BIRU UNJÁRGA premieres at Toronto International Film Festival
Published: 24.07.2024
FIRST SÁMI YOUTH FEATURE FILM PREMIERES AT TIFF
Egil Pedersen’s debut feature film, Biru Unjárga (My Fathers´ Daughter), will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September in the Discovery program selection.
Biru Unjárga is the first Sámi Youth feature film in northern sámi and is about Elvira, a 15-year-old who doesn’t quite fit in the Sámi village of Unjárga, where she lives. In rebellion, Elvira embraces her half-Danish identity, as her mother became pregnant at a fertility clinic in Denmark. Elvira dreams of a cool Danish father figure who will help her solve her life problems, but chaos truly begins when her real birth father shows up.
– It’s fantastic for the film to debut at such a major festival as the Toronto International Film Festival, both for me and all the actors, crew, and financiers, says screenwriter and director Egil Pedersen.
A dream come true
– It has been a big dream to be selected for one of the major film festivals, so this is a dream come true.
How long have you been working with this film idea?
-Since June 2015, actually—that’s the oldest document I found. So, it’s been nine years. However, there have been many changes from then until now.
How is it to send this film out into the world to see?
-I feel nothing but joy, not nerves. I am confident that those who appreciate it will truly enjoy it. I believe it captures much of what is recognizable in today’s world and has the potential to resonate broadly across the globe, says director and screenwriter Egil Pedersen.
The Toronto International Film Festival takes place from September 5th to 15th in Canada’s biggest city, Toronto. It is anticipated that almost 500,000 visitors will attend the festival. International Sami Film Institute managing director Anne Lajla Utsi says this is a great opportunity for the film to reach a wide audience and is an important beginning of the film’s further distribution.
-It is incredibly exciting that Biru Unjárga, the first Sámi youth feature film, has been selected for one of the world’s best film festivals, TIFF. Director Egil Pedersen and producer Mathis Ståle Mathisen from Reinfilm have dedicated many years of hard work to bring this film to life. This is an enormous achievement and a source of great joy for them and the entire film team. We wish them best of luck and a successful trip to Canada to celebrate Biru Unjárga at TIFF, says Anne Lajla Utsi, director of the International Sami Film Institute.
World’s largest and most prestigious film festivals
The Toronto International Film Festival is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious film festivals. Renowned as one of the industry’s most critical film sales events, the festival attracts buyers from all corners of the globe seeking to purchase and screen films. Other big film festivals include Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Sundance, which, together with Toronto, are often referred to as the Big Five Film Festivals.
About Biru Unjárga / My Fathers Daughter
15-year-old Elvira doesn’t quite fit in the Sámi village of Unjárga, where she lives. In rebellion, Elvira embraces her half-Danish identity, as her mother became pregnant at a fertility clinic in Denmark. Elvira dreams of a cool Danish father figure who will help her solve life’s problems, but chaos truly begins when her real birth father shows up.
Biru Unjárga / My Fathters´ Daughter will premiere in September in TIFF Toronto and has been chosen to participate in the festival’s Discovery program. It has not yet been announced when it will be available in other parts of Sápmi. The title Biru Unjárga can be translated to Damn Unjárga or Fuckings Unjárga, and the full Norwegian title will be Biru Unjárga – Føkkings Nesseby. The film will have its Norwegian premiere on September 27th. The film is shot in the Varanger fjord area in the northern part of Norway.
Cast: Sarah Olaussen Eira, Ingá Elisá Påve Idivuoma, Ánne Mággá Wigelius, Aslat Mahtte Gaup, Amund Lode, Sara Sofia Mienna, m.fl.
Director: Egil Pedersen
Screenplay: Egil Pedersen
Producers: Mathis Ståle Mathisen, Pål Røed og Aleksander Olai Korsnes
Cinematography: Anna Myking
Editing: Thomas Grotmol
Co-editors: Toril Strøm, Geir Ørnholt
Costume and casting: Nina Erdahl
Production design: Emma Skoog
Props: John Rang Schmidt
Composers: Remi Semshaug Langseth og Mathis Ståle Mathisen
Sounddesign: Johannes Dekko
Distribution: Ymer Media for Scandinavian Film Distribution
About Egil Pedersen
Egil Pedersen has directed 18 music videos, 15 short films, 2 documentary series, more than 40 commercials, and corporate films. His latest short film, the satirical comedy KOFTEPOLITIET (INDIGENOUS POLICE), created a lot of public debate and engagement in the Sami community after its premiere. As an early teen, he made his first films, Lego and clay animation, with his father’s Super 8 film camera. Today, he lives near Oslo. Pedersen has studied at the Norwegian Film School. As a director and screenwriter, BIRU UNJÁRGA is his first feature film.
TIFF’s Discovery program is a showcase of cinema and talent from around the world — a place to unearth work that is bold, distinctive, and, above all, passionate. The section has a rich history of championing the first and second features of visionary filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan, Joachim Trier, Steve McQueen, Michael Haneke, Chantal Akerman, Julie Dash, Yorgos Lanthimos, Ildikó Enyedi, Jafar Panahi, Trinh T. Minh-ha, Lav Diaz, Barry Jenkins, Alfonso Cuarón, Athina Rachel Tsangari.
The International Sámi Film Institute has provided funding for the film. The International Sámi Film Institute provides Sámi people with the skills and economic opportunities in developing, producing, and distributing Sámi films in the Sámi languages.