The story of a Skábmagovat Festival emerged in the late 1990s. Local cinema enthusiasts began to discuss how to light up the quiet mid-winter of the village of Inari

As Inari is the “capital” of the Finnish Sámi, it was natural to come up with the idea of a Sámi film festival. The festival idea was then extended to cover indigenous peoples in general. Still, Sámi had a central role in launching cooperation between the indigenous nations of the world, already in 1970’s.

January was chosen as the time of the festival because the season means the end of the Endless Night. As Polar Night passes, the sun returns in the north. Thus, Skábmagovat is also a celebration of light.

The programme is based on the idea that each film represents indigenous peoples, and is told by them. The screening of archival films pose an expection. They show how indigenous peoples were presented earlier.

The Film Festival has grown into one of the most international and multicultural winter events in Northern Finland. Skábmagovat has a great importance both locally and in the Northern Scandinavia generally. The festival has established relationships to international festival organisations and players in cinema.

Skábmagovat in Inari 26.-29.1.2023 and online 29.1.-6.2.2023

https://skabmagovat.fi/en/