What occupies our thoughts as the world around us changes? What’s on your mind? brings together six short films from the North that move between dreams and uncertainty, cultural heritage and personal choices, technological development and the landscapes we depend on. Through documentary, fiction and experimental storytelling, the programme explores what we believe in, what we carry with us, and the questions that shape how we see ourselves and the world around us.
A short film programme by the Tromsø International Film Festival.
Aurora Dreams by Polina Blag (13 min)
A couple in love from China and an artist from Vietnam meet by chance in the Arctic, all in search of the Northern Lights. Despite their different lives, they share a deep belief in the aurora’s power to make dreams come true. This charming documentary explores human connection, our relationship with nature and how far we are willing to go to pursue what we truly long for.
Fata Morgana (Hildring) by Aasne Vaa Greibrokk (25 min)
It’s a warm, bright summer day, and Sarah and her boyfriend are busy preparing for a summer party. But in the space of a single day, her entire sense of reality is turned upside down. An immensely beautiful and tender short film in which storytelling, acting, cinematography and music come together to create a unique atmosphere.
Heritage (Avtryck) by Emelina Hedman and Ture Andersson (12 min)
The film portrays Madeleine Renhuvud, a South Sámi artist and language teacher, following her work with artistic heritage and cultural preservation. This sincere documentary touches on universal themes of language, history and the reclaiming of cultural identity. At a time when culture and the arts are increasingly marginalised, passing this heritage on to future generations becomes all the more important.
At the Shadow of the World (Maílmmittkus) by Arttu Nieminen and Hans Pieski (9 min)
A surreal journey exploring the complex relationship between Sámi culture and technological progress. Technology is often seen as a threat to sustainable ways of life, yet the Sámi have historically embraced change, too. What role does modern technology play in Sámi identity today, and is it ever possible to completely break away from it?
Red-Shaded Green (Rööpses Rovnedamme Goh Kruana) by Johannes Vang (5 min)
This poetic film questions the sustainability of the fight against climate change when the pursuit of green energy comes at the expense of traditional Sámi life and culture. Can one form of environmental destruction truly be called progress if it is simply replaced by another?
Borderline (På grensa) by Johannes Vang (11 min)
A Norwegian customs officer (Øystein Martinsen), a Finnish poacher (Sverre Porsanger) and a mysterious Swedish woman (Ayla Nutti) meet at the border where the three countries converge. When their differences – in laws, language and prejudice – spark an escalating conflict, they must find an unconventional solution to the unexpected situation that has brought them together.
Running time: 1 hr 15 min
At the Shadow of the World (Maílmmittkus) by Arttu Nieminen and Hans Pieski