The third feature film produced by Igloolik Isuma Productions, titled “Before Tomorrow,” will be shown this evening in Peterborough, Ontario, as part of an Inuit cultural festival at Trent University. The first feature film by the company, “Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner,” won considerable critical acclaim in 2000.
Filmed between July 2006 and January 2007 and premiered in Igloolik over the weekend of February 23, 2008, “Before Tomorrow” is the story of a woman trying to survive with her grandson out on the land. On September 7, it was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival. The Arnait Video Productions collective, also located in Igloolik, adapted the script from a Danish novel and co-produced the film.
The collective focuses on gathering Inuit women’s stories in order to produce authentic films. The group defines its mission on its website: “The women of Arnait have found that building connections to our traditions and, thereby, with the lives of our ancestors, gives shape and vitality to the lives we are leading and to the whole of the world we are sharing. Our inspiration is rooted in the past and blossoms in the present—to shine as an example for those around us.”
“Before Tomorrow” will be shown this evening at 8:00 p.m. in Nozhem: First Peoples Performance Space, which is located in the Peter Gzowski College, the Enweying Building, 2501 Pioneer Rd., Peterborough, and it is open to the public. It is part of an eight-day program of activities titled “Sisters and Grandmothers: A Festival of Inuit Stories,” which is being hosted by the Indigenous Studies Department of Trent University.
Several other activities over the past week have also been open to the public, including a talk by artist Tanya Likin Linklater on Thursday October 2. This week on Tuesday and Wednesday that same artist performed a dance theatre piece, “ika lluk,” which included a reception and lessons in throat singing.
Members of the Arnait Video Productions collective are visiting Trent through tomorrow and leading workshops each day that focus on storytelling, the environment and language.