Production grants

ISFI provides production grants within all genres and platform-neutral productions. The objective of the grant scheme is to support the production phase of short films, documentaries, feature films, and series.

The purpose of the production grant is to ensure that the project maintains the highest possible artistic and filmic quality at the national and international level. We are looking for projects that are authentic and that have strong Sámi cultural roots, and for which most of the film’s dialogue is in Sámi. Projects with children and young people as a target group are given particular priority.

The purpose of the grant scheme is also to contribute to building an innovative and sustainable Sámi film industry that is attractive both nationally and internationally, and strengthens the Sámi film industry.

• Sámi production company, either as executive or co-producer, whose primary objective is to engage in audiovisual production and is registered in the Sápmi, Norway, or an EEA country.

• Production grants can be awarded to limited liability companies. Other companies registered in the Central Coordinating Register for Legal Entities or Register of Business Enterprises in Norway or another EEA country can also apply if the amount is less than NOK 300,000.

Co-productions with a Sámi producer:

As a general rule, ISFI’s production grants require a minimum of 51% Sami ownership in the project, and the co-production agreement must be approved by ISFI. ISFI conducts a discretionary assessment of this requirement in connection with co-production applications.

In order to receive a grant from ISFI, the applicant and project must meet ISFI’s general conditions (the Cultural Test).

Production grants from ISFI are public grants.

Production grants from ISFI can be applied for multiple times.

The following information must be included in applications for production grants:

• Documentation that the applicant has a company registered inthe Central Coordinating Register for Legal Entities or Register of Business Enterprises in Norway or another EEA country.
• The production company’s CV, name and CV of the following roles: executive producer, screenwriter and director
• Co-production agreement with a Sámi producer if the executive producer does not have Sámi ownership.
• Manuscript
• Maximum one-page synopsis and one-liner
• The director’s concept presentation
• The producer’s production strategy
• Mood board/visual presentation of the project
• List of staff and actors
• Cost calculation based on approved calculation form
• Progress plan, shooting schedule and estimated completion date or premiere date
• Marketing plan or B2B presentation
• Financing plan

The project must comply with the Nordic Ecological Standard (NES). This requirement does not apply if the project’s production budget is less than NOK 1 000 000 at the time of application.

As of January 2026, the International Sámi Film Institute has introduced a requirement for sustainability reporting for projects that receive production grants. This requirement is based on the joint Nordic sustainability standard, NES.

At this initial stage, the purpose of the reporting is to raise awareness within the industry and to generate insight into how the industry works with sustainability. At present, there are no sanctions for failure to meet the requirements of the standard.

Application deadlines for production grants are 1 February, 2 May, and 1 September. 1 December.