Let Our Mountains Live

Director: Håvard Bustness
Sámi, Norway 2026
Languages: Sámi, Norwegian
Subtitles: English
Length: 100 min
Rating: S

FINNISH PREMIERE

Sissel Stormo Holtan as a guest through Zoom

For twenty years, Sissel Stormo Holtan, Elise Årbogen and Terje Haugen have fought to protect their ancestral grazing lands from Europe’s largest wind power project. Despite their protests, the Norwegian state allowed 151 massive turbines to be built on the Fosen mountains before the legal battle was even over.

In a landmark turn of events, the Norwegian Supreme Court ruled the wind farm a violation of Sámi human rights. For a brief moment, Sissel, Elise and Terje believed they had won their mountains back. But the victory was short-lived. Instead of dismantling the turbines, the government sided with international energy giants, offering a €14 million settlement and demanding the herders move their reindeer elsewhere.

As Sámi youth take to the streets in international protest, Sissel, Elise and Terje face a devastating choice: take the money and secure their financial future, or refuse a settlement that feels like forced relocation. In a world rushing toward a “green transition,” they are left with a simple, painful truth: reindeer can’t eat money.

Screenplay: Johannes Vang, Kati Eriksen, Håvard Bustnes
Editing: Anders Teigen

Cinematography: Lukasz Zamaro, Åsmund Hasli, Maja Holand, Bjørn Ànte Røe, Ask G. Jacobsen
Music:
Jonas Colstrup
Sound Design: Micke Nyström
Producer:
Håvard Bustnes
Production: Upnorth Film, Aurinko Film, Home River Media

Distribution:  Upnorth Film