Leena Pasanen started her career as a journalist in print media and jin 1993 joined YLE, where she worked as a reporter, political commentator, TV presenter and the head of documentaries for YLE TV1. In 2000 she was chosen as the Head of Programmes responsible for cultural, factual and fiction programmes in YLE Teema. She stayed with the channel until November 2005, when she started working as the Director of EDN, European Documentary Network in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In 2011 – 2014 she worked in Budapest, Hungary leading the Finnish Institute and also serving as cultural attaché at the Finnish Embassy in Budapest. She is currently based in Leipzig, Germany and working as Managing and Festival Director of DOK Leipzig, the international film festival for documentary and animated film, until 2019.
In 2011 – 2014 she worked in Budapest, Hungary leading the Finnish Institute and also serving as cultural attaché at the Finnish Embassy in Budapest. She is currently based in Leipzig, Germany and working as Managing and Festival Director of DOK Leipzig, the international film festival for documentary and animated film, until 2019.