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OPEN CALL: Apply Now for ISFI x Netflix Sámi Storyžat Lab

Netflix and ISFI Launch Development Program SÁMI STORYŽAT LAB

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🎬 Got a story or short film idea? Apply to the Sámi Storyžat Lab and bring it to life! You will get mentoring and masterclasses from renowned Sámi and international film professionals.

✨Who can apply? You can be completely new to the film world — or have some work experience or education in film or TV. What matters most is your story!

🌟 This summer, we are introducing the mentors who are ready to share their experience, and next is Amanda Kernell.

Amanda Kernell was born in 1986 in Umeå in northern Sweden, with a Sami father and a Swedish mother. She is a trained Director of The National Film School of Denmark and has since 2006 made several award-winning short films as a writer/director such as NORTHERN GREAT MOUNTAIN, which had it’s world premiere at Sundance 2015. SAMI BLOOD was her feature film debut. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival 2016 and has since then won over 30 awards. CHARTER (2020) is Amanda’s second feature film. Amanda is right now in production with her next sámi feature film called Brace your heart (Garrat du váimmu). Photo of Kernell by Martin Källkvist.

📩 Deadline to Apply: August 15, 2025.

Do not miss this chance to shape your story with guidance from our experts!

@netflixnordic @tatino.films

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🎬 Got a story or short film idea? Apply to the Sámi Storyžat Lab and bring it to life! You will get mentoring and masterclasses from renowned Sámi and international film professionals.

✨Who can apply? You can be completely new to the film world — or have some work experience or education in film or TV. What matters most is your story!

🌟 This summer, we are introducing the mentors who are ready to share their experienc — first up is Elle Márjá Eira!

Elle Márjá Eira is a director, artist, producer, and composer from Guovdageaidnu (Sápmi), connected to reindeer herding district 26 Lákkonjárga. She directed the feature film STOLEN, which ranked Top 10 in 71 countries after its 2024 Netflix premiere, and episode 7 of NRK’s award-winning series MAKTA. Eira has also directed short films and video installations. She has composed and acted for Beaivváš Sámi Theatre, collaborated with composer Christophe Beck on The 12th Man, and exhibited works at the Venice and Kochi biennales. She frequently contributes music to film and tours internationally with her music. Photo of Eira by Marie Louise S. Hætta / Árvu.

📩 Deadline to apply: August 15, 2025

Don’t miss this chance to shape your story with guidance from our experts!

@netflixnordic @tatino.films @samifilminstitute

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✨ Yesterday, ISFI visited the set of Torna a Surriento in beautiful and sunny Inari!✨

It was a pleasure to meet our valued verdde and partner Jarmo Lampela, Head of Yle Drama, along with Michele Zatta, Commissioning Editor International Coproductions RAI in Italy. The series is the first ever Sami-Finnish-Italian co-production, which we think is super cool!

🎬 Director Ken Are Bongo was busy filming with a fantastic team. Lead actors are Sissi Jomppanen and Erasmo Genzini.

The series, written by Jens Martin Mienna with co-writers Guglielmo Finazzer, Dario Carraturo, and Aleksi Puranen, is directed by Ken Are Bongo and produced by @reinfilm, @whatever.group, and @violafilm_production.

🌟ISFI is proud to support this exciting series through our grant program, and we look forward to seeing it come to life! Second photo: Head of YLE drama Jarmo Lampela, Michele Zatta, RAI Italy, Director Ken Are Bongo, Anne Lajla Utsi, ISFI. Third phot: Lead actress Sissi Jomppanen.

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🎬 Oza Sámi Storyžat Lab bargobádjái! Hárjánan čeahpes sámi- ja internášunála filbmadahkkit leat gergosat oahpahit vugiid mo dahká oanehisfilmma! Searvva don ge, beasat ovdánahttit iežat oanehisfilbmajurdaga. Buot dieđuid gávnnat neahttasiiddus www.isfi.no.

🎬 Apply now to the Sámi Storyžat Lab! Experienced Sámi - and international filmmakers are ready to teach how to develop a short film! Join now! All information and how to apply on www.isfi.no

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Together with Netflix, @netflixnordic , we are excited to announce the launch of Sámi Storyžat Lab, a new short film development program designed to support emerging Sámi filmmakers!

The Sámi Storyžat Lab will support ten aspiring Sámi filmmakers in developing original short film projects through development grants, dedicated mentorship, and tailored script support, with the support of an educational partner – Tatino Films @tatino.films

"This initiative gives new talents in Sámi storytelling a unique possibility to develop their stories with international and Indigenous experts, and we deeply value Netflix’s belief in indigenous voices and role in making this vision a reality," says Anne Lajla Utsi, CEO, the International Sámi Film Institute.

- "We’re incredibly proud to deepen our partnership with the International Sámi Film Institute even further through the Sámi Storyžat Lab. This initiative reflects our long-term commitment to supporting new local voices and stories that are deeply rooted in place, culture, and community," says Jenny Stjernströmer Björk, VP of Nordic Content, Netflix.

More information and applicationform on www.isfi.no

***

Mii almmuhat dál ođđa ovttasbarggu Netflixain: Sámi Storyžat lab, mii lea oanehisfilmmaid ovdánahttinprográmma oaivvilduvvon doarjut ja nannet ođđa sámi filbmadahkkiid.

Sámi storyžat bargobádji doarju logi Sámi filbmadahki geat besset ovdánahttit iežaset oanehisfilbmaprošeavttaid. Sii ožžot veahkki hárjánan Sámi filbmadahkkin ja giehtačállinveahkki, maiddái Tatino Film doarjagiin.

Eambbo dieđut min neahttasiiddus www.isfi.no

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Háliidivččet go bargat filbmaealáhusas? Dál lea dus vejolašvuohta Film Exčelerator Sápmi bokte dan dahkat! Stuorimus ovdamunni lea du motivašuvdna. Sámi filbmaealáhus dárbbaša bargiid geain lea gelbbolašvuohta buot surggiin nu go kulturmáhttus, bivttasteamis, duojis, Sámi design, Makeup, filbmemis, jietna-teknihkkas, giehtačálliimis, bagadallamis, báikediđošteddjiin, prošeavttaid buvttadeapmi báddema vuolde ja maŋŋá báddema, ja sii geat máhtašedje čuohppanprográmmaid doaimmahit nugo Premiere Pro dahje Final Cut, ja vel eanet!

Dieđit beroštumi dál, ja mii ofelastit du filbmaealáhussii! Jos dus lea hárjáneapmi eará suorggis, de mii bovdet du maid searvat.

Gitta 15 oasseváldi ožžot heivehuvvon prográmma. Oza fal don maid!

🎬Oaččut mentorveahkki ja hárjáneami
🎬Oahpahallivejolašvuođa Sámi ja internašunála filbmabuvttademiin
🎬Vejolaš searvat filbmafestiválaide ja hukset fierbmádaga
🎬Ja eará internášunála vejolašvuođaid

📅 Ohcanáigemearri lea borgemánu 15. beaivvi 2025.

***

Do you want to work in the film industry? This is your opportunity through the Film Exčelerator Sápmi program. Your personal motivation and drive to develop your skills in the Sámi film industry is your biggest advantage.

The Sámi film industry needs skilled workers in all areas, like cultural knowledge, costume, set work, duodji and Sámi design, makeup, filming, sound engineering, script, directing, location scouting, post-production, editing programs like Premiere Pro or Final Cut, and more!

If you have experience in another field, we invite you to apply and explore the exciting world of film through this program.

Up to 15 participants will be selected for the program (2025–2026), and it will be filled with:
🎬Tailored mentorship & training
🎬Traineeships in Sámi and global productions
🎬Festival participation and networking
🎬International opportunities
📅 Apply now! Deadline: 15 August 2025

Learn more & apply www.isfi.no

The program is possible in collaboration with @talentnorge and with support from SpareBanken1 Nord-Norge, and is a cross-disciplinary development program for Sámi filmmakers and film workers.

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ISFI, in partnership with the Toronto International Film Festival @tiff_net , offers three Sámi filmmakers the unique opportunity to attend TIFF 2025 with full industry access. Apply now!

Deadline August 3, 2025.

🌏 www.isfi.no

***

ISFI ja Toronto Internationála Film Festivála fállá dál golbma sámi filbmadahkái vejolašvuođa searvat TIFF 2025ii. Oza dál!

Áigemearri lea borgemánu 3. beaivvi 2025.

🌏 Loga eambbo min neahttasiiddus www.isfi.no

Picture provided by TIFF.

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Lisa Kristensen from Forest People production company will attend co-production market AIFF Partners (Sept 10-12, 2025) with the project ‘Girls’: When 16-year-old Joanna faces expulsion after lashing out, she's forced to join the football team—which is her worst nightmare. But, on the team, no one cares where you are from or who your parents are, as long as you fight till you bleed. Unexpectedly Joanna finds her place, and the girls who change everything.

"I was born in the northernmost part of Norway, where I now live and run a small production company. I studied tv-production and worked for many years for swedish television producing Sámi documentary series. Ten years ago I left the big city because it was time, I thought, to start producing the stories that I really dreamt of. So now we in our little company have co-produced a Sámi drama series for the norwegian broadcaster NRK, and are just finishing up work on a feature film as co-producers as well as producing our second short this fall. I am also working on my first feature film screenplay."

The project is looking for co-producers, distributors, and a sales agent.

@atlanticfilmfest @forestpeople.as

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Kati Eriksen from Home River Media production company will attend co-production market AIFF Partners (Sept 10-12, 2025) with the project 'Beazetjohka'.

In the mockumentary comedy 'Beazetjohka', four eccentric friends in a fictional Sámi village stumble through misadventures under a film crew’s gaze—blending satire, local chaos, and cultural commentary in Sápmi.

The project is looking for international co-producer, broadcaster, or distributor, festival programmers and sales agents.

Kati Eriksen is a Sámi producer, activist, and cultural strategist from the Deatnu valley. She entered film through the deeply personal documentary 'Home River'. With a background in advocacy, education, and production, she advances Sámi rights, language, and culture through policy, and her company Home River Media.

@atlanticfilmfest @homerivermedia