Sámi Allaskuvla in Kautokeino. Photo: Cecilie Bergan Stuedal
A new course in Sámi and Indigenous screenwriting has been successfully launched at Sámi Allaskuvla, marking a significant milestone in the Interreg Aurora funded project Indigenous Digital Storytelling with New Media.
The course, which began in September 2025 in Kautokeino, has already attracted 16 students, demonstrating strong interest in developing film narratives grounded in Sámi and Indigenous perspectives. Designed as an introduction to screenwriting, the programme enables students to create their own scripts while engaging with cultural storytelling traditions and contemporary film practices.
The initiative is part of a broader cross-border collaboration with Umeå University and University of Lapland, contributing to the development of the upcoming Master’s programme in Arctic Indigenous Cinema, set to launch in 2026.
According to the Norwegian project manager, Egil Pedersen, the course represents a “strong beginning,” reflecting both the motivation of students and the growing momentum of Sámi filmmaking. He highlights that while the industry continues to develop, initiatives like this are essential in building long-term educational and creative infrastructures.
The course also benefits from contributions by leading Sámi cultural practitioners, including Nils Gaup, Liselotte Wajstedt, and Harald Gaski, ensuring that teaching is closely connected to lived cultural knowledge and artistic practice.
Beyond education, the initiative reflects a wider shift in the Nordic region, where Sámi film is gaining visibility through strengthened institutional support and increasing collaboration across borders. The course in Kautokeino plays a key role in this development by nurturing emerging storytellers and reinforcing Indigenous approaches to filmmaking.
This progress demonstrates how the project is moving from research into practice—delivering concrete educational opportunities and contributing to the future of Indigenous digital storytelling.
Learn more about the project Indigenous Digital Storytelling with New Media
