Perfect Sweat, a compelling seven-part series, delves deep into the diverse and culturally rich practices of sauna and sweat bathing across the globe. Bray’s Run Productions traveled the world to capture the essence of each location. The series showcases episodes from Finland, Aufguss (Germany & Italy), Russia, Japan, Turkey, Norway, and even Burning Man, offering viewers a unique look at how different cultures embrace the tradition of sweat bathing.
In this documentary series, sweat bathing guru Mikkel Aaland, author of the 70s classic, Sweat, teams up with local guides and hosts and retraces his steps in search of the Perfect Sweat. What he finds after nearly 45 years is an explosive rebirth of the ancient bathing traditions, traditions which include community rituals that are meant to revive the human spirit and change the world.
Drawing from a variety of press releases and news articles, this page provides an overview of the series' journey, from its inception to its anticipated release on mainstream platforms.
About Perfect Sweat
The series, lauded for its profound examination of the cultural significance and practices surrounding saunas, was meticulously crafted by a dedicated cast who brought depth and authenticity to their regions. Under the guidance of talented directors, each episode delved into the nuances of sauna culture, showcasing the diverse rituals, traditions, and experiences associated with this unique practice. The series explores the historical significance of saunas, tracing their origins from ancient civilizations to contemporary societies. It also examined the physical, mental, and social benefits of sauna bathing, highlighting its role in promoting relaxation, healing, and fostering community.
Through interviews with experts, sauna enthusiasts, and cultural historians, the series provided a multifaceted perspective on the cultural phenomenon of saunas. The stunning visuals captured the essence of sauna environments, showcasing the architectural designs, natural landscapes, and the intimate moments shared within these sacred spaces. This series stood out for its ability to transport viewers into the world of sauna culture, offering a glimpse into a practice that has played a significant role in shaping societies and individual lives throughout history. The series, celebrated for its in-depth exploration of sauna culture, was brought to life by a dedicated cast, and talented directors.
Five press releases were published announcing the dates when the series began filming: Finland in 2017, Russia in February of 2018, Italy and Germany in August, 2018, Japan in March 2019, and Turkey, in April, 2019.
The Cast of Perfect Sweat
Series Host: Mikkel Aaland is an award-winning photographer, best-selling author and is the co-founder of Sauna Aid, a multi-country initiative, dedicated to providing movable sauna facilities and supportive services to people facing natural and man-made disasters. He is also an honorary member of the International Sauna Association (ISA) and the British Sauna Society and a board member of the Norwegian Sauna Association (Badstulaug).
Finland Co-Host: Samuel Aarnio is a Finnish Culture Producer and Senior Digital Marketing Consultant and has produced and starred in multiple Sauna Channel short films from Scandinavia and the Baltics, one of them being his own country cottage sauna hand built by his great grandfather by a Finnish lakeside, which is featured in the Sauna Channel episode, Sommerhus Sauna.
Aufguss Co-Host: Christine Rose and her partner Maria Santini and friends, founded the Italian Aufguss Association, AISA, dedicated to bringing the Aufguss culture to Italy and Europe through contests and education. Christine is a highly ranked Aufguss contestant and has successfully participated in several national Aufguss preliminary contests, as well as the International Aufguss-WM Finals, with 500 participants. Christine also works as a volunteer for the Italian Sauna Association with its 400 members.
Russia Co-Host: Anna Artemieva is an interior design journalist and public relations specialist, representing cutting-edge architects, brands and dealers. Burkina's creative design company is called the Shum (which means 'noise' in Russian) Agency. Anna's site nudeblog.ru, about the banya culture, is followed by over 10,000 readers. She calls herself a "banya addicted girl' who is hooked on the healthy living communal aspects of the traditional bathing culture of Russia.
Japan Co-Host: Sho Ikushima is an actor / contemporary dancer / art producer, based in Tokyo and works worldwide. As an actor, he has worked a number of times with Yukihiko Tsutsumi, one of the most well-known Japanese film directors. In 2018, Sho made his Hollywood debut in action film, “Darc”, as Shigeru Kageyama, a leading role. Sho started his own production company, 034productions, in 2019.
Japan Co-Host: Miki Tokairin, a Tokyo-based photographer and writer, is Japan's leading expert in sauna culture. Her work has earned her recognition as a mentor who shares her knowledge globally. Miki is known for her "Whisking Sauna" forest sauna rituals, which she has researched and practiced for a decade.
Turkey Co-Host: Elizabet Kurumlu has worked as a location manager, line producer, fixer, and researcher for filming projects in Turkey since 1991. She has experience in various genres, including historic documentaries, newscasts, and event filming. She has collaborated with high-caliber production houses and TV channels like PBS, BBC, CNN, and Discovery and is most is known for her work on projects like The Hidden Art of Islam.
Norway Co-Host: Lasse Eriksen, a sauna master with over 25 years of professional experience, consults globally to introduce sauna rituals to new audiences, helping the British Sauna Society take the first UK team to the Aufguss WM. Lasse holds several prestigious positions, including Development Manager of Nordic Hotel and Resort, Farris Bad, board member of ISA, Head of Norwegian Sauna Association, Vice President of Aufguss WM, Hydrothermal Initiative member GWI, and initiator of Sweat For Charity. He is also the President of the Norwegian Badstue Association and Ambassador in Norway for World Wellness Weekend.
Burning Man Co-Host: Zack Robertson started as co-host of the Burning Man episode of Perfect Sweat. as a personal trainer and has since evolved to become a Producer for Bray's Run Productions of North American locations for Sauna Channel episodes, and as Field Producer of the Emmy award-winning documentary short, Safe Enough.
Burning Man Co-Host: Teresa Yung, a certified Yoga Teacher and founder of the Trauma Project, serves trauma survivors through innovative healing programs. Currently studying psychology, her work emphasizes community healing and resilience.
The Directors Behind Perfect Sweat
Episode 1, Finland:
Mika Hotakainen graduated as a fiction film director from Helsinki Polytechnic University, Arts and Media in 2004. Ever since he made his career mainly focusing on fiction and documentary directing. Mika’s international breakthrough film as a Director in 2010 was the feature documentary film, Steam Of Life (Miesten Vuoro - co-directed with Joonas Berghäll) which won several prizes in film festivals worldwide. The film went on to reach a global audience through cinema and TV distribution. Mika was also co-founder of the film production company, Oktober ltd. Now, Mika has continued his career working as a freelance Director/Writer for fiction, documentary, and TV series formats for several award-winning productions. Mika has since been involved with the following episodes for the sister project, Sauna Channel: Sommerhus Sauna, Uusi Sauna, Arctic Snow Hotel, Kiilopää Smoke Sauna, Storfinnhova Gård (Smoke Sauna), & Särkijärvi Lakeside Sauna.
Episode 2, Aufguss (Italy & Germany):
Wolfgang Ettlich is an award-winning German documentary filmmaker specializing in long-term observation. In 1985, Ettlich founded Mediengruppe Schwabing (MGS). In 1995, he received the Grimme-Preis for his film Ausgerechnet Bananen (1991), and in 1999 he received a nomination for the German Film Award for his film Wir machen weiter. In 2017, he was the first documentary director to receive the prestigious film award from the City of Hof. He is also known for We'll be Keeping On (1999), & Venedig - als hätten wir geträumt. Bonus material from the Perfect Sweat series went on to be featured in the following Sauna Channel episodes: Saunabad, Mobile Sauna Berlin (Barrel Sauna) Fass Sauna, & Kiezsauna.
Episode 3, Russia:
Sasha Kulak’s portfolio includes a variety of independent cultural projects made in collaboration with young talents across the globe. Her films have taken her across the world, recently Sasha presented a feature film A Hawk as Big as a Horse at DokLeipzig 2022 (2022 special mention), which was produced with the support of Arte France, CNC, and a grant recipient from the Sundance Institute. The film Mara (2022) premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam - it is a hybrid documentary video essay about Belarusian protests in the summer of 2020. Along with short episodes, Banya Alekseeva, produced from bonus material from the Russian episode of Perfect Sweat, Sasha has also worked on the following episodes in Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, for Sauna Channel: Sauna Deco, Sauna Van Egmond, Sauna Bivak, Therme București, Jan van Eyck Acadamie, Thermen Berendonck, Thermen Berendonck Aufguss, & Thermen & Badewelt Sinsheim.
Alina Rudnitskaya is an award winning film director and producer. She is a 2001 graduate of St. Petersburg University for Arts and Culture, Department of Film Directing, where she started her career in the St. Petersburg Documentary Film Studio. Rudnitskaya's films have been shown worldwide and received critical acclaim and prizes in festivals in Leipzig, Madrid, Oberhausen, Zagreb, Berlin, Belgrade, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. Rudnitskaya's films always have a characteristic original perspective; she is interested not only in depicting the facts of life but also in exploring the internal worlds of her characters. She succeeds in painting a vivid image of modern society while maintaining a very personal and humanistic approach to each one of her stories. A bonus episode, Banya Goosi-Lebedi (Baba Yaga), was produced from Rudnitskya’s work on Perfect Sweat, to be featured on the sister project site, Sauna Channel.
Episode 4, Japan:
Tokyo-native director/cinematographer/editor Kaoru Ima studied the arts in New York and applied his love of visual art, music, and storytelling into filmmaking. He is fluent in English and Japanese. Kaoru Imafuku is the Founder of Exhibit Films, a production company based in Tokyo. He produces commercials, narrative films, documentary, and music videos that are emotionally driven, story-focused, and globally minded. From Hollywood studios to local independent artists, the clients Imafuku’s work exhibits the truest sense of humanity. Along with the Japan episode for Perfect Sweat, Kaoru has worked on the following episodes for Sauna Channel: Kairyou Yu Sento, TeamLab Mifuneyama, Otaki no Yu, Kannawa Mushiyu | 鉄輪虫湯, Ibusuki Hakusuikan | 指宿白水館, & Inazumi Limestone Cave | 稲積鍾乳洞.
As an independent producer, director, fixer, photographer and writer, Michiko Zentoh has more than 20 years of experience managing & coordinating multiple travel and research-intensive projects for various global clients in industries including private and public broadcasters, universities, corporations, and government entities. Michiko has specialized in Japanese traditional culture in relation to modern global society. She has completed many projects on food & culture aspects of the world, started with field producing for programs for Mr. Anthony Bourdain.
Episode 5, Turkey:
The Turkey episode is both produced and directed by Tuba Guvelioglu. Guvelioglu is an Executive Producer with the production company, Motion Films Istanbul. Her credits include Netflix's Chef's Table, Expedition Unknown, and The Martha Stewart Show.
Episode 6, Norway:
Robin Hansen-Tangen has been a producer at Monster Entertainment AS in Oslo, Norway since 2018. He produced the 2013 film, Å Begrave en Hund, was a Camera Operator for 10 episodes of the TV series, Meglerne, and Production Coordinator for the TV series Nattskiftet. He’s also produced the following episodes for Sauna Channel: Hov Sauna, Trevarefabikken, and Skårungen Spa. The following Sauna Channel episodes feature bonus material from the Norway episode shoot: GreenBoats Sauna, Oslo Fjord Sauna, Kongen Marina Sauna, & SALT.
Episode 7, Burning Man:
Doug Pray has directed a number of highly acclaimed feature-length documentary films about subcultures and maverick characters. His work includes, Art & Copy which won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Arts and Culture Programming and Surfwise about legendary surfer and health guru, Dr. Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz. Doug’s other films include the critically acclaimed and internationally distributed Hype!, Scratch, Big Rig, Infamy, and Levitated Mass. Doug won his first Emmy Award for an HIV-AIDS awareness campaign he shot and directed in El Salvador for Viacom. In 2012, he won international awards for Wake Up the Town, a series of shorts for Phillips filmed in the world’s northernmost village. He has directed a Spike TV program for Dr. Martens called Veer, and Feel Your Heart Race for ESPN about auto racing. He is currently executive producing, writing/editing a 4-episode docu-series for HBO called The Defiant Ones. A short episode developed from Perfect Sweat’s Burning Man episode was released as, Archimedes Banya, for Bray’s Run Production’s sister project, Sauna Channel.
Perfect Sweat’s Release
Television Broadcast:
Originally distributed by Off the Fence between 2022 and 2024, Perfect Sweat was licensed for television broadcast in four countries: Finland (YLE), Greece (EPT), Poland (Canal + Now), and Romania (DigiWORLD). Upon release in Finland, the Perfect Sweat series was featured in Ilta Sanomat
Streaming Online:
As many expressed interest in watching the series outside of the four countries that Off the Fence licensed, Bray's Run Productions made the decision to self-release the series as a worldwide virtual premiere through the film festival site, Eventive. Slant Magazine announced the Perfect Sweat series debut in May, 2024.
Aligning the launch with Global Wellness Day and International Sauna Day (Finland) on June 8th, 2024, the series premiered with Episode One, Finland, followed by a live discussion between series host, Mikkel Aaland, and co-hosts, Samuel Aarnio, Anna Artemieva, Elizabet Kurumlu, Miki Tokairen, Lasse Eriksen, Zack Robinsen, and Teresa Yung. The discussion was moderated by virtual premiere producer, Ellie Shmidt-Hopper, who opened the conversation up for live Q&A with viewers attending the virtual online from all over the world.
Releasing the series through Eventive allowed the series to reach a wider audience than the initial four countries, and there's continued availability on Eventive through 2024. To watch the complete series on Eventive, visit All Episodes + Bonus Content (All in One)
Licensing:
The series is now available for licensing for events. For pricing and to find out more about hosting screenings of Perfect Sweat, fill out the form on the Host a Screening page to license the Perfect Sweat series.
Looking ahead, Perfect Sweat is poised to expand its viewership even further. Bray’s Run Productions is working behind the scenes to make the series available on major streaming platforms, including Apple TV, Google Play, and Amazon Prime Video, among others later this year, making it accessible to a wider global audience.
Stay tuned for more updates as Perfect Sweat continues to make waves in the world of wellness and cultural documentaries.
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