OPEN CALL: Apply Now for ISFI x Netflix Sámi Storyžat Lab

Published: 02.07.2025

Open Call:

SÁMI STORYŽAT LAB

Are you an emerging Sámi filmmaker with a short film idea?

 

The International Sámi Film Institute and Netflix invite you to apply for the Sámi Storyžat Lab — a unique development program that nurtures Sámi voices. Your scriptwriting process and development of the project will be supported through script mentorship and creative collaboration.

Application deadline: August 15, 2025

 

Program Structure

Program Duration: September 2025 – February 2026, Monthly sessions

The program and dates may change.

Kick-off workshop: Online, focused on writing a treatment, September 17, 2025.
In-person workshop: in Guovdageaidnu, Norway, October 1-5, 2025
Monthly online sessions: Focused on writing a short film script, November 2025 – February 2026

Guest Speakers
Throughout the program, participants will meet visiting tutors and guest speakers, including Sámi and other Indigenous filmmakers, screenwriters, producers, and directors.

Language: All sessions will be in English.

WHAT IS SÁMI STORYŽAT LAB

Sámi Storyžat – vibrant voices, timeless stories – is a short film development program supporting ten Sámi filmmakers in creating original short film scripts. The initiative, supported by the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, extends the successful partnership between ISFI and Netflix and reaffirms a shared commitment to empowering more voices in the Nordic creative industry.

The Sámi Storyžat Lab will support ten aspiring Sámi filmmakers in developing original short film projects through development grants, dedicated mentorship, and tailored script support, with the support of an educational partner – Tatino Films.

WHAT YOU WILL GET

At Sámi Storyžat Lab, you will shape your story your way through writing with the support of our experts. You will also get to dive into award-winning films, sharpen your scenes, build unforgettable characters, and get inspired by Sámi storytelling traditions. You will team up with fellow creatives to turn your short film vision into a production-ready project. Join the creative process now!

THE GOALS ARE

  • To write a short film script ready for pre-production by the beginning of 2026.
  • Get to know the basics of film narratives & characters, with a special focus on Sámi storytelling.
  • Get to know the methodology around how to develop your ideas into a treatment and script.
  • A joint production of all the films: Get to know the collective production of all shorts by sharing crew and resources. Each film will have a team of writer/director, and producer in the development stage.

At the end of the workshop, the participants will have a first draft of the script, ready for rewriting and pre-production. Producers will be attached to each project to start the financing process from March 2026.

WHO CAN APPLY

We are looking for ten emerging Sámi filmmakers with short film project ideas. Applicants may have produced at least one short film or completed a university course on film (or have equivalent education or work experience), but this is not a requirement. There is no age limit. The applicants can be a scriptwriter/director, but you can also apply as a team with a producer attached. The program will cover the costs of one participant pr project.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

  • CV/professional background with a filmography.
  • One or two short film ideas, synopsis, and/or a completed short film script.
  • Personal statement outlining your motivations and what you aim to gain from the program.
  • The applicant must be a Sámi filmmaker, following the ISFI application criteria for grants.
  • The submission deadline is August 15, 2025.

SELECTION PROCESS

Applications will be reviewed by ISFI and Tatino Films, focusing on your motivation, professional potential, and project viability. You can expect to receive a response by the end of August.

The program is free of charge. We will cover your travel and accommodation expenses during the on-site module in Guovdageaidnu.

FOR QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT:

Talent Coordinator, Alice Marie Jektevik, alice@isfi.no

CONFIRMED KEY EXPERTS

Amanda Kernell was born in 1986 in Umeå in northern Sweden, with a Sami father and a Swedish mother. She is a trained Director of The National Film School of Denmark and has since 2006 made several award-winning short films as a writer/director such as NORTHERN GREAT MOUNTAIN, which had it’s world premiere at Sundance 2015. SAMI BLOOD was her feature film debut. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival 2016 and has since then won over 30 awards. CHARTER (2020) is Amanda’s second feature film. Amanda is right now in production with her next sámi feature film called Brace your heart (Garrat du váimmu). Photo by Martin Källkvist.

Elle Márjá Eira is a director, artist, producer, and composer from Guovdageaidnu (Sápmi), connected to reindeer herding district 26 Lákkonjárga. She directed the feature film STOLEN, which ranked Top 10 in 71 countries after its 2024 Netflix premiere, and episode 7 of NRK’s award-winning series MAKTA. Eira has also directed short films and video installations. She has composed and acted for Beaivváš Sámi Theatre, collaborated with composer Christophe Beck on The 12th Man, and exhibited works at the Venice and Kochi biennales. She frequently contributes music to film and tours internationally with her music. Photo by Marie Louise S. Hætta / Árvu.

Patricia Drati is an award-winning Danish producer, director, and film development consultant of Slovak-Ugandan descent. She is a partner at the Copenhagen-based production company Good Company Pictures. From 2009 to 2015, Patricia headed CPH:LAB, a cross-cultural training and production lab for international filmmaking talents. During her tenure, she initiated over 40 low-budget films made in co-operation between the Global North and the Global South, many of which went on to receive awards at prestigious festivals including Venice and Visions du Réel. A committed advocate for global storytelling, Patricia is an alumna of TorinoFilmLab and LIM. She has worked with institutions such as IFF Rotterdam, First Cut Lab, Hot Docs Blue Ice Fund, European Short Pitch, and the Doha Film Institute, always championing underrepresented voices. Photo provided by Tatino Films.

Ann Holmgren Aurebekk is a multifaceted Sámi film director, screenwriter, and photographer. She graduated from the Norwegian Film School in 2008 and works across Norway, Sweden, and Sápmi. Known for her curiosity about diverse perspectives, she creates documentaries, short films, and innovative formats. Her works have received international recognition, including screenings at the Brooklyn International Film Festival and the St. Petersburg Film Festival. Her 360-degree film Ovias was part of ÁRRAN360 at La Biennale di Venezia. Often exploring existential themes and Sámi culture, Holmgren Aurebekk is currently developing her first feature film Porslin with support from the International Sámi Film Institute. Photo by Ann Holmgren Aurebekk.

CONFIRMED KEY EXPERTS

Suvi West is a multiple award-winning Sámi film director and scriptwriter. In 2023, the Association of Finnish Film Directors chose West as a Director of the Year. In the same year, she was granted the Sámi film festival Skábmagovat lifetime achievement award. West is a Master of Arts graduated from Helsinki Film School, and her recent Documentary Máhccan/Homecoming (2023) had its premiere at Toronto International Film Festival. She is now developing her first fictional feature film Máttaráhkká. Photo by Elle Sumelius.

Egil Pedersen, film director and screenwriter, grew up in Northern Norway. He made his first films, Lego and clay animation, with his father’s Super 8 film camera. He graduated from The Norwegian Film School in 2002 and has made many short films and music videos before his feature film debut with My Fathers’ Daughter premiered in 2024 at Toronto International Film Festival. His work blend humor, absurdity and stunning visuals. Photo by ISFI.

Marcelo Martinessi is a Paraguayan writer and director. He studied cinema at the London Film School, and participated in different programs such as Cannes’ Cinefondation Residency, Locarno Filmmakers Academy, Berlinale Talents, and TorinoFilmLab. His short films, Karai Norte and The Lost Voice, shot in Guarani language, revolve around literature and memory. The latter won the Golden Lion for Best Short Film at the Venice Film Festival in 2016. His first feature film, The Heiresses, won two Silver Bears and the Fipresci prize at the Berlinale in 2018. Marcelo was a script consultant for the Pop Up Film Residency, Full Circle Lab Indonesia, and Netflix Grow Creative Accelerator Brazil in 2024. His second feature, Narciso, is currently in post-production and set to premiere in 2026. Photo provided by Tatino Films.

Erica Barbiani is an Italian writer, story editor, and creative producer working across fiction, documentary, and hybrid forms. With a PhD in Sociology and a background in anthropology, she brings a keen sensitivity to cross-cultural storytelling and minority perspectives. She has collaborated as a consultant with several development and editing labs, including First Cut Lab, Pop Up Film Residency, European Short Pitch, and TorinoFilmLab. She is the author and producer of Wishing on a Star that premiered in Venice in 2024. She is also a published author of three novels, often exploring identity, social norms, and contradiction through irony and character-driven narratives. Erica is particularly interested in supporting the development of stories that emerge from small, local contexts, and have the strength to connect with international audiences. Photo provided by Tatino Films.

Tatino Films’ CEO Matthieu Darras will be Lab Supervisor for the program. Matthieu Darras is the founder and CEO of Tatino Films, whose film and talent development programs – e.g. First Cut Lab, Pop Up Film Residency, and Full Circle Lab – are active worldwide. He worked for major film festivals such as Cannes and Venice, and was the artistic director of TorinoFilmLab.

WHY IS IT CALLED SÁMI STORYŽAT? 

“Sámi Storyžat» – means little stories, and it is the English noun STORY with a Sámi diminutive plural ending -ŽAT. A creative mix of English and Sámi language. The Sámi Storyžat builds upon the success of 7 Sámi Stories (2014) and Árran360 short film series (2022/2024).

Photo by Johan Mathis Gaup. This is behind the scenes of HILBES BIIGÁ short film production, 2014, one of the short films in the series 7 Sámi Stories.

PARTNERS

About the International Sámi Film Institute
The International Sámi Film Institute (ISFI) is building a sustainable & innovative Sámi film industry that is globally visible and attractive. The International Sámi Film Institute is dedicated to capacity building, developing, and supporting Sámi filmmakers by organizing workshops, seeking international funding, and opening pathways for Sámi filmmakers to major international platforms.

“By telling our stories, we create our future.”

About Netflix
Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services, with over 300 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

About Tatino Films
Tatino is a company that leads film and talent development initiatives across the globe. With its own flagship initiatives, First Cut Lab, Full Circle Lab, or Pop Up Film Residency, or through its diverse partnerships such as Netflix Grow Creative, and The International Sámi Film Institute, among others. Tatino’s international team organizes programs in many parts of the world. Each year, Tatino provides labs and residencies to more than 250 film talents from about 50 countries, representing 150 film projects varying in features, series, and shorts each year.