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Arctic Indigenous Film Fund (AIFF)

Arctic Indigenous Film Fund (AIFF) Logo

The Arctic Indigenous Film Fund (AIFF)

The circumpolar North is home to over 40 distinct Indigenous ethnic groups across multiple nation states. Despite the imposition of these national borders, we consider ourselves a single, unified community – one united by the power of our shared stories. It was this spirit of kinship and the urgent need for narrative sovereignty that led to the creation of the Arctic Indigenous Film Fund (AIFF).

Launched in 2018 at the 2nd International Indigenous Film Conference in Kautokeino, Norway (Sápmi), AIFF was born from a historic collaboration between the Sundance Institute, Canada Media Fund, International Sámi Film Institute (ISFI), Nunavut Film Corporation, Film Greenland, and Sakha Film. We recognized then, as we do now, that as global interest in the Arctic grows, so does the demand for our stories. It is vital that Indigenous filmmakers are the ones to share the narratives of their own communities, ensuring our voices are heard over those of outside commercial interests.

Our Mission and Impact AIFF is dedicated to films and filmmakers with Arctic Indigenous origins. We believe that spreading knowledge about Indigenous cultures, climate change, and land rights through art is vital for our collective future. To achieve this, we are committed to building capacity for Arctic filmmaking by funding productions and offering specialized training programs. Our aim is to promote high-quality projects that revitalize the languages and societies of Indigenous peoples across the North.

Fostering Global Cooperation Beyond financing, AIFF serves as a bridge for international cooperation. We bring together the most talented filmmakers to encourage co-production and the exchange of expertise. By helping our creators achieve the best possible production terms, we secure the professional future of our filmmakers and protect our cultural heritage. Through AIFF, we ensure that Indigenous societies remain the protagonists of their own narratives, today and for generations to come.

https://www.aiff.no
Year Established
2018
Total Number of Staff
3
Number of Academic Staff
2
Number of Students
21
Contact Information

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https://www.aiff.no
Year Established
2018
Total Number of Staff
3
Number of Academic Staff
2
Number of Students
21
Contact Information

Focus Areas

  • Narrative Sovereignty: Ensuring Arctic Indigenous peoples are the primary protagonists and owners of their own stories, countering external commercial perspectives.
  • Cultural & Linguistic Revitalization: Supporting the use of Indigenous languages in film to preserve and celebrate the heritage of over 40 circumpolar ethnic groups.
  • Climate & Environmental Advocacy: Utilizing cinema to spread vital knowledge about climate change, land rights, and the Arctic environment.
  • Capacity Building & Professionalization: Strengthening the Indigenous film industry through targeted production funding, specialized training, and exchange of expertise.
  • Circumpolar Cooperation: Fostering international co-production and collaboration between filmmakers across national borders to build a unified Arctic film community.
  • Artistic Excellence: Promoting high-quality film projects that enhance the social and cultural standing of Indigenous societies on a global stage.
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