Kautokeino, Norway – April 25, 2025

The Arctic Indigenous Film Fund (AIFF) and the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) are thrilled to announce the selection of eight talented Arctic Indigenous filmmakers for the third annual Witness Film Training and Mentorship Program. This groundbreaking initiative empowers filmmakers from Arctic communities, providing them with the tools and mentorship to create compelling short films that spotlight the urgent impacts of climate change.

Witness offers a unique platform for Arctic Indigenous storytellers, and this year’s cohort blends fresh talent with past participants. Four directors have been paired with returning producers to bring projects that showcase the rich diversity and cultural narratives of the region.

Strengthening Indigenous Storytelling

“Witness’s continued success reflects the creativity, resilience, and strength of Arctic Indigenous filmmakers,” said Liisa Holmberg, CEO of AIFF. “This program isn’t just about training – it’s about empowering our communities to share our stories, preserve cultural identities, and raise awareness about climate change. We can’t wait to see the global impact these films will have.”

The program’s influence continues to grow, with a record number of proposals submitted this year. Selected participants will benefit from mentorship by esteemed Indigenous filmmakers Darlene Naponse and Jason Ryle, and receive technical training and insights into independent filmmaking from the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT).

New Partnerships and Growing Support

Created by AIFF and Telefilm Canada, with continued support from UArctic, Curating Indigenous Circumpolar Cultural Sovereignty (a Social Sciences and Humanities of Canada funded project at York University), Witness 2025 proudly welcomes the ISO as its lead partner – marking a major expansion of ISO’s support for emerging Arctic Indigenous filmmakers.

“We’re thrilled to partner with AIFF and others on Witness for the first time,” said Kerry Swanson, CEO of ISO. “Witness has quickly become a cornerstone for emerging Indigenous filmmakers in the Arctic, offering not only technical training but the mentorship and guidance needed to tell impactful stories. We’re eager to see the incredible work this new cohort will create.”

Witness on the Global Stage

Films from the Witness 2024 cohort premiered in January at the Skabmagovat Indigenous Film Festival and have since screened at festivals around the world. Upcoming stops include the Aulajut: Nunavut International Film Festival next week and the Seattle International Film Festival in May.

Witness continues to amplify Arctic Indigenous voices, fostering cultural exchange, collaboration, and global recognition for stories that matter.

The Arctic Indigenous Screenwriting Workshop held its first in-person session in Guovdageaidnu in mid-April. Running until October 2025, the program is part of a broader effort to strengthen Indigenous storytelling on screen and support emerging voices from across the Arctic.

The workshop is a collaboration between the International Sámi Film Institute and the Arctic Indigenous Film Fund. The open call for the workshop received significant interest, with 47 applications submitted from across the Arctic Indigenous region.

“The Arctic Indigenous film community is full of storytellers ready to bring their voices to life. With the support of our incredible mentors, these participants now have the opportunity to shape their stories into powerful screenplays. We are truly excited for what’s ahead”, says course coordinator Liisa Holmberg, CEO of the Arctic Indigenous Film Fund.

Twelve participants

Twelve participants have been selected to participate in monthly sessions this year, guided by a team of mentors. One of the participants is Saia Stueng from Kárášjohka. She is known for her two Sámi-language young adult novels, Hamburgerprinsessa, and is currently also pursuing a PhD at the Sámi University of Applied Sciences.

“It has been exciting to get to know the process of writing a screenplay compared to writing a novel. Learning to write for film is really fun. The main difference between writing a film and a novel is that you have to focus on what you see in the frame, what you see and hear, not just what you read”, says Saia Stueng.

Each participant has brought their own story and screenplay idea to the workshop, which they will develop throughout the year.

“My film is about children at boarding schools and how they were afraid while being there. It’s about what that fear did to Sámi children, and how it may have affected later generations. I joined this screenwriting workshop because I think it is important that we tell our own stories, and especially in our own language, and I really want to learn more about screenwriting”, she says.

The workshop focuses on how Indigenous storytelling traditions can guide the screenwriting process while building a solid foundation in film narrative and character development. By the end of the program, each participant will have crafted a strong story, an extended treatment, and a first draft script. Read more about the worksop here.

Mentors

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Partners

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Funders

A part of Sami Film Initiativ / Samisk filmløft:

As part of Samfunnsløftet, SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge, the International Sámi Film Institute (ISFI) has been allocated 10 million NOK in funding for a major initiative in the production of new Sámi films and TV series. This initiative is a concrete measure and a response to the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This Screenwriting Workshop is the first of many projects following the Sami Film Initiative.