The partnership aims to create new opportunities for filmmakers in the Sámi community.
Netflix has partnered with the International Sámi Film Institute to further develop Sámi voices in the Nordic region.
The International Sámi Film Institute is dedicated to providing Sámi people with the skills and economic opportunities in developing, producing, and distributing Sámi films in the Sámi language.
The partnership between Netflix and the International Sámi Film Institute is part of the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, which aims to help create new opportunities to support diversity and representation within the entertainment industry through training and up-skilling initiatives.
News of the new Netflix partnership comes as the International Sami Film Institute attends Venice with its Árran 360° exhibition, part of the Sami Pavilion.
The programme will support talent through investments in education and training, with the mission to open up more behind-the-camera opportunities and support new Sámi creatives to break through in the industry.
Commenting on the partnership, Anne Lajla Utsi, Managing Director of International Sámi Film Institute, said: “We are excited to announce our partnership with a leading global company like Netflix. This will create new opportunities for our filmmakers in the Sámi community. We want to tell our own stories with Sámi creatives, and this collaboration will emphasize that. Hopefully, we can also reach international audiences with Sámi stories through this collaboration with Netflix. This demonstrates that Sámi and Indigenous stories have global relevance and are attractive in the international film and streaming industry.”
Claire Willats, Director of Film Netflix Nordics, added: “We could not be more thrilled about the partnership with the International Sámi Film Institute; with such a rich storytelling tradition, we look forward to seeing how we can contribute to developing these stories further. At Netflix, we want to support communities in the regions we operate in, including up-and-coming creators, to give new voices a chance to be heard.”
