Greetings!
A friend of mine once said that when people begin making films, they start with the documentary form and later move into fiction. This is also true for Sámi filmmakers. While we have had monumental films such as Nils Gaup's Pathfinder that has paved the way for all Sámi films, documentaries and the short film still dominate in numbers. As the quantity and quality of Sámi films increase with each year, it is with much pride and happiness we present them to you.
Storytelling has always been a strong tradition among the Sámi and other Native peoples. Traditional stories and legends were shared when they gathered together by the fire. Today the world is different and the fire is no longer the principal meeting place for Sámi people. The difference is that instead of the fireplace, the screen is now the place that leads our storytelling tradition, making our role as a film festival an important forum for our modern Sámi storytellers-the fimmakers. We are the fireplace where stories are shared, and we will continue to be the fireplace that never gets cold. There will always be smoke rising from the lavvo, heat emanating from the embers. We provide the place where the Sámi filmmakers can feel the heat, inspire each other and share the experience.
We are also very delighted to showcase Native films from the rest of the world, and from the topics of these films we see that the challenges and the thoughts are the same wherever in the world we live. We are a fireplace for them too.
There is an adage often used in indigenous film, "take back our stories." To us, this means that Sámis themselves should make their own films-to bring a Sámi point of view. We are on our way there.
Today we now have our own Sámi film center, the International Sámi Film Center-this is our institution to develop and strengthen Sámi productions. I believe I can say that without the role of the film festival, we would not have a film center. Not today, anyway. Additionally, to reinforce the competence of our films, the film center is working hard in raising funds for indigenous film productions.
We are on the road. I have big expectations for Sámi films in the future, and can see that Sámi productions and viewers are facing an exciting time. More than ever before there is something dynamic happening in Sámi film. Soon we will see the results. I can hardly wait.
The Pathfinder showed us what Sámis can accomplish. Just two weeks ago, it was on NRK1-showing Norway and the world that there are Sámi filmmakers out there and that we have stories that leave deep impressions.
With this I welcome everyone interested in film to the festival, and I know you will leave us with memories that will follow you the rest of your lives. Have a ball, and know that I have chosen the best of recent Native films out there for us all to share.
Bures boahtin buohkaide!
Håkon Isak Vars
Sami Film Festival director
