In den Weiten Sápmi kämpft Rentierzüchterin Maia gegen ein Bergbauprojekt, das das Land ihrer Vorfahren bedroht. Als die Proteste eskalieren, wendet sie sich an ihren Onkel Lemme – und reißt damit alte, verdrängte Traumata auf. Zwischen politischem Widerstand und familiärer Vergangenheit steht Maia vor einer schmerzhaften Entscheidung: das Land verteidigen oder endlich das Schweigen brechen.
Filmemacherin Elle Sofe Sara, selbst Teil der Sámi-Community, verbindet in „Árru“ Musical-Elemente mit politischem Drama. Mit Gesang, Joik und Tanz entsteht ein eindringlicher Film, der Tabuthemen mutig und visuell kraftvoll verhandelt.
N/S/FIN 2026, 95 min.
OF mit dt. UT (OmU)
Regie/Dir.: Elle Sofe Sara
Screenings:
06.06.26, 21:20, CineStar 2, Emden
07.06.26, 13:30, CineStar 6, Emden
In the vast expanses of Sápmi, reindeer herder Maia is fighting against a mining project that threatens the land of her ancestors. As the protests escalate, she turns to her uncle Lemme—and in doing so, reopens old, repressed traumas. Caught between political resistance and her family’s past, Maia faces a painful decision: defend the land or finally break the silence.
In “Árru,” filmmaker Elle Sofe Sara—who is herself a member of the Sámi community—blends musical elements with political drama. Through song, joik, and dance, she creates a powerful film that tackles taboo subjects with courage and visual intensity.
#filmfestemden #norderney #filmfest #scorebernhardwickipreis
Elle Sofe Sara’s Sami drama rooted in land, female empowerment, music and memory will officially have its North American premiere in New York at Tribeca Film Festival 2026 this summer
We are thrilled to be the only Norwegian feature film officially this year !
See you in New York City! 🤍
Elle Sofe Saras første spillefilm får offisiell nordamerikansk premiere i New York under Tribeca Film Festival 2026 denne sommeren!
En unik samisk musikal drama om opprør, joik og minner.
Vi er begeistret over å være den eneste norske spillefilmen som er offisielt utvalgt i år!
Vi sees i New York! 🤍
#tribecafilmfestival @garagefilm@its_alive_films@samifilminstitute@theyellowaffair@norskfilminstitutt@norskfilmdistribusjon@arcticfilmnorway@nordiskfilmogtvfond@swedishfilm@samifilminstitute@ellesofe@ellesofecompany
Mii ohccát oahpahalli Oavánii 26/27, mii lea oahpahalliprográmma nuorra oavániid várás geain lea miella ovdánit áŋgiris lávdedáidda- ja filbmabirrasis. Juoge áinnas ja loga eambbo min neahttasiddus ellesofe.com
NOR:
Vi søker trainee til Oaván 26/27, vårt traineeprogram for unge talenter som ønsker å utvikle seg i et ambisiøst scenekunst- og filmmiljø. Del gjerne og les mer på ellesofe.com
ENG:
We are seeking trainees for Oaván 26/27, our trainee programme for young talents who want to develop within an ambitious performing arts and film environment. Please share and read more at ellesofe.com
#sápmi #ellesofecompany #talentnorge
Thank you everyone who made ÁRRU come to life, and thank you to Berlinale for choosing ÁRRU! Thank you to the cast and artistic collaborators. Your dedication, ideas and craftsmanship is inspiring and has carried me in this process.
Thanks to all the producers, co-producers and other collaborators!
Thank you to the funders, collaborators, sales agents and distributors.
And thank YOU for cheering us on, supporting and sharing ÁRRU on social media.
I am deeply grateful for this incredible opportunity. Arranger reception:
Elle Sofe company
Indigenous Cinema Alliance
International Sámi Film Institute
Funders reception:
International Sámi Film Institute The Royal Embassy of Norway in Berlin Arctic Indigenous Film Fund
ÁRRU Artistic Team Director: Elle Sofe Sara
Writers: Johan Fasting, Elle Sofe Sara
Director of Photography: Cecilie Semec
Composer: John Erik Kaada
Editor: Michal Leszczylowski
Production designer: Otto Lume
Sound designer: Gustaf Berger
Colorist: Axel Rundquist CAST Maia: Sara Marielle Gaup Beaska
Áilin: Ayla Nutti
Dánel: Simon Issát Marainen
Lemme: Mikkel Gaup
Áhkku: Ellen Anne Buljo Stabursvik
Sire: Anni-Kristiina Juuso
Produced by STÆR
Coproduced by: Garagefilm International, It’s Alive Films, Elle Sofe company, Arctic Film Invest, Bord Cadre Films, Sovereign Films, Premiering festival, Berlinale 2026, Panorama
Sales agent The Yellow Affair
Distribution Christelle + Co
Main producers Elisa Fernanda Pirir Mimmi Spång Jani Pösö Funded by The Norwegian Film Institute The Swedish Film Institute Finnish Film Foundation The International Sámi Film Institute The Sámi Parliament, Norway
Eurimages – Council of Europe New Dawn Nordisk Film & TV Fond NRK SVT YLE
Proud to celebrate this creative collaboration with This is Art and Clipper for the promotion of ÁRRU at the 76th Berlinale — Panorama Selection!
Hand-painted by artist Juanda Rivera, this limited edition of reusable lighters feature two distinct designs inspired by the geometric patterns and vibrant colors of the Sámi outfits in the film—diamonds, zigzags, circles, and silver details that bind them together.
Artist Statement “As an artist, I love to get involved in creative projects and to help others. My mother’s father came from Indigenous people of the Amazon in Colombia. It was a nice connection—my roots in the tropical jungle and being part of a project at the other extreme, connecting to Indigenous people from the Arctic. I love getting my hands dirty and painting, doing anything I can that’s creative. It was a cool project to be a part of!”
We wanted to transform an everyday object into something meaningful. The lighters produce fire and light. In ÁRRU, light becomes a metaphor for speaking and yoiking what has long been silenced.
Like trauma, fire can destroy, but it can also heal and transform. By choosing a reusable lighter, we reflect the idea of breaking cycles and choosing care, creativity, sustainability, and renewal.
Refill. Reuse. Keep spreading the light and the story of ÁRRU.
Thankful to Juanda and Maria & Co at Clipper! @thisisart__@clipper@clipperespana
And @gcastells_ for the valuable support shipping this package from Barcelona to Berlin!
@ellesofe@saramariellegaup@simonissat@aylanutti@mikkelgaup@staer.film@garagefilm@its_alive_films@ellesofecompany@samifilminstitute@norskfilminstitutt@svenskafilminstitutet@elokuvasaatio@arcticfilmnorway@eurimagescoe@samediggi@nordiskfilmogtvfond@nrk@yle@svt@imaginenative@indigenous.cinema.alliance@theyellowaffair@danil_roekke
The World Premiere of Elle Sofe Sara’s feature film ÁRRU at the 76th Berlinale to a sold out audience!
Congratulations to Elle Sofe and everyone involved!
Music: Sara Marielle Gaup Beaska did Elle Sofe Saras luohti (yoik) on stage after the premiere.
NO:Urpremieren på Elle Sofe Saras spillefilm ÁRRU på Berlinalen! Varme gratulasjoner til alle involverte!
SÁM: Vuosttaščájálmas Elle Sofe Sara filmmas ÁRRU ovttain máilmmi stuorámus filbma festiválain. Mii sávvat olu lihkku Elle Sofii ja buohkaide Árru joavkkus!
Jietna: Sara Marielle Gaup Beaska juoiggai Elle Sofe maŋŋel premiere lávddi alde.
Photos from ÁRRU Reception Celebration after the World Premiere at Internationalen Filmfestspiele Berlin
Hosted by Elle Sofe Company and the International Sámi Film Institute, presented in collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Berlin, with additional support from the Indigenous Cinema Alliance and Arctic Indigenous Film Fund.
Thank you all for making this celebration very special to us all, and especially to Elle Sofe.
From all of us: Olu giitu! Thank you!
Photos by Ánne Kátjá Gaup @johttiproductions
The World Premiere of Elle Sofe Sara’s feature film ÁRRU at the 76th Berlinale! Congratulations to Elle Sofe and everyone involved! NO: Urpremieren på Elle Sofe Saras spillefilm ÁRRU på Berlinalen! Varme gratulasjoner til alle involverte! SÁM: Vuosttaščájálmas Elle Sofe Sara filmmas ÁRRU ovttain máilmmi stuorámus filbma festiválain. Mii sávvat olu lihkku Elle Sofii ja buohkaide Árru joavkkus!
Photos: Ánne Kátjá Gaup
Ihttin lea Árru ávvučájáhus! ✨Tomorrow, Árru will have its world premiere at @berlinale film festival ✨
About Árru: Amid the breathtaking landscapes of Sápmi, reindeer herder Maia fights to protect her ancestral lands from a looming mining project. As protests rise, she turns to her charismatic uncle Lemme for help, but his presence reignites deep-buried traumas. Maia must choose: save the land at the cost of her family or surrender it to break the silence.
Director: Elle Sofe Sara | Writers: Johan Fasting, Elle Sofe Sara | Cast: Sara Marielle Gaup Beaska, Áyla Gáren Nutti, Simon Issát Marainen, Mikkel Gaup | Director of Photography: Cecilie Semec | Composer: John Erik Kaada | Editor: Michal Leszczylowski | Production Designer: Otto Lume | Produced by: Stær A.S (No), Garagefilm International (SE), It’s Alive (FIN), Elle Sofe Company (Sápmi) |The film is financed by The International Sámi Film Institute, The Norwegian Film Institute, The Swedish Film Institute, Finnish Film Foundation, Arctic Film Norway, Sámediggi (No), New Dawn, Eurimages, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, NRK, YLE, SVT, and Cadre Bord | With support from imagineNATIVE and Indigenous Cinema Alliance.
