Major Sámi film traineeship program has started

FILM EXČELERATOR SÁPMI

Major Sámi film traineeship program has started

This weekend, 14 of the 15 new participants joined the FILM EXČELERATOR SÁPMI program in Guovdageaidnu, Sápmi, Norway, marking the largest Sámi film traineeship initiative to date. The program aims to build technical and creative capacity across all stages of film production and to prepare trainees for work on larger film sets in Sápmi and internationally.

The program opened with an intensive short film workshop, this past weekend, where the trainees collaborated on a three-minute horror film from concept to completion, all within four days.

– “The Sámi film and TV industry is growing rapidly, and Sámi cinema is on the world stage. With this trainee program, we are building skills and capacity across all areas of Sámi film productions. We need to strengthen the different film professions in Sápmi, with editors who speak the Sámi languages, costume designers who know duodji, and many other film professionals in each department. With this, we are facilitating a sustainable and innovative future for the Sámi film industry,” says Anne Lajla Utsi, Director of the International Sámi Film Institute.

During the first gathering, all trainees took part in a full film production — filming, directing, editing, and completing a short film with sound design, VFX, and special effects — each with a dedicated role on the crew.

The trainees are Naina Helén Jåma, Henrik Nutti, Jonathan Vang (filming, sound, editing), Erja Taskinen, Nora Fossan (VFX), Sinituuli Kalttopää, Ilja Magga, Anni Rauna Triumf, Pigga Filenius (producing), Anna Kajsa Aira, Laila Susanna Kuhmunen (Art-department and costume design), Takakehto Charles, Elin Oskal, and Olena Hætta (Script supervising, directing, and first assisting director (1stAD)), Ellen Oddveig Hætta (not able to join this first gathering)

The mentors for this first gathering included Per Josef Idivuoma (producing mentor, Forest People Production Company), Lisa Kristensen (producing and editing, Forest People Production Company), Ken Are Bongo(cinematography), Nils Gaup (directing), Mats Støten and Morten Suhr Pettersen (sound), Markus Dahlstrøm (VFX), Hanna Suni (art department), and Nina Erdahl (costume).

Following this first gathering, the trainees will deepen their expertise and gain hands-on experience by joining larger film productions in Sápmi and internationally in the following year.

The trainees are exploring a wide range of filmmaking disciplines, including directing, cinematography, sound, production design, VFX and special effects, art-department amongst other. The program aims to recruit, train, and inspire the next generation of Sámi film professionals, with a special focus on building technical skills across film production.

Launched by the International Sámi Film Institute in collaboration with Talent Norway and SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge Samfunnsløftet, THE FILM EXČELERATOR SÁPMI program offers mentorships, paid traineeships, and international networking opportunities the next year. Read more here.

All photos by Mads Suhr Pettersen.