The Tromsø International Film Festival is where frozen landscapes meet moving images. Held above the Arctic Circle just as the long polar night begins to lift, the festival is a vibrant celebration of cinema, drawing nearly 70,000 admissions annually. The festival’s sidebar Films from the North showcases the best of the northern regions, with a strong and growing presence of Indigenous voices. For over 25 years, this section has featured short films, documentaries, and fiction from Northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Canada, Sápmi, Alaska, Iceland, and Greenland. 

This 2025 selection – the Indigenous program – follows the sun around the globe, from Greenland to Norway, highlighting powerful stories from across the Arctic. Now coming to Riddu Riđđu! 
 
Film producer Linn Henriksen, representing the short film competition winner In My Hand, will introduce the program at the screening. 

In my hand (Sápmi) 

In My Hand is a compelling true story that explores personal and historical struggles of the Sámi people. The film navigates between imprisonment, protests, and surreal encounters, providing a unique insight into one man's extraordinary journey. It concludes with a powerful call to action for the preservation of nature. 

Director: Liselotte Wajstedt and Marja Helander.  

Sikoqqinngisaannassoq (Kalaallit Nunaat and Norway)  

 
An Inuit community in Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) grapples with climate change's transformation of their winter sea ice. Words describing their close relationship to the elements are inscribed in the ice by the island's youth, reflecting the local impact of global forces. Are we witnessing the beginning of sikoqqinngisaannassooq: a future without sea ice? 

Director: Adam Sébire.  

Raven (Canada)  

A Gwich’in elder in Canada’s far North dreams of the last remaining Datrin (Raven). Who would you talk to if you were the last speaker of your language? The dream sequence turns a mundane scene into a myth. Douglas Joe (White River First Nations) won first prize at the Dawson City International Film Festival for Raven. 

Director: Douglas Joe. 

Ukko (Russia)  

On the eve of her grandfather’s funeral, a little girl discovers her beloved cow has disappeared. To find the animal, she is forced to contact the world of the dead. This Karelian language film's beautiful cinematography enhances the mystery of the story and the indefinite borders to the otherworldly. 

Director: Arina Mado.