Tuesday, 1 March 2022 – International Sámi Film Institute (ISFI) is pleased to announce the world premiere of ÁRRAN 360° as part of ´The Sámi Pavilion´ project at the 59th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia on 26 August 2022. A new initiative realised by International Sámi Film Institute (ISFI) in collaboration with Norwegian Film Institute (NFI) and Office for Contemporary Art Norway (OCA), ÁRRAN 360° is part of the extended programme for the historic transformation of the Nordic Pavilion by ´The Sámi Pavilion´ project at the Biennale Arte 2022 in Venice.

ÁRRAN 360°  is at the cutting edge of Sámi film and digital media arts. This first-of-its-kind art project will feature six original 360-degree screen-based works created by six leading Sámi artists from across Sápmi, the Sámi homeland.

“Árran is a Northern Sámi word to describe the hearth of a lávvu (a traditional Sámi tent) and  around which our storytelling has taken place since time immemorial,” said Anne Lajla Utsi, ISFI’s Director. “With ÁRRAN 360°, we want to invite world audiences to experience the spirit of our circular storytelling and embrace them with our soulscapes and connection to land.”

In another global first, ÁRRAN 360° will be presented in a purpose-built lávvu, equipped with a 360-degree screen designed to showcase these special works. Located at the northern end of the Venetian island of San Servolo – between the Giardini della Biennale and Lido, home of the Venice Film Festival – on the grounds of Venice International University, ÁRRAN 360° will become a unique artistic and cultural space for immersive and holistic Indigenous storytelling and reflections.

ÁRRAN 360° will run from 26 August to 13 September 2022 and will be an official part of the Nordic Pavilion by the ´The Sámi Pavilion´ project at the Biennale Arte 2022. This historic transformation of the Nordic Pavilion celebrates the art and sovereignty of the Indigenous Sámi people, whose nation extends across the Nordic countries and into the Kola Peninsula in Russia. Several additional artistic presentations and events will be held in associated with ÁRRAN 360°, including a programme of Indigenous Augmented Reality (AR) works, seminars, talks, and a curated programme by Julie Nagam and Heather Igloliorte featuring Arctic Indigenous 360° works from Canada. Additional details of associated programmes and events will be released at a later date.

“The six artists selected through an open call reflect the richness of Sámi artistic expressions and the astonishing creative power that exists across Sápmi. The film-makers bring to the table some of the most crucial questions in Sámi society today in ways that highlight their pertinence to the world. They show us once more the empowering qualities of film and digital technology to further Sámi world-views.” said Katya García-Antón, OCA´s Director, commissioner and co-curator of ´The Sámi Pavilion´ project. “Together with our partners at ISFI and the NFI, we are thrilled to facilitate a new creative arena for these remarkable storytellers to push their artistic boundaries. These are stories that have never been told before on screen.”

ÁRRAN 360° showcase the following Sámi filmmakers and their work:

Ann Holmgren Aurebekk, Ovias – A young woman embarks on a journey into a dreamlike otherworld to discover that every tiny action we do in this world has a direct resonance in a myriad of other realms.

Elle Márjá Eira, Eallu girdnu – Reindeer Corral – Standing at the heart of the girdnu, surrounded by reindeer moving in a circular motion, the viewer will experience a taste of the great forces that exist at the heart of reindeer herding.

Hans Pieski, Muohtačalmmit – The immense power of water and humans’ dependence on it will be contemplated in this surreal video art piece.

Liselotte Wajstedt, Eadni – Mother – The Háldi is a forest creature that may lure children into the woods. Is it only a part of Sámi mythology or is it as real as you and I?

Marja Helander, Áfruvvá – Mermaid – The áfruvvá is a Sámi seabeing, the ghost of a drowned person. Yearning for warmth, she emerges from the sea to a world devoid of humans and experiences humanity through an abandoned museum.

Siljá Somby, Daate dijjien – After a sacred drum is abducted by a priest, we are taken on a journey beyond space and time that reveals more about the drum’s innate power.

All projects are currently in production and longer synopses will be made available on the ÁRRAN 360° website, to be launched prior to the world premiere.

“We are proud to be part of this initiative,” said Kjersti Mo, CEO of the Norwegian Film Institute. “The works that are showcased through ÁRRAN 360° represent an important part of our culture and heritage. We look forward to presenting these works to new audiences through an innovative format that pays tribute to the rich storytelling culture of the Sámi.”

Discover more on the website of the International Sámi Film Institute.