Sámi Storyžat Lab has started in Guovdageaidnu

Sámi Storyžat Lab Kicks Off in Guovdageaidnu

First Gathering Marks the Start of a New Wave of Sámi Short Films: The International Sámi Film Institute (ISFI) and Netflix proudly announced the Sámi Storyžat Lab 2025 earlier this year, a program dedicated to nurturing the next generation of Sámi filmmakers and storytellers.

Now the Lab is officially underway: all ten selected short film scriptwriters have gathered in Guovdageaidnu for the very first time for a few days, at the start of October 2025.

Anne Lajla Utsi, Managing Director and CEO of ISFI, highlights the importance of the Lab:

“The Sámi Storyžat Lab is a special space for Sámi filmmakers to grow, connect, and be guided by brilliant mentors. Thanks to ISFI’s collaboration with Netflix, we can support this new generation of Sámi storytellers. Many are new voices in Sámi film, and with their fresh ideas and talent, I’m certain they will bring Sámi Storyžat to life and onto our screens.”

This year marks the fourth year of the International Sámi Film Institute’s collaboration with Netflix, now with Tatino Films joining as an educational partner for the first time.

The Lab combines regular online sessions with international mentors and intensive workshops, guiding participants as they develop their short film scripts. Projects reaching a production-ready stage will move toward production in 2026.

Participants

The participants in the Sámi Storyžat Lab are: Aarni Pieski, Sunna Nousuniemi, Eila Marie Engkvist Muotka, Olena Hætta, Kai Mikkel Balto, Moa Backe Åstot, Anne Karen Sara-Tohn, Emilie Hauan Solvang, Laura Feodoroff, and Olve Aslaksen.

In addition to the individual mentoring and masterclasses, the participant will receive a script grant and a development grant.

• 50,000 NOK during the writing period
• 25,000 NOK in pre-production support to connect with a producer

World-Class Mentors and Masterclasses

The Lab opened with a masterclass and mentoring week in Guovdageaidnu, featuring well-known sámi film makers Amanda Kernell, Ann Aurebekk Holmgren, and Suvi West. In addition to the Tatino Films mentors, Patricia Drati, Erica Barbiania, Marcelo Martinessi, and Matthieu Darras.

Read more about the Sámi Storyžat Lab

Sámi Storyžat Lab 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. Read more here.

Previous workshops with ISFI and Netflix

Supported by the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, the Lab builds on previous joint initiatives between Netflix and ISFI, including the Sámi Producer Lab (2024), ISFI x Netflix Writing Academy (2023), and the Production Budgeting and Scheduling Workshop (2022).