Juhan af Grann

[[File:Juhan af Grann.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Grann in 2012]]
{{ufology}}
'''Heikki Juhani Grann''' {{lived|1944|2023}},<ref>[https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009429398.html Juhan af Grann on kuollut.]</ref> better known by his pseudonym '''Juhan af Grann''', was a [[Finnish]] film director, scriptwriter and producer. His best-known work are "documentaries" about [[ufology]] and related [[conspiracy theories]]. In Finland, he was one of the best known popularizers of the ufology scene.<ref name="hs">[https://interactive.sanoma.fi/arkku/files/24342205afgrann.pdf Juhan Af Grann Tässä Hei!] interactive.sanoma.fi.</ref> Besides his documentaries, what attracted attention was his flamboyant character and dress, mixed with unashamed self-promotion, claims about [[telepathic]] connections to [[aliens]], [[Persecution complex|claims of persecution]], and [[List of predictions of the end of the world|doomsday predictions]].<ref name="hs" /> The surname style "af Grann" instead of "Grann" implies noble ancestry - no such noble family has been introduced to Finland.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120217163051/http://www.riddarhuset.fi/sve/atterochvapen/ Finlands Riddarhus] Archived from riddarhuset.fi, 17 February 2012.</ref> Indeed, it is a pseudonym and he hasn't officially adopted it.<ref name="hs" />

Born in Joroinen, Finland, he worked as a [[journalist]] for the TV channel MTV3 until he was fired due to his confrontational nature and disagreements about content. Subsequently, he founded his own TV production company. In 1992-2002, he published four "documentaries" about ufology: ''Visitors from Space'' (1992), ''UFOs & Paranormal Phenomena'' (1995), ''The New Apocalypse — Mankind's Last Exodus'' (1998) and ''Intruders'' (2002). Most of these present and recycle the common American or international ufological conspiracy theories. Obviously, he also received criticism, which he took very poorly, blaming the media of persecution.

According to Grann, aliens can possess a human, who then gains abilities like [[telepathy]], [[clairvoyance]] and [[prophecy]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170116053514/http://www.studio55.fi/matkailu/article/juhan-af-grann-et-voi-ottaa-persoonasi/131296 Juhan af Grann: ET voi ottaa persoonasi]. Archived from tudio55.fi, 16 January 2017.</ref> He claims to embody a mystical entity called "The J.A.G.", which makes him a [[messiah]] as a spokesman for this entity. As such, he has supposedly predicted many disasters and events in advance. Another claim of his is that aliens visit the [[Earth]] every day, and have placed "alien hybrids" to implement their conspiracies. He also was visited in Kuopio by [[gray aliens]] from "Reticum-4" (is this a misspelling of [[Zeta Reticuli]] or rectum? The latter might explain where these ideas come from) when he was four, and has been in contact with them in near Jaffa in [[Israel]], if we were to believe him.<ref name="hs" /> He claims the gray aliens abduct human [[fetus]]es.<ref>[https://asiakas.kotisivukone.com/files/merjaelisabeth.julkaisee.fi/16_21_af_grann_sp312.pdf Vielä sarastaa Uusi Maiailma!] asiakas.kotisivukone.com.</ref> He predicted that in the future, an [[Orwellian]] tyranny will be imposed on Earth, in which microchips will be implanted to humans for monitoring.

However, basically only 1990s kids remember him now. He left Finland in early 2000s,<ref>[https://www.iltalehti.fi/viihdeuutiset/201709082200301203_vd.shtml Muistatko ufo-dokumenteilla kohauttaneen Juha af Grannin? 72-vuotias tekee paluuta - "olen tainnut olla monissa asioissa oikeassa"]. iltalehti.fi, 2017.</ref> but returned, resided in Espoo in <ref>[https://www.seiska.fi/Uutiset/Ufomies-hatkahdytti-Espoossa-Juhan-af-Grann-lastasi-Alkon-ostoskoriin-kosmista-viinia-kuvat Ufomies hätkähdytti Espoossa! Juhan af Grann lastasi Alkon ostoskoriin kosmista viiniä – kuvat!], ''Seiska'', 24 March 2020</ref>

==External links==
*[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1763100/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 Juhan af Grann] at IMDb
*[https://archive.fo/2z9A Archived version of af Grann's homepage]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grann, Juhan af}}
[[Category:Finland]]
[[Category:Film-makers]]
[[Category:Ufology]]

Categories: Finland, Film-makers, Ufology