For over 20 years, Sámi reindeer herders Sissel Stormo Holtan, Elise Årbogen, and Terje Haugen have fought to protect the mountains of Fosen in Norway—the grazing lands their culture and livelihood depend on. Despite their resistance, the Norwegian government allowed 151 massive wind turbines to be built across the landscape.

Through court hearings and protests, Let Our Mountains Lives follows the reindeer herders strugggle to get the government to do something about the turbines that deeply disturb the reindeer. When Norway’s Supreme Court later rules that the wind farm violated Sámi human rights, the herders finally believes they will get their mountains back. But that hope quickly fades. Instead of removing the turbines, the government sides with powerful energy companies, insisting the wind farm and reindeer herding could coexist.

But the reindeer herders do not give up, and as protests led by Sámi youth drew international attention, the government was forced to admit that human rights had been violated. Yet rather than restoring the land, officials offer the herders €14 million to move their grazing elsewhere.

For Sissel, Elise, and Terje, the money feels less like compensation and more like a modern form of forced relocation. As Terje says, “Reindeer can’t eat money.”

Directed by Håvard Bustnes, UpNorth Films, Norway, Finland 100,' 2026 

World Premiere CPHDOX 2026, North American Premiere Hotdocs