Decision-making in film production: Applying paradox theory and cognitive science to Finnish film production.

This article examines decision-making as a critical issue in film production, focusing on the Finnish film industry through the lens of paradox theory and cognitive science. It highlights key paradoxes arising from the dual nature of films as both artistic and commercial products, organizational tensions between individual creativity and collective collaboration, and the interplay of rational and intuitive decision-making processes during production. Insights from an in-depth interview with Finnish producer Jussi Rauntamäki illustrate how these paradoxes manifest in practice, including challenges related to public subsidies, international co-productions, and balancing innovation with audience familiarity. The study emphasizes the importance of contextual factors in shaping decision strategies and calls for further research on managing paradoxes and intuition in film production within specific sociocultural settings.