Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in ‘My Fathers’ Daughter’ First-Look Image

“My Fathers’ Daughter,” soon to be the first Sámi-language feature to world premiere at Toronto, has released a first-look image featuring “Game of Thrones” actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who will cameo as himself in the coming-of-age family dramedy.

Directed by Egil Pedersen, “My Fathers’ Daughter” is the story of Elvira, a confident teenager who is convinced that she was conceived at a Danish fertility clinic. Steadfast in that belief, she often daydreams about who her father may be, envisioning him as a famous movie star, in this case, Coster-Waldau. However, those dreams are taken from the girl when her real biological father unexpectedly appears.

Although “My Fathers’ Daughter” marks Pedersen’s feature debut, he’s an accomplished helmer who has directed 18 music videos, 15 shorts and numerous commissioned films and advertisements. His most recent short, a satirical comedy titled “Koftepolitiet” (“Indigenous Police”), was a hit in the Sami community.

Written and directed by Pedersen, “My Father’s Daughter” is a Norway-Sweden-Finland co-production between Rein Film, Paasan, Oktober, Bautafilm and Filmpool Nord. Pluto Film is handling international sales.

The film also received backing from Neo, The Norwegian Film Institute’s program that finances debut films for talented directors. “Without Neo, the film wouldn’t have been made,” Pedersen explains. “After many years of rejections from The Norwegian Film Institute, we were accepted by Neo. Also important was the Publikum audience insight program which uses artificial intelligence, analyzed by people, and in combination with interviews with potential audiences. All this is aimed at expanding the potential of the story. For me, I became more daring in how I used political and other references from the real world.”

In narrative terms, “My Fathers’ Daughter” was a way for Pedersen to address themes that impacted his life over the years. “I always knew that I was Sámi, but as a child, I never felt good enough to be a real Sámi among other Sámi people. Later, as a teenager, I experienced racially motivated violence because I looked like a Sámi.”

The director says that after graduating from The Norwegian Film School, he didn’t believe he would be accepted as a Sámi filmmaker, but that eventually, the International Sámi Film Institute embraced him as part of their community. “During the 2010s, I slowly transformed with doubt and hesitation into a Sámi filmmaker.”

“My Fathers’ Daughter” will debut on Sept. 8 in the Discovery section at this year’s Toronto Film Festival.