Skábmagovat Indigenous Peoples’ Film FestivalSkábmagovat

Skábmagovat is an annual Sámi and indigenous peoples film festival held every January in Inari (since 1999) 1. As the world’s northernmost indigenous film festival, it screens feature films, documentaries and shorts made by and about Sámi and other Indigenous cultures. The festival turns winter darkness into a communal celebration of light with films, filmmaking workshops, panel discussions and live Sámi music. It attracts international indigenous filmmakers as well as local spectators who join to experience stories of Arctic and Nordic indigenous life, traditions and contemporary issues. Events are held at the Sámi museum Siida and Sajos Center, with 4+ days of continuous screenings and discussions each year 1.

Skábmagovat was initiated to give Sámi cinema a local platform and to connect global indigenous communities. January was chosen as it follows the re-emergence of the sun after the polar night; the festival is literally a ‘storytelling of endless night’ where light is celebrated through film 1. It fosters pride in Sámi identity by prioritizing Northern Sámi language films and giving Sámi youth access to their own representation on screen. The festival also highlights the shared challenges of Indigenous peoples worldwide, bringing attention to Sámi culture in Lapland’s cultural calendar.