SÁMIS

Explore the captivating world of the Sámi people in this immersive documentary. Witness their deep connection to nature, from fishing on frozen lakes to their ancestral crafts. Hear their voices as they share their experiences and concerns about preserving their culture in today's society.

Discover traditional Sámi cuisine and experience the emotional power of the Joik, their ancestral chant.

"SÁMIS" is a vibrant tribute to Sámi culture, celebrating its past, present, and future through stunning imagery. Join us on this cinematic adventure and delve into the heart of the Arctic.

  • Roman Jehanno
    Director
  • Cyril Hucleux
    Director
  • Roman Jehanno
    Writer
  • Cyril Hucleux
    Writer
  • Roman Jehanno
    Producer
  • Antonin Burbaud
    Producer
  • Cyril Hucleux
    Producer
  • Antoine Supper
    Editor
  • Romain Dubois
    Color grading artist
  • Sébastien Lafargue
    Music Composer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    51 minutes 41 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 30, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    30,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    France
  • Country of Filming:
    Finland
  • Language:
    English, Finnish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Roman Jehanno, Cyril Hucleux

Roman Jehanno and Cyril Hucleux met in high school, a friendship that has woven the threads of their creativity - or maybe it's the other way around.

Roman Jehanno is a French photographic artist born in 1986.
He graduated from Gobelins in 2008 and has been working for major advertising agencies and prestigious clients since then.
In a universalist approach, he starts his Savoir-Faire series in 2013, work that will allow him to obtain the 1st 2014 Hasselblad Masters prize.

During his travels, Roman also develops a body of work of landscape photography, with a 4x5’’ camera as with the medium format. He explores three specific themes : the abstraction of places with shapes and textures, the fascination of the horizon line, and the particular link between a demonstrative landscape and the memory of the place.

Cyril Hucleux took his first professional steps as a creative within the advertising industry, a period that sharpened his innate penchant for storytelling. Yet it was his insatiable appetite for vast horizons and memories of captivating childhood documentaries, watched in the company of his parents, that ignited in him a passion for setting off to discover unknown peoples living in faraway lands and returning with their stories.

Over time, his professional journey led him to a crossroads where his desire to tell authentic stories, far removed from the artifice of advertising, found its true voice. Guided by a deep empathy and commitment to cultural preservation, Cyril embarked on a cinematic journey that gives voice to those whose stories deserve to be told.

Through Sámis, Cyril aspires to build a bridge between viewers and the Sami people, to provoke reflection on the importance of preserving indigenous cultures, while exploring our own understanding of the world around us.

Roman Jehanno

Exibits
Savoir-Faire & Paysages - Solo Show 2022 - 2023 - Dupon Gallery
Nouveaux Regards - 2017 - Voies-Off Festival
Humains Très Humains - 2016 - H Gallery
Symboles - 2015 - Galerie Sisso

Prices
Hasselblad Masters 2014 (Général) Jury and Public Selection
PX3 2019 - Fine Art Category - Gold Prize
Expose Yourself Contest, November 2014

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

In this documentary, we dive deep into the experience of successive generations of the Sámi people as they seek to reinvent their identity while preserving their legacy. The film gives a voice to the Sámis themselves, who share their lives, experiences and concerns about the place of their culture in modern society.

Viewers will have the opportunity to discover the symbiosis between the Sámi and their natural environment. They'll witness fishing on frozen lakes, the meticulous practice of ancestral crafts, and constant interaction with the reindeer that embody their way of life.

This intimate journey also takes us on a discovery of traditional Sami cuisine, as well as the unique expression of their spirituality through the Joik, an ancestral chant imbued with emotion.

"SÁMIS" is a vibrant tribute to Sámi culture, celebrating its past, present and future through powerful, yet poetic images.

The film was made by a small team of friends driven by a shared passion for people and images. 100% self-financed, it also marks our very first feature film. We are proud to share this unique cinematic adventure with the public, in the hope of sparking deep reflection on the richness of Sámi culture and its evolution over time.