
Inuk Jørgensen
7m | Greenland | 2020 | English, Kalaallisut
A cinematic portrait of despair and anxiety towards an unknown future for the Inuit of the world's largest island. The film questions the rationale behind past and future mining prospects in Greenland and how they are linked to the search for identity of the fledgling nation in a post-colonial world.

Nivi Pedersen
17m | Greenland | 2020 | Greenlandic, w/ Eng. Subs
-Content Warning: Scenes of violence, and adult themes-
Anna's son, Miilu, is discussing with his fiancé if Anna should attend their wedding or not. Anna suffers from hallucinatory dementia but is already a user at e-Na, a helping equipment for people with dementia and their relatives. An update will enable them to help her better when frightening hallucinations occur and will make it possible to have her at their wedding. So why shouldn't Miilu update Anna's e-Na equipment?

Marc Fussing Rosbach
5m | Greenland | 2020 | No Dialogue
Naja (Little sister) is a fantasy short film that tells a young girls death and her journey through shock and grief. After an traumatic experience Naja ran away from home as she runs away from the reality that she couldn’t accept. As she ran her ancestors follow her, through the northern lights. She meets two small spirits that wanted to help her move on to the other world (silap aappaa). She couldn’t move on until she accepts her death.

Aibillie Idlout and Michael Napatuq
5m | Canada | 2019 | English
In this documentary short, two young Inuit circus performers from the community of Inukjuak, and members of Tupiq A.C.T., team up to showcase Inuit culture from the Hudson Coast.

Mina Rita Niviaxie
5m | Canada | 2019 | English
In this documentary from Inukjuak, and Inspired by Chef Paradis, “Cuisine du Nord” shows people in the North connecting through food.

Deseray Cumberbatch
3m | Canada | 2019 | No dialogue
In this short documentary from the community of Inukjuak, the filmmaker demonstrates her athleticism, Inuit culture, and profound resilience through Arctic Games. Through this sport, Deseray conquers her doubts, and reaches for greater heights.

Marja Bål Nango and Ingir Bål Nango
16m | Norway | 2020 | Sámi/Norwegian w/ Eng. Subs.
-Content Warning: Course language and adult themes-
An alcoholic Sámi lady is alone in her cabin on the countryside during the covid-19 pandemic. She discovers that someone has drawn on her cabinwall and she calls people to find out who did it. The pandemic has gotten on her nerves and as she begins drinking her mental state starts to unravel...

Nivi Pedersen
1h 10m | Greenland | 2020 | Greenlandic w/ Eng. Subs
-Content Warning: Topics of abuse and mature subjects-
Pilluarneq Ersigiunnaarpara is a documentary about two people who have both been exposed to sexual abuse during their childhood. Gukki Nuka (53) is an artist and is now going back to his hometown Uummannaq where the abuse of him took place. Kornelia (24) is struggling anxiety today but has broken the vicious circle and is fighting to get a life with the freedom she herself wanted as a child. Freedom to dream and freedom to fight for a secure life. A freedom that both Gukki Nuka and Kornelia have dreamt of.

Marc Fussing Rosbach
1h 32m | Greenland | 2019 | English Subtitles
Greenlands first fantasy feature film is an adventure story inspired by Inuit culture and mythology.
It follows the main character Nukappi on his journey as he discovers his Inuit culture and the stories of his ancestors. Nukappi discovers that he is an Angakkoq (Shaman) like his grandfather before him.
Darkness is coming and Nukappi must save his hometown of Ilulissat.

Lyubov Borisova
1h 48m | Sakha Republic, Russia | 2019 | Yakut w/Eng. subtitles
Altan gets a job on a desolate island. Unsure and alone, Altan discovers he has a neighbour – elderly Baibal with a special request. Baibal is ready for death and asks the boy to bury him near his wife's grave when he dies. Afraid, everyday Altan does everything to make the old man look forward to living another beautiful day.

Dmitry Davydov
1h 55m | Sakha Republic, Russia | 2019 | Yakut & Russian w/ Eng. subtitles
A subtle and intimate portrait of a mother-son relationship. This film tells a heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking, and very recognizable story about family, illness, life and death. 40-year-old Ruslan lives with his mother Maria in a small village in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Everyday life becomes more and more challenging as his mother's Alzheimer's becomes more prominent, and they are eventually forced to move to the city. Through everyday events, the film explores universal emotions, tensions, and relationships.

Zacharias Kunuk
2h 41m | Canada | 2001 | Inuktitut, w/ Eng. subtitles
- 20th Anniversary Screening -
- Rated R for some sexuality/nudity and violence -
Voted Number One, All-Time Top Ten Canadian film in a poll conducted by the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015. An exciting action thriller set in ancient Igloolik, the film unfolds as a life-threatening struggle of love, jealousy, murder and revenge between powerful natural and supernatural characters.
Atanarjuat is Canada's first feature-length fiction film written, produced, directed, and acted by Inuit. "It demystifies the exotic, otherwordly aboriginal stereotype by telling a universal story" (Zach Kunuk).

*UPDATE - This event will now take place online only.
Films will be available online through the purchase of an All Access or Industry Pass. Musical performances and other programming will be live-streamed on the Festival’s social media and/or released on the Festival's online platform.
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The word Unikkaatuarniq is an Inuktitut word that means "Storytelling". Storytelling is an ancient form of magic, with the power to connect the past with the present, teach lessons, impart values, heal, to explain the world and connect us to the universe through language and mythology. The stories, films, and music in this program, come from Indigenous peoples from the circumpolar north — such as the the Inuit of Canada and Greenland, the Sami of northern Scandinavia, and the Sakha of Russia — peoples that have thrived in the Arctic regions of the world for thousands of years, enduring the changing seasons of dark and light, of colonialism, and of climate change. Although these cultures live thousands of kilometres away from each other, they share a common history of resilience in their language, culture and magic through storytelling.
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This event is being held in partnership with Winterlude, and the City of Ottawa. A big thank you to our funders, the Canada Council for the Arts and Heritage Canada. We would like to acknowledge that this event is taking place on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Nation.
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Le Festival Asinabka présente: Unikkaatuarniq
6 E CINÉ-NEIGE ANNUEL
Le vendredi 4, le samedi 5 et le dimanche 6 février 2022 | EN LIGNE Regardez des films autochtones issus de cultures nordiques
*À NOTER – Cet évènement aura lieu uniquement en ligne. L’achat d’un passeport général ou d’un passeport industrie donne accès aux films en ligne. Les spectacles musicaux et autres présentations seront diffusés en direct sur les réseaux sociaux du Festival ou sur la plateforme en ligne du Festival.
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Le mot inuktitut Unikkaatuarniq signifie « raconter ». Le conte est une forme ancienne de magie qui a le pouvoir de relier le passé au présent, d’enseigner, de transmettre des valeurs, de guérir, d’expliquer le monde et de nous mettre en relation avec l’univers grâce à la langue et à la mythologie. Les contes, les films et la musique présentés dans le cadre de cet évènement nous viennent des Autochtones du Nord circumpolaire — Inuits du Canada et du Groenland, Samis du nord de la Scandinavie, Sakhas de Russie par exemple — dont les populations se sont perpétuées dans les régions arctiques pendant des milliers d’années, malgré le passage saisonnier de l’obscurité à la lumière, du colonialisme et des changements climatiques. Ces cultures vivent à des milliers de kilomètres les unes des autres, mais elles partagent la même résilience, qui se manifeste par leur langue, leur culture et la magie du conte.
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Cet évènement a lieu en partenariat avec le Bal de Neige et la Ville d’Ottawa. Nous tenons à remercier le Conseil des arts du Canada et Patrimoine canadien pour leurs subventions. Nous reconnaissons que cet événement se tient sur le territoire non cédé de la Nation Algonquine.
Experience live music by Indigenous artists projected onto a screen made of snow — from the comfort of your own home, and live-streamed from the parking lot at Gallery 101. Enjoy Indigenous films from the circumpolar North, from the comfort of your own home, available through the Festival website for a 48 hour period of time only.
The word Unikkaatuarniq is an Inuktitut word that means "Storytelling". Storytelling is an ancient form of magic, with the power to connect the past with the present, teach lessons, impart values, heal, to explain the world and connect us to the universe through language and mythology. The stories, films, and music in this program, come from the Inuit people of Canada and Greenland, the Sami people of northern Scandinavia, and the Sakha people of Russia, Indigenous people who have thrived in the Arctic regions of the world for thousands of years, enduring the changing seasons of dark and light, of colonialism, and climate change. Although these cultures live thousands of kilometres away from each other, they share a common history of resilience in their language, culture and magic through storytelling.
* The live-streams are free and will take place on Facebook Live. The Films will be available on our website through the purchase of a ticket.
This event takes place online only, from the unceded territory of the Algonquin Nation. Chi-miigwech to our funders, the Canada Council for the Arts, and Heritage Canada.
Special Thanks to our partner Gallery 101 for hosting our Snow-Screen, G101 is a non-profit artist-run centre with charitable status dedicated to the professional presentation and circulation of visual and media arts. Each year, they present a stimulating array of solo and group exhibitions of Canadian and international artists.


Geronimo Inutiq was born in what was Frobisher Bay, NWT (now known as Iqaluit, Nunavut), and now based in Montreal, he is known for being an electronic music and multimedia artist, as well as a DJ. He is orignator and innovator of the 'inukstep' style, and formerly known as 'madeskimo' - deftly combining experimental and dance music with flourishes of inuit and indigenous cultural representation. He also does video work which are sometimes presented with his music in performances and art exhibits.
This livestream is FREE and available on the Asinabka Festival's Facebook Page. Join us online to watch the show!

Silla and Rise are an Ottawa, Canada based Trio blending Inuit throat-singing and futuristic dancefloor beats. Their name comes from the Inuktitut word 'Sila' meaning weather. Sila is what surrounds us; it is what connects us to our land, to the moon, sun and stars, the ocean and the air we breathe. In respecting and honouring the need to preserve Inuit culture and paying homage to our land and the strong connection to its spirituality, they experience and perform the sounds of traditional and contemporary throat songs. Rise is Ottawa’s Rise Ashen, a Juno Award nominated global-grooves producer, DJ and dancer who has spent his life pursuing the intersection of traditional and futuristic music.
This livestream is FREE and available on the Asinabka Festival's Facebook Page. Join us online to watch the show!

Fri./Sat., Feb. 3 & 4, 2023, 6-9pm
Lansdowne Park (Outside the Horticulture building & Aberdeen Pavilion )
1000 Exhibition Way, Ottawa, ON K1S 5J3
Sun., Feb. 5, 2023, 6-9pm
Beandigen Cafe (Indoors)
106-900 Exhibition Way, Ottawa, ON K1S 5J3

+ 5 short films shown outdoors (66 Minutes)
+ Post-screening DJ & VJ performances
+ Ice Bar with hot drinks & snacks
(Alcoholic & non-alcoholic available)
+ Fire pits onsite to stay warm!
+ Free / Everyone welcome / GG & PG rated films
* This event takes place outdoors, so please remember to dress appropriately for the weather!
* Note about Film Content. Films shown Outdoors are rated GG or PG, some scenes may be scary for young children under the age of 13. The short film on Sunday is rated AA for subject matter, while the Feature Film is PG.
The word Unikkaatuarniq is an Inuktitut word that means "Storytelling". Storytelling is an ancient form of magic, with the power to connect the past with the present, teach lessons, impart values, heal, to explain the world and connect us to the universe through language and mythology. The stories, films, and music in this program, come from Indigenous peoples from the circumpolar north — such as the the Inuit of Canada and Greenland, or the Sami of northern Scandinavia — peoples that have thrived in the Arctic regions of the world for thousands of years, enduring the changing seasons of dark and light, of colonialism, and of climate change. Although these cultures live thousands of kilometres away from each other, they share a common history of resilience in their language, culture and magic through storytelling.
This event takes place on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Nation, and is being held in partnership with Winterlude, Beandigen Cafe, DARC, Gallery 101, the NFB, Lansdowne Park, and the City of Ottawa. A big thank you to our funder, the Canada Council for the Arts.

Aviaq Johnston (Inuit) | Canada | 2020 | 10 mins
A teenage girl walks home in a burgeoning blizzard, happy to have an unexpected snow day. Ignoring an Elder's warning about the terror the blizzard holds, she finds herself alone in her home with an unseen presence stalking and tormenting her.

Zacharias Kunuk (Inuit) | Canada | 2022 | 20 mins
A young shaman must face her first test—a trip underground to visit Kannaaluk, The One Below, who holds the answers to why a community member has become ill. Facing dark spirits and physical challenges, she must trust her mentor and grandmother's teachings and learn to control her fear.

Marc Fussing Rosbach (Inuit) | Greenland | 2022 | 18 mins
IMAJUIK is a sci-fi horror short film, commissioned by International Sami Film Institute. In this short sci-fi horror Imajuik is the only person left in the Nuuk. it's 2060 and the once busy capital has been deserted due to a uranium mine explosion nearby. Suddenly Imajuik's device detects one life form - but is that a good thing?

Ann Holmgren (Sami) | Norway | 2021 | 5 mins
A Sámi underground world where you can get inspiration and power. In this world Háldi is all living being’s guardian helper. The film focuses on the unity and power of female relations in Sami tradition and mythology.

Jennie Williams (Inuit) | Canada | 2021 | 13 mins
An up close look at an exhilarating, and sometimes terrifying, Labrador Inuit tradition. Every January 6th from the dark of the Nunatsiavut night, the Nalujuit appear on the sea ice. They walk on two legs, yet their faces are animalistic, skeletal, and otherworldly. Snow crunches underfoot as they approach their destination: the Inuit community of Nain.

Sunna Nousuniemi (Sami) | Finland | 24 minutes | 2021 | Finnish, Sami, English
A film about the survival struggle of the director, the protagonist of the film Sunna, after being the victim of sexual violence. The film follows Sunna's journey towards the moment when she can finally try to continue her life. The recovery is also supported by a crafting project, which has roots in the Sámi culture, closely connected to the collective effort of the Sámi people to restore their spiritual heritage.

Ever Deadly weaves concert footage with stunning sequences filmed on location in Nunavut, seamlessly bridging landscapes, stories and songs with pain, anger and triumph —all through the expressions of Tanya Tagaq, one of the most innovative musical performers of our time.
Beandigen Cafe
Sunday Feb. 5th from 6-9pm
106-900 Exhibition Way,
Ottawa, ON K1S 5J3
Snowscreen Poster (2023) (pdf)
Download