“My Fathers’ Daughter,” poised to be the first Sámi-language feature to have its world premiere at Toronto, has unveiled a sneak peek featuring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , known for his role in “Game of Thrones.” He will make a cameo appearance as himself in this 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 first feature film, he’s a skilled director who has directed 18 music videos, 15 short films and numerous commissioned films and advertisements. His most recent short, a satirical comedy titled “Koftepolitiet” (“Indigenous Police”), was a success 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 handles international sales.

The film also received funding from Neo, The Norwegian Film Institute's program that supports debut films for talented directors. “Without Neo, the film would not have been made,” Pedersen explains. “After many years of rejections from The Norwegian Film Institute, we were accepted by Neo. Also crucial was the Publikum audience insight program which utilizes artificial intelligence, analyzed by humans, and in conjunction with interviews with potential viewers. All of this aims to expand the potential of the story. For me, I became bolder in how I used political and other references from the real world.”

Narratively, “My Fathers’ Daughter” provided Pedersen with an avenue to explore themes that profoundly impacted his life. “I always knew my Sámi heritage, but growing up, I didn’t feel confident enough to fully embrace it among other Sámi people. As a teenager, I faced racially motivated violence because of my Sámi appearance.”

The director shares that after graduating from The Norwegian Film School, he initially doubted his acceptance as a Sámi filmmaker. However, he eventually found a welcoming community at the International Sámi Film Institute. “During the 2010s, I gradually embraced my identity as a Sámi filmmaker, overcoming my initial uncertainty and hesitations.”

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