Raili Rusto, longtime children’s television director at Finland’s national broadcaster, has died

Raili Rusto, a pioneering Finnish director of children’s television programmes who spent more than four decades at the national broadcaster Yle, has died in Helsinki. She was 97.

Her death was confirmed to Yle by her spouse, Timo Tiihonen.

Over a career spanning more than 40 years, Rusto directed more than 30 films, many of them staples of Finnish children’s entertainment. She began as an actress before moving into professional theatre and joining Yle’s TV1 children’s and youth department in 1965.

Among her best-known works are the 1965 feature Pessi and Illusia, the 1969 adaptation Vinski of the Whole Town, the 1977 comedy Villahousupakko and four films in the Uppo-Nalle series.