Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's Apprentice

Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's Apprentice is a Canadian animated short film, directed by Zacharias Kunuk and released in 2021.[1]

Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's Apprentice
Directed byZacharias Kunuk
Written byZacharias Kunuk
Jonathan Frantz
Produced byNeil Christopher
Jonathan Frantz
Zacharias Kunuk
Nadia Mike
StarringMadeline Ivalu
Jacky Qrunnut
Lucy Tulugarjuk
CinematographyEvan Derushie
Edited byEvan Derushie
Daniel Dietzel
Maia Iotzova
Music byBeatrice Deer
Sylvia Ipirautaq Cloutier
Production
companies
Kingulliit Productions
Taqqut Productions
Distributed byIsuma
Release date
  • June 14, 2021 (2021-06-14) (Annecy)
Running time
20 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguagesEnglish
Inuktitut

Summary

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A story about the traditional Inuit role of the shaman, the film centres on a grandmother (Madeline Ivalu) and granddaughter (Lucy Tulugarjuk) who travel to the underworld in an effort to heal an ill young hunter (Jacky Qrunnut).[2]

Release

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The film was released alongside a children's picture book of the story, written by Kunuk and illustrated by Megan Kyak-Monteith.[3] The book was published in both English and Inuktitut; the latter edition won the 2021 Indigenous Voices Award for work published in an indigenous language.[4]

The film premiered at the 2021 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where it won the FIPRESCI Award.[2] It had its Canadian premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the award for Best Canadian Short Film.[5]

Reception

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The film was named to TIFF's annual year-end Canada's Top Ten list for 2021.[6] It was subsequently named to the initial shortlist for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for the 94th Academy Awards,[7] and won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Animated Short at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards in 2022.[8]

It also won Best Independent Short Film at the Festival Stop Montreal.[9]

References

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