AT UCL: Reclaiming Our Story: Sámi Cinema and the Sovereignty of Storytelling
Published: 18.12.2025
Soon at University College London
Reclaiming Our Story:
Sámi Cinema and the Sovereignty of Storytelling
Anne Lajla Utsi, CEO of the International Sámi Film Institute (ISFI), has been invited to give a keynote at University College London (UCL), one of the UK’s largest and most prestigious universities. This keynote explores how cinema has become a powerful tool for narrative sovereignty in the Sámi community.
When and where: 28 January 2026, Taviton St London, United Kingdom
The Keynote, “Reclaiming Our Story: Sámi Cinema and the Sovereignty of Storytelling,” is part of the Minorities and Minoritised Languages on Screen Symposium, organised by the UCL Platform for Linguistic and Epistemic Justice (PLEJ) and the SSEES Cinema Research Group.
Read more about the keynote below.
RECLAIMING OUR STORY: SÁMI CINEMA AND THE SOVEREIGNTY OF STORYTELLING
Sámi cinema has emerged as one of the most vital cultural arenas for Indigenous self-representation in the Nordic region. For decades, Sámi people were portrayed through external, often stereotypical lenses that shaped public understanding far beyond Sápmi. Today, a new generation of Sámi filmmakers is transforming this landscape by reclaiming narrative authority and telling stories rooted in our own culture, where Sámi worldviews, languages, and lived experiences shape the storytelling.
This keynote explores how cinema has become a powerful tool for narrative sovereignty in the Sámi community. Through film, Sámi filmmakers are now challenging historical misrepresentation, articulating cultural and political realities, and strengthening identity and community resilience. As Sámi cinema gains international recognition, these stories resonate with global audiences while remaining deeply connected to land, heritage, and our collective memory. The presentation will highlight key moments and films within Sámi filmmaking, the role of institutions such as the International Sámi Film Institute, and the broader significance of authentic Sámi storytelling in shaping a new future.
ABOUT UCL
Founded in 1826 in the heart of London, UCL is home to more than 51,000 students from over 150 countries and is renowned for its global academic impact. Read more here.