Saara Kotkaniemi

Saara (she/her) is an intimacy coordinator, actor, and writer based in Helsinki, Finland, working across film, television, and theatre. With over fifteen years of experience as a professional performer, she brings a dual perspective to intimacy coordination: she understands the artistic demands of vulnerable storytelling from the inside and works to ensure those demands are met with clarity, consent, and care.

Her path into intimacy coordination grew from her work as an actor and her engagement with the ethics of portraying intimacy on screen. In 2020, she authored an extensive report and official guidelines on performing intimate scenes for camera, published by the Finnish Film Foundation. She has since contributed to industry discussions through lectures, panel talks, and podcast work.

Saara’s practice combines protection with creativity. She works closely with directors, performers, and production teams to choreograph intimate material with precision and artistic intention, translating sensitive ideas into clear, consensual agreements. As an actor and writer, she remains closely connected to storytelling and is particularly committed to ensuring intimate scenes are purposeful, specific, and dramatically meaningful.

Saara is available for work in Finland and internationally, with strong family ties to Switzerland and Italy. Her working languages are Finnish and English, with additional working knowledge of Swedish, Italian, and German.

E-mail: saara.kotkaniemi@gmail.com

Website: www.saarakotkaniemi.com