Brace your heart

Director: Amanda Kernell

Title: BRACE YOUR HEART

Original title: GARRAT DU VÁIMMU

Director: Amanda Kernell

Cast:Elli Sara Valkeapää, Vincent Niia, Andte Gaup-Juuso

Genre:Drama

Duration: 97 min

Language:Northern Sámi

Additional Languages:Swedish

Country of origin: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Bulgaria

Scriptwriter: Amanda Kernell

Cinematographer: Sophia Olsson

Editor: Linda Man, Theis Schmidt

Production Company: Nordisk Film Production AB

Producers: Eva Åkergren

Coproduction companies: Forest People, Compass Films, Invictus, Nordisk Film Production Denmark, Filmpool Nord, SVT and Film i Väst

Supported by The Swedish Film Institute, The Danish Film Institute, The International Sámi Film Institute, Nordisk Film & TV Fund, Bulgarian National Film Center, Icelandic Film Centre, Eurimages and Arktisk Film Norge

International sales handled by TrustNordisk

Year of premiere: 2026

 

 In a remote Sámi village high in the mountains, 20-year-old Ejva inherits her late father's reindeer herd. As she struggles to keep the herd thriving, local leader Heaika develops romantic feelings for her, and though hesitant, she feels compelled to accept. But everything changes when Nejla, Heaika’s cousin, arrives, and Ejva discovers true love for the first time. Betrayed and jealous, Heaika reacts harshly, leaving Ejva with a condition that makes her hands shake uncontrollably, threatening her ability to care for the herd. Now, Ejva must find a way to reclaim control over her life and her future.

 

Festival overview

Toronto International Film Festival 2026 - Platform programme, World premiere, Special Jury Award

San Sebastián International Film Festival - Official Competition, European premiere, Silver Shell for Best Director for Amanda Kernell

About the director

Amanda Kernell first gained international recognition with the critically acclaimed SAMI BLOOD which premiered at the Venice Days section of Venice Film Festival in 2016, where she received the award for Best Debut Director. The film went on to become a festival favorite establishing Kernell as one of Scandinavia’s most promising emerging voices. Her second feature, CHARTER, world premiered at Sundance Film Festival and selected as Sweden’s official Academy Award® entry for the Best International Feature Film category, confirming her reputation as a distinctive auteur with a unique cinematic vision.