Student nominated for Emmy
Ole-Gabriel Buljo is a daily student at Music Production at Vefsn Folkehøgskole Toppen. Today he travels to New York to be present during International Emmy Awards 2025. He plays a role NRK series “Oro Jaska — Keep Shut Up”. The series has been nominated in Live-Action category for children and young people, and has the international title Shut UP.
You have to be a little excited when you're involved in something so big. Ole-Gabriel is usually a feisty type, but now we can see it bubbling over a bit.
How did you get this role?
I've done a few small roles before. I have dubbed some films/series for Northern Sami, such as Frozen 2 and Chihiro and the Witches.
And then I was on the NRK series Power, where I play one of the hunger strikers from the Alta action.
The the film community is small up north, so it's easier to get noticed. I've heard in the aftermath that I got the part because I suited it best.
I play the role called Lemet. I would describe the character as “unguided youth”. More I won't say.
What can you tell about “Oro Jaska — Shut Up”
The series premiered on 14 November 2024 on NRK TV (produced by Alfredfilm), and has received very good response. If you haven't seen it yet, now is the time to do it!
The series is was recorded from February - April 2024 in Karasjok (which is central to the series). It takes up heavy and important topics such as abuse, culture of silence in Sami society, and queer love among youth.
Screenwriter/creators are Silje Bürgin-Borch and Vegard Bjørsmo. Silje and Vegard are absolutely amazing and have worked hard to create this series. Their script brought up things that really should have been on TV a long time ago, so it means a lot that this series was actually made.
Why do you think the series was nominated for Emmy Awards?
Because it brings up important and heavy topics which are often taboo, especially in the Sami context: abuse, silence, queer love.
It represents a young Sami voice and a narrative not always visible in mainstream television.
The quality in production is high — both screenplay, direction and acting have received acclaim.
Then it has international appeal and relevance: the themes are universal (trauma, being young, identity), but also specific to Sápmi, giving both depth and uniqueness.
How does it feel to be nominated?
It is quite huge with an Emmy nomination! For me it's even surreal, but I can't fathom how Vegard and Silje feel! Oh my god, yes no it is enormous!
What to wear on the red carpet?
I'm going to use Kautokeino-kofte. It feels natural to bring something so personal and important with you when you first get to go on a red carpet. Kofte are more than clothes, and for me it's a way of showing where I come from and who I'm doing this for.
We at Toppen wish Ole-Gabriel and the team a nice stay and good luck with the nomination! This is real cool!
You can watch the series here: “Oro Jaska — Shut Up”
