Original Language: Inuktitut
Tautuktavuk (What We See)
Blurring the line between narrative and non-fiction, Uyarak and her eldest sister Saqpinak, embark on a difficult healing journey after a traumatic event that reminds them of the importance of community, culture, and family. Tautuktavuk (What We See) explores issues of trauma, resilience, and domestic violence from the perspective of two Inuit women.
Directors
Lucy Tulugarjuk (Inuk)
Tulugarjuk is an actor, throat singer, writer and director who has starred in Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, L’iceberg, The Journals of Knud Rasmussen and Maïna, among other films. Tia and Piujuq was her directorial debut. She wrote, directed and starred in What We See, which won the Amplify Voices Award at TIFF 2023.
Writers
Lucy Tulugarjuk (Inuk), Gillian Robinson, Samuel Cohn-Cousineau, Norman Cohn
Cast
Carol Kunnuk (Inuk), Lucy Tulugarjuk (Inuk)
Producers
Jonathan Frantz, Lucy Tulugarjuk (Inuk)
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
Inuktitut
Arctic Song
Directors
Germaine Arnattaujuq, Louise Flaherty (Inuk), Neil Christopher
Genre
Animation
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
Inuktitut
Maliglutit (Searchers)
Like Ford’s film, Kunuk's Maliglutit (Searchers) explores the repercussions of violence, asking whether these hunters have begun to act like those who have torn apart their family. Very unlike Ford, Kunuk questions not only the colonial ideology inherent to the western genre, but also the possibility of justice in a seemingly unjust world. With a tale as timeless as the landscape in which it is set, Canada’s foremost Inuk filmmaker has provided us with another classic.
Directors
Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk)
In 2015, Atanarjuat was selected as TIFF’s number one Canadian film of all time. Kunuk has directed shorts such as Exile and Home and features such as Maliglutit, which was nominated for two CSAs. He recently directed the series Hunting With My Ancestors and executive produced SGaawaay K'uuna (Edge of the Knife). His latest feature, One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk, premiered at TIFF 2019. Most recently, he directed the short The Shaman’s Apprentice, which won the CSA for Best Animated Short among other awards at festivals worldwide.
Writers
Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk), Norman Cohn
Cast
Benjamin Kunuk (Inuk), Karen Ivalu (Inuk), Jonah Qunaq
Producers
Cara Di Staulo, Jonathan Frantz, Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk)
Genres
Action/Adventure, Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
Inuktitut
One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk
It is 1961 in Kapuivik, north Baffin Island, and Noah Piugattuk’s nomadic Inuit band live and hunt by dog team as his ancestors did when he was born in 1900. When the white man known as Boss arrives at Piugattuk’s hunting camp, what appears as a chance meeting soon opens up the prospect of momentous change.
Boss is an agent of the government, assigned to get Piugattuk to move his band to permanent housing, assimilate his children into settler society and give up their traditional way of life.
Told through the extended showdown between Inuit camp leader Noah Piugattuk (Kotierk) and a government emissary (Bodnia) (as well as the translator who must help them communicate), One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk is a deeply absorbing account of a little-known and important piece of Inuit and Canadian history.
“One Day In The Life Of Noah Piugattuk illustrates Inuit-colonial relationships brilliantly.” - Kelly Boutsalis, NOW Magazine
Director
Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk)
In 2015, Atanarjuat was selected as TIFF’s number one Canadian film of all time. Kunuk has directed shorts such as Exile and Home and features such as Maliglutit, which was nominated for two CSAs. He recently directed the series Hunting With My Ancestors and executive produced SGaawaay K'uuna (Edge of the Knife). His latest feature, One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk, premiered at TIFF 2019. Most recently, he directed the short The Shaman’s Apprentice, which won the CSA for Best Animated Short among other awards at festivals worldwide.
Writers
Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk), Norman Cohn
Cast
Apayata Kotierk (Inuk), Kim Bodnia, Benjamin Kunuk (Inuk), Tessa Kunuk, Mark Taqqaugaq
Producers
Jonathan Frantz, Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk)
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
Inuktitut
Venturing north into enemy territory, Maïna is herself captured by Natak, the Inuit clan’s leader, and must navigate the perilous journey with him, to the “Land of Ice.”
Based on the novel by award-winning author Dominique Demers, this gripping and visually stunning film was nominated for six Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Picture.
Director
Michel Poulette
Montreal writer/director Poulette’s film Louis 19, le roi des ondes earned the Canadian Screen Award for Best First Feature as well as the Golden Reel Award. His feature Maïna was nominated for six Canadian Screen Awards and three Jutras. He directed Agent of Influence starring Oscar winner Christopher Plummer, several recent TV movies and the series Real Detective.
Writer
Pierre Billon
Cast
Uapeshkuss Thernish, Tantoo Cardinal (Cree/Métis), Graham Greene (Oneida), Roseanne Supernault (Cree/Métis)
Producers
Yves Fortin, Karine Martin
Genres
Action/Adventure, Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Literary Adaptation
Original Languages
English, Inuktitut
Anirniq (Breath)
Director
RJ Sauer
Writer
RJ Sauer
Producers
RJ Sauer, Amy Jones
Genre
Drama
Interests
Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
Inuktitut
Throat Singing in Kangirsuk
A mesmerizing duet between two Inuit throat singers forms the soundtrack for this journey through the four seasons of the Arctic.
Directors
Manon Chamberland (Inuk), Eva Kaukai (Inuk)
Genre
Experimental
Interests
Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
Inuktitut
Qaggiq (Gathering Place)
Director
Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk)
In 2015, Atanarjuat was selected as TIFF’s number one Canadian film of all time. Kunuk has directed shorts such as Exile and Home and features such as Maliglutit, which was nominated for two CSAs. He recently directed the series Hunting With My Ancestors and executive produced SGaawaay K'uuna (Edge of the Knife). His latest feature, One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk, premiered at TIFF 2019. Most recently, he directed the short The Shaman’s Apprentice, which won the CSA for Best Animated Short among other awards at festivals worldwide.
Cast
Eugene Ikkarnak (Inuk), Pauloosie Qulitalik (Inuk)
Producer
Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk)
Genre
Drama
Interests
Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, Environment, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
Inuktitut
Origin of the Dream Catcher
Director
Donavan Vollant (Innu)
Genres
Animation, Drama
Interests
Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, History, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
Inuktitut
Amaqqut Nunaat: The Country of Wolves
Director
Neil Christopher
Writer
Neil Christopher
Producers
Neil Christopher, Louise Flaherty (Inuk)
Genres
Animation, Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
Inuktitut