Conditions for grants are changed

The producer and director or writer must be Sami

International Sámi Film Institute (ISFI) has changed the conditions for grants. To receive a grant from ISFI the applicant must be a Sami producer or co-producer. In addition, the director and the writer also must be Sami. ISFI has six different application categories and each of the categories has a requirement that the applicant is Sami or speaks Sami.

– The aim of this change is to strengthen Sami film production companies and producers. We believe that this strengthens the Sami film community, encourages, and brings more new and good film opportunities to Sami filmmakers. We look forward to receive new applications with Sami basis and where Sami filmmakers are central workers, says Anne Lajla Utsi, Managing Director of the International Sámi Film Institute.

Sami film producers are important

It has been a requirement that at least two of the key functions of producer, director or screenwriter must be Sami.

– Sami film producers are important. We want to build knowledge among Sami filmmakers, and we want more Sami productions. This also ensures that the knowledge and value creation in film production increases and remains in Sápmi. In this way, we also get more Sami-language films, and the ownership of Sami films remains in Sápmi, says Anne Lajla Utsi, Managing Director of the International Sámi Film Institute.

Anne Lajla Utsi, Managing Director of the International Sámi Film Institute.

– We also hope this change will encourage more people to establish and build Sami film production companies. The Sami film community needs more production companies because there are so many films being made, says Anne Lajla Utsi, Managing Director of ISFI.

Need to strengthen the Sami film industry

To apply for a production grant from ISFI, it is a requirement that the Sami producer or co-producer submits the application. The Sami community has a particular need to strengthen the Sami film industry. This requirement shall ensure the Sami ownership of Sami films and build up the Sami production companies.

ISFI goals

The International Sámi Film Institute provides Sámi people with the skills and economic opportunities in developing, producing, and distributing Sámi films in the Sámi language. In addition, ISFI also aims to promote indigenous film and collaboration between different indigenous film communities globally.

Six different categories

ISFI has six different funding categories. The categories are development, script, production, distribution, travel and competence, and fast track. In each category, there is a requirement that the applicant must be Sami or Sami-speaking and that the dialog in the film is in Sami.

This year, ISFIs aim is to allocate more than NOK 10 million to Sami filmmaking. In 2022, ISFI granted almost NOK 9 million, and 16 different Sami film productions received support.