Skábmagovat Film Festival Focuses on the Indians of Bolivia and Canada and the Sámi

The indigenous peoples’ film festival Skábmagovat will be arranged, for the 12th time, in Inari from January 27 to February 1, 2010. The focus will be on the cinema of the Bolivian and Canadian Indians as well as the Sámi. This year’s programme is so versatile that the audience is sure to feel excited!

One reason for the flourishing of the indigenous cinema is the increase of training in the field. The Skábmagovat of the year 2010 deals with this theme through the fine examples of our special guests, Wapikoni Mobile from Canada and the Cinematography Education and Production Center CEFREC from Bolivia. Both groups move around in indigenous communities, training local people to become new story-tellers in the world of motion picture.

The Sámi Education Institute in Inari has done similar work in the Sámi community. We have seen the rise of a new group of film-makers, who reflect on their identity and the meaning of culture from fresh perspectives. In the Nordic countries, we already have several independent Sámi film companies, the films of which tour international film festivals.

One of the highlights of the Skábmagovat of 2010 will be the premieres of films by young Sámi film-makers. Suvi West and Anne Kirste Aikio, together with Joonas Saari, and Aslak Paltto and Per-Josef Idivuoma will present us different types of productions. West, Aikio and Saari’s pilot production Märät Säpikkäät (Wet Reindeer Fur Leggings) surprises and delights us with its fresh touch. The documentary by Paltto portrays Oula Näkkäläjärvi, a radio journalist and cultural elder. Idivuoma’s Čurte-Niillas is an animation.

Cree director Neil Diamond’s Reel Injun, a new documentary on the Indians of Hollywood, reminds us of the meaning of indigenous film production. Skábmagovat will present the film with Finnish subtitles.

As our guest show, we will have the premiere of the film Utsjoen Beckhamit (The Beckhams of Utsjoki), which follows the life of the Laiti family from Utsjoki through the eyes of three generations. The film focuses on the family of Niila Laiti and Annukka Hirvasvuopio-Laiti and on Niila’s mother Kirsti Laiti.

We will also have a special, two-day program for children and young people at the beginning of the festival. During the two days, we will show films made by Sámi children themselves as well as Unna Junna episodes and productions by the Norwegian Sámi Radio.

Advance ticket sale has started at www.skabmagovat.fi. The building of the snow theatre will start in a few days. Inari is getting ready to welcome its guests!

Festival organizers: Friends of Sámi Art, Skábma - Indigenous Film Centre, Yle Sámiradio, Siida - Sámi Museum and Nature Centre, Inari Municipality.

Further Information:

Skábmagovat (www.skabmagovat.fi)
• Siida - The Sámi Museum and Northern Lapland Nature Centre