Veli-Matti Saikkonen was born on August 18, 1941 in Joensuu, Finland. He is a director and writer, known for Manillaköysi (1976), Tykkimies Kauppalan viimeiset vaiheet (1977) and Miehen sydän (2004). He has been married to Laura Kahma since 1981. He was previously married to Viena-Marja Saarelainen.