annual Muuvi Awards organized by IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry). The video also won the Audience Award. In 2012, he won the 'Music Video of the Year' award at the Emma-Awards for his music video 'Sabotage' by Chisu. In 2011, 2012, and 2013, he received Honorable Mentions at the Oulu Music Video Festival for his music videos for Haloo Helsinki!, Chisu, and J. Karjalainen. In 2014, he also served as the head of the jury at the same festival.

2010 his debut short film Potilas (The Patient) was awarded of "Best Direction" at the Super Shorts International Film Festival in London and 2011 as the "Best short film" at the Byron Bay Film Festival in Australia.

After 2010 Iho advanced his career in commercial film direction outside Finland and especially in the United States, known for his work for Disney and his skills working with CGI characters and productions with complex post-production requirements. Notable projects include a commercial "The Cell" for Lidl, earning him 'Director of the Year' and 'Grand Prix' awards at the 2018 Finnish Commercial Film Awards and commercial films featuring CGI monsters for the American allergy medicine brand Flonase.

Iho's collaboration with Disney began in 2015, when he worked with Vancouver-based post-production house The Embassy Visual Effects, Industrial Light & Magic, and cinematographer Simon Duggan on a commercial featuring elements from the Star Wars universe and Marvel Comics character Iron Man for Disney's interactive toy brand, Playmation.

In 2023, Iho joined the roster of American commercial production company Wild Gift Content with his Finnish colleague director Pete Riski, founded in 2020 by David Mitchell, former managing director of Ridley Scott's RSA Films.

The same year, his collaboration with Disney continued on a commercial for Mickey's Toontown, and Iho worked with Blockhead VFX in New Zealand, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and lead animator Eric Goldberg to integrate classic hand drawn 2D characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy into live-action settings filmed in Disneyland with cinematographer Bojan Bazelli.

The Patient (2010)
Best Direction Best Short Film Best International Actor - Jani Volanen Official Selections
 * Super Shorts International Film Festival - UK 2010
 * Byron Bay International Film Festival - Australia 2011
 * Cinefiesta - Puerto Rico 2011
 * International Sci-Fi & Fantasy Film Festival of Athens - Greece 2012
 * Vimeo - Staff Pick 2011
 * Cinefiesta - Puerto Rico 2011
 * Festival Mas Sorrer - Spain 2011
 * Boston LGBT Film Festival - USA 2011
 * Manlleu Short Film Festival - Spain 2011
 * Riverside International Film Festival - USA 2011
 * European Short Film Festival at MIT - USA 2011
 * Palm Beach International Film Festival - USA 2011
 * Byron Bay International Film Festival - Australia 2011
 * Tampere Film Festival - Finland 2011
 * The Magnolia Independent Film Festival - USA 2011
 * FEC Gambrils-Reues XIII European Short Film Festival - Spain 2011
 * Super Shorts International Film Festival - UK 2010
 * Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival - USA 2010
 * The Stepping Stone Film Festival - India 2010
 * Lone Star International Film Festival - USA 2010
 * Helsinki International Film Festival - Finland 2010

Music videos
2013
 * Sydänlupaus by J. Karjalainen

2012
 * Eva by Jippu

2011
 * Kohtalon oma by Chisu
 * Sabotage by Chisu
 * I don't dance by Sunrise Avenue
 * Kokeile Minua - Haloo Helsinki!

2010
 * Pimeä onni - Jippu & Samuli Edelmann
 * Linnunrata - CMX
 * Kunnon Syy - Irina & Maija Vilkkumaa
 * Nettiin by Jenni Vartiainen
 * Killing Me by Cristal Snow
 * I Wanna Be A Rockstar by Waldo's People

2009
 * Adwoa Fowaah by Bredren B (Ghana)
 * Life by Bredren B (Ghana)
 * Welcome To My Life by Sunrise Avenue
 * Baden-Baden by Chisu
 * Padayu (Falling) by Khaki (Russia)

2008
 *  Lose Control by Waldo's People (Eurovision 2009 Finland)
 * Silent Despair by Anna Abreu
 * Annie And I by Kristiina Wheeler
 * Luokkakokous by Maija Vilkkumaa
 * Suojatiellä by Maija Vilkkumaa
 * China Cool by Cristal Snow
 * Sunny Day by Kristiina Wheeler
 * Muut by Chisu
 * Can't Save Me by Cristal Snow

2007
 * Scarred by Cristal Snow
 * Pump It Up by Cristal Snow

2003
 * I Feel Love by Dallas Superstars

Sports career
Skydiving (2004 –present).

Awards
 * Gold - Freeflying at Finnish National Skydiving Championships 2009
 * Silver - Freeflying at Finnish National Skydiving Championships 2008
 * Silver - Freeflying at Finnish National Skydiving Championships 2007

Records
 * Florida state vertical record 42-way (2011)
 * European vertical record 80-way (2011)
 * Nordic vertical record 39-way (2011)
 * Finnish national vertical record 20-way (2011)
 * Finnish national vertical record 14-way (2010)