A darkly humorous, bittersweet drama about loss, love and the pain of being, Dogs Don’t Wear Pants centers on depressed surgeon Juha (Pekka Strang, star of Tom of Finland, PSIFF 2018), a grieving widower and single father who develops an unexpected but powerful connection with dominatrix Mona (Krista Kosonen). Mona is the only one able to help him tap into his feelings after a tragic event leaves him emotionally paralyzed. Juha’s dangerous addiction to suffocation is nurtured by Mona, leading them both down a wild path towards emotional enlightenment. While striking a perfect balance between delicate emotions and graphic images, director J-P Valkeapää steers clear of sensationalism and creates a space for those who abandon the restraints and expectations of mainstream society.

Winner: Best Picture, Fantastic Fest; Crossovers Prize, Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival; Best Picture — New Vision, Sitges

Director J-P Valkeapää is expected to be in attendance on January 10 and 11.