Festival of Cultures 2025: Sámi Culture Evening

As part of the Festival of Cultures week organized by the University of Oulu and Oulu University of Applied Sciences, an evening dedicated to Sámi culture will be held, exploring the indigenous culture through both film and live music.

The event will take place at the University of Oulu’s Linnanmaa campus in lecture hall L2 (entrance via main door 2T), starting at 5 pm on Monday 17th of November. The evening begins with a movie screening, followed by a live performance by the band Ulla Pirttijärvi & Ulda. The event’s main language is English.

The event is open to all (note: age limit for the movie is K12) and it is free of charge. You are welcome to join us to watch a movie, arrive later for the concert, or spend the entire evening with us. Welcome!

Schedule

4.50 pm Doors open

5.00 pm Movie: Biru Unjárga – Fucking Uuniemi
A Sámi teenager named Elvira is at the center of the story set in Northern Norway. She has been led to believe that her lesbian mother was impregnated at a Danish fertility clinic. Elvira often daydreams her father to be like a Danish movie star, but then her real father shows up and Elvira’s world is permanently changed.

The film’s main language is Northern Sámi, and it includes English subtitles. The age limit of the film is 12 years. You can watch the trailer on YouTube.

Around 6.20 pm Talk: Máren-Elle Länsman, Coordinator, Giellagas Institute
In her expert commentary, Länsman briefly discusses the selection of the film and reflects on the significance of comedy in the lives of Sámi youth and in Indigenous film production.

Around 6.35 pm Music: Ulla Pirttijärvi & Ulda
Ulla Pirttijärvi & Ulda is a modern Sámi music ensemble. Their art is a musical dialogue between Sámi tradition and contemporary music as well as between the present and the past worlds.

Around 7.20 pm Event ends

The University of Oulu, in collaboration with Oulu University of Applied Sciences, the Student Union of the University of Oulu, and the Student Union of Oulu University of Applied Sciences, is organizing the Festival of Cultures week to celebrate our multicultural community in Oulu and promote cultural awareness. The events of the week are open to everyone interested. We expect all participants to demonstrate respectful behavior and consideration for others. Any kind of discriminatory behavior is not tolerated at our events.

Festival of Cultures is part of the Oulu2026 programme and cultural climate change.