In 2011 in Kokkola city theatre, director Juho Kuosmanen saw a play about Olli Mäki, who was also in the audience that night. After the play, the theatre director Jarkko Lahti posed together with Mäki for a picture. Kuosmanen said to Lahti that if he directed a film about Mäki, Lahti could play the leading role. Lahti took that as a promise and began training boxing. He even took a few official amateur bouts (which he lost) and thus it became obvious that he really would play Olli Mäki in this film.
Early test footage shot in color did not capture the time period. By choosing to use 16mm B&W the film-makers were able to give recently renovated locations a vintage look. The lack of color hid modern details.
Director Juho Kuosmanen, producer Jussi Rantamäki, actor Jarkko Lahti, actress Oona Airola and the real Olli Mäki whom Lahti plays in the film, are all from the city of Kokkola.
Elis Ask's apartment in the film was set in the apartment of director Juho Kuosmanen.
Official submission of Finland for the 'Best Foreign Language Film' category of the 89th Academy Awards in 2017.
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By what name was The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki (2016) officially released in Canada in English?
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