Tautuktavuk (What We See), co-directed by Lucy Tulugarjuk (Tia and Piujuq, One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk, Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner) and Carol Kunnuk (Welcome to my Qammaq, Being Prepared, Attagatuluk), has won the Amplify Voices BIPOC & Canadian First Feature Award presented by Canada Goose at the Toronto international Film Festival.
***Tautuktavuk (What We See) will also be screening at the Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF) and due to the hurricane, the screening has been rescheduled for 6:15 PM on Wednesday, Sept. 20 in Cinema Park Lane Theatre 2.
After experiencing a traumatic event, Uyarak leaves her community and family in Nunavut to live in Montreal. When COVID lockdowns close off the Canadian Arctic from the rest of the world, Uyarak is further separated from her closest confidant, eldest sister, Saqpinak. Uyarak doesn’t remember much about one terrible night of domestic violence, but Saqpinak does. Through zoom calls, Uyarak talks about healing from years of trauma and abuse, and how counselling and cultural reconnections are helping. It is revealed that Saqpinak is also experiencing domestic abuse at home. When Covid restrictions ease, Uyarak finally travels home to Igloolik where she embarks on a deeper healing journey visiting with family and elders, in town and out on the land. In a series of vignettes of heartache, healing and overcoming, Tautuktavuk (What We See) blurs the lines of both the fictional lives of the sisters and the non-fiction lives of film’s creators who play the sisters, Lucy Tulugarjuk and Carol Kunnuk, respectively.
Tautuktavuk (What We See) stars Lucy Tulugarjuk, Carol Kunnuk, Benjamin Kunuk (One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk, Searchers), and Madeline Ivalu (Angakusajaujuq – The Shaman’s Apprentice, The Grizzlies, Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner) and is based on a script by Lucy Tulugarjuk, Carol Kunnuk, Samuel Cohn-Cousineau (Tia and Piujuq), Gillian Robinson (The Journals of Knud Rasmussen), and Norman Cohn (One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk, Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner).
It is produced by Lucy Tulugarjuk and Jonathan Frantz (Angakusajaujuq – The Shaman’s Apprentice, Edge of the Knife, One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk) and is executive produced by Zacharias Kunuk (Angakusajaujuq – The Shaman’s Apprentice, One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk, Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner), Mandeline Ivalu, Susan Avingaq (SOL, Tia and Piujuq) and Norman Cohn.
“Qujannamik. Thank you to everyone who selected our film. Thank you for this space and support!” said co-star/co-writer/co-director Lucy Tulugarjuk.
“I am very happy and surprised we have won this award!! I am so proud of Lucy and our team of Kingulliit productions Inc. and also very honoured to have had Tautuktavuk at TIFF23. It was challenging to make the story into a film, showing audiences what we are experiencing in the north and what it’s like being away from family while living in the south away from home. But there is always a connection between close family, thanks to technology. I have seen this culture change in front of my eyes since the day I started working for films since 1996. I would like to thank Zacharias Kunuk and Norman Cohn. This was a new experience for me to work a production happening in two places: Igloolik and Montreal. I am proud of my son, Mark J. Malliki, who was able to film with me during the cold seasons. Hope this film is a good inspiration to our youth and aboriginal people. As I was told long ago when I started working in film in Igloolik: the eye is the camera, and it is a tool to tell stories. And thank you, Lucy Tulugarjuk, for making this film with me,” added co-star/co-writer/co-director Carol Kunnuk.
Tautuktavuk was shot during COVID in Montreal, QC and Igloolik, NU. It will release theatrically in the winter/spring 2024 with community touring: Spring 2024. Tautuktavuk is being distributed in Canada by Isuma Distribution International and Uvagut TV is the Canadian broadcaster (non-exclusive). All rights availabilities outside of Canada are being handled by Isuma Distribution International.
Cinematography by Jonathan Frantz, production design by Susan Avingaq, costume design by Susan Avingaq and Deporah-Susie Qaunaq and editing by Jeremiah Hayes (Dear Audrey, Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World, Reel Injun).
Tautuktavuk was produced with the participation of Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada, and with the assistance of the Government of Nunavut and the Nunavut Film Development Corporation.
