Saamelainen elokuvakulttuuri muotoutuvana ”verkostoelokuvana”

Abstract

The film cultures of the indigenous Sámi people are part of a developing branch of the Nordic film industries. Recent publications (Mecsei, 2015 and Kääpä, 2015) highlight a growing interest in the film and media production of this small population. Currently, the International Sámi Film Institute (ISFI), based in the Kautokeino region of Northern Norway, represents the largest Sámi media organization, providing financial and material support for Sámi filmmakers. Additionally, the ISFI works with small-scale production companies like Bautafilm and Skábma, the Indigenous Peoples’ Film Centre in Finland, by providing training and other collaborative opportunities for aspiring practitioners at all levels. This collaborative work highlights both the transregional and transnational ‘networking’ potential of indigenous filmmaking practices. Analysing the workings of these small Sámi production companies also helps us to understand what role state support plays in Sámi self-determination. Although these Sámi companies are working to strengthen their regional communication links and form a collective Sámi media outlet, the bulk of their resources come from the respective Nordic film institutes. Drawing on the work of Manuel Castells (1996) and Marijke de Valck (2007), this article considers Sámi film production as part of an emerging ‘network cinema’, and looks at how network collaboration plays a complex, but nevertheless key role in the sovereignty of this emerging film culture.