Short film screening | Films from the North: Indigenous program selection at Tromsø International Film Festival

The Thief, dir. Christoffer Rizvanovic Stenbakken, Denmark, Greenland, 2025, 20 min In Tasiilaq, East Greenland, a young autistic boy Kaali searches for his missing dog. In trying to find the person who he thinks took the animal, he faces the challenges of being different from other children. Finding a dog puts him in a difficult choice: should he get it back, even if it could cost him the loss of his only friendship?

Heritage, dir. Emelina Hedman, Ture Andersson, Sweden, 2025, 12 min

The film follows the life of Madeleine Renhuvud, a South Samoan artist and language teacher, tracing her journey through her artistic heritage and cultural preservation efforts. The documentary is a candid portrait that touches on universal themes of language, history and the recovery of one's own culture. In the face of the marginalization of culture and art, the transmission of this heritage to future generations takes on special importance.

In the Shadow of the World, dir. Arttu Nieminen, Hans Pieski, Finland, 2025, 9 min

This surreal journey explores the complex relationship between Sami culture and technological progress. While technology is often seen as a threat to sustainable lifestyles, the Sami have historically been able to embrace change. What role does modern technology play in the identity of the Sami today and is it possible to break with it completely?

Green with a Tint of Red, dir. Johannes Vang, Norway, 2025, 5 min

This poetic film raises questions about the meaning of the fight against climate change in a situation where the pursuit of green energy comes at the expense of the traditional Sami way of life and culture. The picture prompts reflection on whether the replacement of one form of environmental degradation by another can really be considered progress.

The One Who Leads the Herd, directed by Eila Muotka, Norway, 2025, 19 min

Young Saamka is faced with a choice: continue her education or take responsibility for the family's reindeer herd. This warm documentary follows her decision-making process, exploring the importance of continuing the traditional ancestral way of life and protecting cultural heritage in the face of the pressures of modern society.

On the border, directed by Johannes Vang, Norway, Sweden, Finland, 2026, 11 min

A Norwegian customs officer (Øystein Martinsen), a Finnish poacher (Sverre Porsanger) and a mysterious Swede (Ayla Nutti) meet at the junction of the three countries' borders. When their differences — over law, language, and prejudice — escalate the conflict, the characters must find an unconventional solution to the situation that results from their unexpected encounter.