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    MY FATHERS’ DAUGHTER

    MY FATHERS’ DAUGHTER 
    BIRU UNJÁRGA 
    Norway, Sweden, Finland

    SYNOPSIS

    Elvira, a confident Sámi teenager, firmly believes that her mother conceived her at a Danish fertility clinic. She often daydreams about her father, envisioning him as a charismatic movie star. However, her world is turned upside down when her real biological father unexpectedly steps into her life. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Norway’s northernmost region, this family film features quirky dialogues, a captivating female protagonist, and an unforgettable male cameo.

    CREDITS

    Written & directed by: Egil Pedersen 
    Produced by: Mathis Ståle Mathisen, Pål Røed, Aleksander Olai Korsnes 
    Cinematography: Anna Myking 
    Editing: Thomas Grotmol, Toril Strøm, Geir Ørnholt 
    Production Design: Emma Skoog 
    Costume Design: Nina Erdahl 
    Make-Up & Hair: Pia Mikkonen 
    Original Score: Remi Semshaug Langseth, Mathis Ståle Mathisen 
    Sound: Johannes Dekko 
    Visual Effects: Christian Vårdal, Kjetil Haugen, Gonzalo Moure 
    Animation: Tor Kirstian Liseth, Kristoffer Stokkerud 
    Casting: Nina Erdahl 
    Cast: Sarah Olaussen Eira (Elvira)

    STATEMENT OF THE DIRECTOR

    The film MY FATHERS’ DAUGHTER continues my satirical exploration of identity, of which I previously achieved success within the short film INDIGENOUS POLICE. As a child, teenager, and young adult, I struggled with my Sámi identity (the Sámi are indigenous peoples in northern areas of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia). I didn’t feel fully accepted as Sámi among other Sámi people, and my Sámi appearance and identity were sometimes burdensome when interacting with Norwegians. However, once I finally accepted that I was good enough to be both a Sámi and a Sámi filmmaker, I embarked on a long process to understand what kind of Sámi filmmaker I wanted to become.
    My firsthand experience of the complexities of having a minority identity, combined with my sense of humour, led me to become a Sámi satirist. I aim to tell stories about minority identity in ways that audiences haven’t seen before. Through humour, I want to portray the absurdities of being a minority. Much of what I share is inspired by my own experiences and real-life events I’ve heard from others.
    In MY FATHERS’ DAUGHTER I return to my childhood paradise and the village where my mother grew up. Unjárga/Nesseby is a small Sámi coastal community in northeastern Norway, characterised by its unique environment and natural beauty, which make the story both personal and distinctive.

    • Feature Film Selection 2024