Lapland draws curtain on 27th Skábmagovat: indigenous cinema between Arctic stories and Italian co-production

 HELSINKI -- The 27th edition of Skábmagovat—a challenging term meaning "reflections of an endless night", an indigenous peoples' film festival that each year celebrates the return of light after the arctic night—concluded in Inari, Finnish Lapland. From January 22 to 25, 2026, the event turned that region into the global hub of indigenous cinema, featuring a vast and diverse program: over 55 films screened, including 25 absolute premieres. This year's central theme, "Diverse love," explored the emotion in all its forms—from affection for cultural roots to land stewardship, and relationships that transcend geographic boundaries.​

 Program highlights

 Beyond the iconic screenings in the "Snow Theatre"—a structure built entirely from ice blocks under the starry sky—the festival showcased impactful works from every corner of the indigenous world. Standouts included "The last walk," a Canadian feature produced by Métis and Cree filmmakers that opened the event, focusing on the resilience of indigenous women in isolated northern communities. "Heititi," a New Zealand Māori documentary, generated great interest by recounting the revival of ancestral artistic traditions, forging a deep thematic link with the Sámi cultural renaissance. Critics highly praised "Sápmi lullaby," a Scandinavian experimental work blending traditional joik singing with avant-garde visual storytelling, proving how roots can dialogue with future languages. Finally, the Greenlandic short "Echoes of the Ice" offered an intimate, poetic view of climate change through an elderly Inuit hunter's eyes.​

 Italian Spotlight: "Ciao rakas!"

 Amid this global exchange, Italy played a leading role with the premiere of Ciao rakas! (internationally known as Midnight sun affair). The film stands as a rare and successful example of cinematic collaboration between the Mediterranean and Arctic regions. Production was handled by Italy's Viola Film in partnership with Finland's Whatever Pictures, Norway's Rein Film, and Iceland's Glassriver. RAI's involvement was crucial, actively supporting the project to ensure its future television broadcast in Italy—a sign of growing public broadcaster interest in intercultural narratives.​

 The story follows Carmine, played by Erasmo Genzini, a young Neapolitan thrust into Finnish Sápmi life after an unexpected inheritance. The film tackles integration and overcoming prejudices through his encounter with a local reindeer herder, portrayed by the excellent Sámi actress Sissi Jomppanen. The choice of authentic bilingualism, alternating Italian and Northern Sámi, fully embodies the festival's mission.​

 Positive outcome

 The 27th edition reaffirmed Skábmagovat as a platform attracting not only independent productions but also major national broadcasters like RAI and Finland's YLE. The festival closed with a notable rise in international attendance, strengthening ties between Finland and Italy, and setting the stage for 2027 to continue amplifying indigenous voices.​

dp