Scandinavia House

VIRTUAL SCREENINGS | THE 2026 SÁMI FILM FESTIVAL
2026-02-06 - 2026-02-13 | NY
The Annual Sámi Film Festival returns to Scandinavia House and virtually nationwide! Now in its 8th year, the festival celebrates the rich storytelling traditions of the Sámi, an Indigenous people of the northernmost parts of Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. This year’s program is curated by acclaimed director, writer, artist, and composer Elle Márjá Eira, whose work in mediums from TV to classical opera has captivated audiences across the globe, and whose directorial debut Stolen reached the Top 10 list in 71 countries following its Netflix premiere in 2024.
In-person screenings will take place on Thursday, February 5; Friday, February 6; & Saturday, February 7 at Scandinavia House. Virtual screenings will be available nationwide from February 6 through 13. Other opening weekend in-person screenings will take place at the National Nordic Museum in Seattle.
PROGRAM
In My Hand (2025)
Dir. Liselotte Wajstedt & Marja Helander | 24 min.
Labelled a terrorist and left disabled, a Sámi activist paid a brutal price in 1982 while battling Norwegian authorities to protect his ancestral land. Masterfully blending archival footage and re-enactments, In My Hand retraces his battle and legacy, and challenges us to ask: Is it finally time to stop exploiting nature and start preserving it? Narrated by Niillas Somby, the film navigates between imprisonment, protests, and surreal encounters, providing a unique insight into one man’s journey of resistance, exile, and return.
Máhccan /Homecoming (2023)
Dir. Suvi West & Anssi Kömi | 76 min.
As museums worldwide are increasingly pressured to return cultural property, co-directors Suvi West and Anssi Kömi share a personal and insightful story about the return of Sámi artifacts, long held in a museum, to their homeland. Set at a turning point in which museums must grapple with their colonialist history—including the National Museum of Finland, which has now returned thousands of everyday objects to the Sámi—this “keenly observed film” (POV Magazine) tours museum vaults across Europe, where the filmmaker unravels layers of history, grappling with questions of representation, exploitation and the intricate tapestry of her own cultural identity.
Stöld / Stolen (2024)
Dir. Elle Márjá Eira | 107 min.
Based on the novel by Ann-Helén Laestadius, Stolen follows the Sámi peoples’ struggle to defend their Indigenous heritage, and the woman who puts her life at stake to bring them justice. Ten years after witnessing the slaughter of her beloved reindeer, a young Sámi woman is determined to track down the killer—and confront the other forms of quotidian violence her community faces along the way. A “tense, thoughtful dramatic thriller,” Stolen is part coming-of-age story, part love song to a vanishing natural world, and part electrifying countdown to a dramatic resolution.
Oro Jaska / Shut Up (2025)
Dir. Silje Bürgin-Borch & Vegard Bjørsmo | 144 min.
Set in a remote town in the heart of Sápmi, Shut Up follows Elli Anne, a young Sámi woman whose intimate world collapses after a brutal assault. As she seeks justice within a tightly knit community bound by tradition and family loyalty, the narrative takes a gripping turn when Issat, a celebrated snow cross racer, is accused. The allegation not only threatens his reputation but forces him to confront his own closely guarded secret: that he is queer. Praised as “powerful and timely,” Shut Up marks a historic first—it is the first Sámi TV drama of its kind to center social issues from within the community, told by Sámi voices.
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NORDIC KNIT-IN | ADULT CRAFTS WITH HILARY SNELL
2026-02-07 12:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
On Saturday, February 7th, join us for a day-long Nordic Knit-In with Scandinavia House’s veteran knitter Hilary Snell! We will provide participants with a relaxed and warm environment for beginning, continuing or finishing up a craft of your choosing. You bring your materials and create whatever you want. Knitting, crocheting, painting, drawing, finger knitting, embroidery, whatever sparks your creativity— we welcome you!
Participants are encouraged to drop in and stay for a minute or stay for hours — and create, create, create — alongside other crafters. Children over 5 are welcome with supervision. BYOY = Bring Your Own Yarn (or your own art supplies). We will provide limited art supplies.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Hilary Snell, a longtime visitor services staff member of Scandinavia House, is of English, Scottish, and Irish descent, and loves everything about Nordic culture. She was taught to knit by her grandmother and mother when she was eight years old and took it up again in her late 20s, and has been knitting ever since. She enjoys sharing her love of the craft and of fiber arts in general. See her work at: https://www.instagram.com/lockwoodknits/
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DAY THREE | THE 2026 SÁMI FILM FESTIVAL
2026-02-07 14:00 - 17:30 | Scandinavia House, 58 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, United States
The Annual Sámi Film Festival returns to Scandinavia House and virtually nationwide! Now in its 8th year, the festival celebrates the rich storytelling traditions of the Sámi, an Indigenous people of the northernmost parts of Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. This year’s program is curated by acclaimed director, writer, artist, and composer Elle Márjá Eira, whose work in mediums from TV to classical opera has captivated audiences across the globe, and whose directorial debut Stolen reached the Top 10 list in 71 countries following its Netflix premiere in 2024.
SCHEDULE — DAY 3
Oro Jaska / Shut Up (2025)
Dir. Silje Bürgin-Borch & Vegard Bjørsmo | 144 min.
Set in a remote town in the heart of Sápmi, Shut Up follows Elli Anne, a young Sámi woman whose intimate world collapses after a brutal assault. As she seeks justice within a tightly knit community bound by tradition and family loyalty, the narrative takes a gripping turn when Issat, a celebrated snow cross racer, is accused. The allegation not only threatens his reputation but forces him to confront his own closely guarded secret: that he is queer. Praised as “powerful and timely,” Shut Up marks a historic first—it is the first Sámi TV drama of its kind to center social issues from within the community, told by Sámi voices.
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