WORLD PREMIERE – Imagine Sápmi at 35. Oslo Fusion International Film Festival

Imagine Sápmi – Govahala Sámi
– Sámi Queer Moving Images – Sámi queer ealli govat –
Saturday September 27 at Vega Scene Kino 3, Oslo

Imagine Sápmi is a living, ongoing archive within SAQMI – The Swedish Archive for Queer Moving Images, which collects, preserves, shows, and imagines what Sámi queerness can look and feel like in moving images. This collection aims to make Sámi queer culture, its struggles, and lives visible across time, by enabling screenings and contexts where to see and discuss the films. The project wants to inspire and create new possibilities and encounters. Imagine Sápmi is a part of the screening project Queer Moving History, which has curated public film programs for various contexts since 2020, bringing together contemporary and older films.

“The purpose of Queer Moving History is in part to lift up stories with a queer look back into history, while also making local queers, contemporary stories, and perspectives more visible and allowing these stories – historical and contemporary – to meet a new audience. Working with an intersectional perspective, the project wishes to make visible norms, artistic perspectives on social issues (and vice versa), and the importance of recording history in today’s struggles for human rights”.

The program is curated by Eili Bråstad and Anna Linder in close collaboration with all the participating artists and the advisory group for Imagine Sapmi – Levi Karvonen, Kata Kyrölä, Anna Linder, Sara Lindquist, Timimie Gassko Märak, Stina Nilss och Liselotte Wajstedt.

Thank YOU – without you No Queer Sami Film History!

Imagine Sápmi – Program I
September 27 at 2 pm, Vega Scene Kino 3, Oslo

Alone (Okto Alene)
Richard Fagervoll, Maret Aile Sara, Kristine Heitmann
(2010, 15 min)
Me and My Little Sister
Suvi West (2016, 66 min)

Imagine Sápmi – Program II
September 27 at 4 pm, Vega Scene Kino 3, Oslo

Queering Sápmi – Sami stories beyond the norm
Sara Lindquist (they/them) and Elfrida Bergman (she/her)
(2013, 7 min)
Life is a two-way dream – Eallin lea guovttesuorat niehku Gjert Rognli (2020, 8 min)
Lesbisk i Kautokeino/Lesbian in Kautokeino
Nils John Porsanger (2001, 26 min)
Oro Jaska (short scene)
Petter Holmsen and Ánne Mággá Wigelius (2024, 4 min)

After Imagine Sápmi II there will be a conversation about what Sámi queer film is and can be, why it is important to highlight queer perspectives in indigenous stories – and who can and should be telling them.

Panel: Silje Burgin-Borch is a Norwegian director, writer and series creator (Oro Jaska), Timimie Gassko Märak, they/them, Is a speaker, poet and word weaver (advisory group for Imagine Sápmi), Nedin Mutic is a Changemaker/Senior Adviser Diversity, Inclusion & Talent development (Norwegian Film Institute). Moderator: Anna Linder, they/them, Founder and Artistic Director (SAQMI).

Panel: 

Silje Burgin-Borch is a Norwegian director, writer and series creator. She studied screenwriting at the UCLA School of Film Theater and Television, and after 10 years freelancing, she established the production company Alfredfilm in 2016. In 2024, she debuted as a drama series creator with the Sámi drama series Oro Jaska for NRK.

Timimie Gassko Märak (they/them) is a speaker, poet and word weaver. The first to hold the title of “Poet In Residence” at the Venice biennale and one of three founding members of the Hásstuheaddji collective, a Sámi led think-tank that gathers thinkers, performers and artists to dialogue and reflection. Märak is one of the main organizers of Sápmi Pride on the Swedish side of Sápmi and part of the advisory group for Imagine Sápmi.  

Nedin Mutic is a Changemaker / Senior Adviser Diversity, Inclusion & Talent development at the Norwegian Film Institute. He has over 15 years of experience in creating spaces for dialogue and experience exchange within the storytelling industries.

Moderator is Anna Linder, founder and artistic director of SAQMI.

Born in Storuman, Sweden, Anna Linder (they/them) is a queer artist, curator and cultural producer, with a focus on moving images. Recent projects include the artistic research project Queer Moving Images at HDK-Valand, University of Gothenburg; the experimental film Spermwhore, about extended families; and their latest, Colere, about northern colonialism and family grief. They is currently working on PAUS E, a project focusing on hormones around menopause.

More about the festival + Tickets HERE

Imagine Sápmi is possible due to the support of Swedish Arts Council.

Below: Imagine Sápmi text in North Sámi translated by Máren-Elle Länsman.

Govahala Sámi – Sámi queer ealli govat

Govahala Sámi lea ealli arkiiva, mii lea jođus. Dat lea oassi SAQMI  – The Swedish Archive for Queer Moving Images -arkiivva, mii čohkke oktii, seailluha, čájeha ja niegada makkár Sámi queervuohta sáhttá leat ja dovdot ealli govain. Dán čoakkáldaga ulbmilin lea čalmmustahttit Sámi arvedávgeolbmuid kultuvrra, rahčamušaid ja eallimiid sierra áigodagain, dahkat vejolažžan čájáhusaid ja konteavsttaid gos oaidnit ja ságastit daid temáid birra, inspireret ja ráhkadit ođđa vejolašvuođaid ja deaivvademiid. Govahala Sámi lea oassi Queer Moving History -čájáhusprošeavtta, mii lea kurateren almmolaš filbmaprográmmaid iešguđet konteavsttaide jagi 2020 rájes. Dat lea čohkken oktii sihke ođđaáigásaš ja boarrásit filmmaid.

“Queer Moving History ulbmilin lea čalmmustahttit muitalusaid main lea queer geahččanguovlu historjái ja addit daidda – historjjálaš ja ođđaáigásaš – muitalusaide vejolašvuođa olahit ođđa olbmuid. Prošeavtta barggus lea intersektionála lahkonanvuohki, mainna prošeakta sávvá dahkat oidnosii norpmaid, artisttalaš geahččanguovlluid servodatlaš áššiide (ja nuppádassii) ja man dehálaš lea čállit historjjá otnábeai rahčamušain olmmošvuoigatvuođaid ovdii.”