New Report on Traineeships in Sámi Film Productions: Strengthening Skills and Building Careers

Published: 25.09.2025

Ten New Recommendations for Traineeships in Sámi Film Productions

A new Erasmus+ report highlights how tailored traineeships are boosting careers and strengthening the Sámi film industry. Coordinated by the Sámi Education Institute (SAKK) in partnership with the International Sámi Film Institute (ISFI) and Kalix folkhögskola, the pilot programme tested a cross-border model in Finland, Sweden, and Norway.

The programme aimed to strengthen film and media education by aligning it with the needs of the growing Sámi film industry and by enhancing youth employment opportunities.

Twelve trainees joined six productions between 2024 –2025, with placements lasting 11 to 90 days. Most traineeships were long-term, offering real set experience and mentoring. Participants came from the Sámi region, SAKK, and Kalix folkhögskola. The emphasis was on learning by doing, cultural inclusion, and using the Sámi language and knowledge in production environments. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Trainees reported stronger skills, clearer career paths, and 59% growth in professional networks. Productions valued motivated trainees with local cultural expertise.

Findings
Crucially, the findings highlight that Sámi productions need culturally fluent crew across all departments—from duodji/costume and art to production management, assistant directing, and post-production. The report encourages more placements beyond the shoot phase, including pre-production (casting, read-throughs) and post-production (editing, marketing, social media). It also calls for expanding paid traineeships wherever possible and removing barriers to cross-border mobility, such as differing tax systems and training frameworks.

Ten recommendations
The report outlines ten recommendations, including clearer trainee roles, structured orientation, committed mentors, and stronger long-term partnerships.

These findings directly connect to Film Exčelerator Sápmi, ISFI’s new development and talent programme running from autumn 2025 through 2026. Designed for up to 15 emerging professionals, it will combine mentorship, paid traineeships in Sámi and international productions, tailored workshops, and market exposure. The programme reinforces ISFI’s mission to build a sustainable, innovative, and globally visible Sámi film industry by growing a workforce that can lead—and not only assist—in key roles.

About the Erasmus+ project

The traineeship model is part of the two-year Erasmus+ partnership “Creating cross-border collaboration in film education in the Sámi region and piloting an innovative traineeship programme model for Sámi film productions,” launched in 2023 and co-funded by the European Union. Data for the report draws on surveys and interviews with trainees, production teams, and educators.

The Erasmus+ project focuses on sharing knowledge, networking, and strengthening the borderless collaboration in film education in the Sámi region. The project is a cooperation with the Sámi Education Institute, Kalix Folkhögskola, and the International Sámi Film Institute. The aim is to ensure that film education better meets the needs of the rapidly changing and developing film industry, especially the Sámi film industry.

More information about the Erasmus+ project: Sámi film industry and media education.