Wild & Scenic Film Festival 2019 - Illegal Activists: The Battle for Norway's Fjords
Young activists decide to break the law to stop a mining company from dumping 250 million tonnes of waste into a Norwegian fjord.
Interview with Director/Producer/DOP Julie Lunde Lillesæter
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you so much! The case we look into in the film – the Norwegian government allowing a mining company to dump waste in a pristine fjord – was not really covered in the news media at the time. As a result, most Norwegians were unaware of what was going on, and we wanted to change that. Moreover, we were drawn to the fact that most of the protesters were really young. It made us wonder: what drives young people to travel across the country and break the law for a cause they believe in?
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Norway is known for its pristine fjords and untouched nature, and the Norwegian government prides itself on its environmental policies. Illegal Activists shows the less pretty side of the story. Moreover, the film tells an inspiring story of youth activism, and about people taking action for the future of our planet.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
We tell the personal story of Ane and Magnus in order to highlight a more universal theme: how the fight for the protection of our environment is fought by people like you and I. In case after case, we hear about governments not taking responsibility, leaving it up to ordinary citizens to take action against powerful corporate interests. We wanted to use the film to highlight the important role youth play in environmental activism.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
When we heard about the protests in February 2016, we immediately travelled to the Førde Fjord to document what was happening. The whole thing was filmed in a matter of a few days, and we interviewed people on both sides of the case. When we got back, we spent quite some time with editor Idun Kvasbø to work out what would be the main focus in the story. In the end we decided to focus on the story of the activists, with Ane and Magnus as the main characters.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The film premiered in the Norwegian newspaper VG in 2017, and has since then screened at festivals in the US, Norway, Italy, and Slovakia. The feedback we've received has been good, and many are shocked to find out that this practice is taking place despite scientists and biologists advising against it.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It's been surprising to see how a film about what we thought was a very Norwegian case, resonates with audiences abroad. It's clear that environmental activists across the world face many of the same issues.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We hope that the story of Ane and Magnus might inspire audiences to take action for the environment, whether it's through getting involved in issues on their country, recycling, joining a protest, or supporting an organization fighting for sustainability.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
The film is still screening in festivals, and we'd love to connect with distributors and buyers who think the film could be a good fit for their audience. We'd also love to hear from community organizers who might be able to use the film in their work.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
For us it's important that our films can help the activists who are fighting for the cause, and we see our films as tools that can amplify the message and hopefully make their work a little bit easier. Moreover, we hope that the film can help create public awareness about the case in Norway. The Norwegian government might allow opening up other fjords for dumping of mining waste, but if they realize that Norwegian citizens are against it, it will be harder for them to push it through. The fjord case is still an ongoing battle, as the mining company have yet to start the mining work. While our Prime Minister keeps talking about the importance of preserving our oceans, the activists are hoping she might start doing the same about our fjords, and stop the mining company.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We're currently working on a documentary about climate change and food production. This is a theme we keep returning to in our work, and after we released our feature documentary Thank You For The Rain (2017) about the Kenyan farmer-turned-activist Kisilu Musya, we wanted to explore how farmers in the Global North are grappling with the issue. The film tells the story of a Norwegian farmers struggling with the changing weather. Read more about our projects on www.differmedia.com.
Interview: January 2019
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Illegal Activists: The Battle for Norway's Fjords
Young activists decide to break the law to stop a mining company from dumping 250 million tonnes of waste into a Norwegian fjord.
Length: 11 min
Director: Julie Lunde Lillesæter, Julia Dahr
Producer: Julia Dahr, Julie Lunde Lillesæter
Writer: Julia Dahr/Julie Lunde Lillesæter
About the writer, director and producer:
JULIE LUNDE LILLESÆTER works as a director, impact producer and cinematographer, focusing on environment, sustainability, and social justice. Julie has won several awards for her work, including for best cinematography.
JULIA DAHR is a multi award-winning documentary director. Dahr is among the 30 filmmakers under 30 listed by Forbes as "driving and defining the word of media".
Looking for: sales agents, distributors, journalists
Facebook: Differ Media
Twitter: @DifferMedia
Instagram: @DifferMedia
Funders: Fritt Ord
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Wild and Scenic FF