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The Annual Sámi Film Festival returns this February 5-13 with films exploring the stories of Nordic Indigenous people, in-person at Scandinavia House in New York and virtually nationwide! The in-person version of the festival will take place from Thursday-Saturday, February 5-7 at Scandinavia House, with films available virtually beginning February 6. In-person screenings will also take place at the National Nordic Museum in Seattle.
Now in its 8th year, the festival celebrates the rich storytelling traditions of the Sámi, an Indigenous people of the northernmost parts of Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. This year’s program is curated by acclaimed director, writer, artist, and composer Elle Márjá Eira, whose work in mediums from TV to classical opera has captivated audiences across the globe, and whose directorial debut Stolen reached the Top 10 list in 71 countries following its Netflix premiere in 2024.
This year's lineup includes documentaries exploring Sámi activism and cultural reappropriation, with the short film In My Hand (dir. Liselotte Wajstedt & Marja Helander) about activist Niillas Somby's fight against Norwegian authorities to preserve ancestral land, and Suvi West & Anssi Kömi's critically acclaimed Máhccan /Homecoming, a powerful story about the return of Sámi artifacts to their homeland, on February 5; the "tense, thoughtful, dramatic thriller" Stöld / Stolen from festival curator Elle Márjá Eira, based on the bestselling novel by Ann-Helén Laestadius about a young Sámi woman's ten-year journey for justice, on February 6; and the International-Emmy nominated Oro Jaska / Shut Up, directed by Silje Bürgin-Borch & Vegard Bjørsmo, the first Sámi TV drama of its kind to center social issues from within the community, told by Sámi voices, on February 7.
For press information, including hi-res images, please contact Lori Fredrickson, Director of Communications, Marketing & Digital, at lori@amscan.org or 212-847-9727.
IN-PERSON SCHEDULE
OPENING NIGHT
THU—February 5—7:00-9:00 PM
In My Hand (2025)
Dir. Liselotte Wajstedt & Marja Helander | 24 min.
Labelled a terrorist and left disabled, Sámi activist Niillas Somby paid a brutal price in 1982 while battling Norwegian authorities to protect his ancestral land. Masterfully blending archival footage and re-enactments, In My Hand retraces his battle and legacy, providing a unique insight into one man’s journey of resistance, exile, and return. Also streams virtually.
Máhccan /Homecoming (2023)
Dir. Suvi West & Anssi Kömi | 76 min.
Suvi West and Anssi Kömi share a personal and insightful story about the return of Sámi artifacts, long held in a museum, to their homeland. Set at a point when museums are grappling with their colonialist history—including the National Museum of Finland, which has now returned thousands of everyday objects to the Sámi—this “keenly observed film” (POV Magazine) unravels layers of history while unpacking exploitation and cultural identity. Also streams virtually.
DAY TWO
FRI—February 6—7:00-9:00 PM
Stöld / Stolen (2024)
Dir. Elle Márjá Eira | 107 min.
Stolen follows the Sámi peoples’ struggle to defend their Indigenous heritage, and the woman who puts her life at stake to bring them justice. Ten years after witnessing the slaughter of her beloved reindeer, a young Sámi woman is determined to track down the killer—and confront other forms of systemic violence. Based on the novel by Ann-Helén Laestadius, Stolen is equal parts "tense, thoughtful dramatic thriller," coming-of-age story, and love song to a vanishing natural world.
DAY THREE
SAT—February 7—2:00-4:30 PM
Oro Jaska / Shut Up (2025)
Dir. Silje Bürgin-Borch & Vegard Bjørsmo | 144 min.
Shut Up follows Elli Anne, a young Sámi woman whose world collapses after a brutal assault. As she seeks justice within her tightly-knit community, a celebrated snowcross racer faces accusation, forcing him to confront his own secret: that he is queer. “Powerful and timely,” Shut Up is the first Sámi TV drama of its kind to center social issues from within the community, told by Sámi voices. Also streams virtually.
The 8th Annual Sámi Film Festival is presented a partnership with The National Nordic Museum in Seattle. It is made possible by the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation.
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