Arnait Video Productions facts for kids

Arnait Video Productions (which means Women's Video Workshop of Igloolik) is a group of women filmmakers. Their main goal is to share the important voices of Inuit women with everyone in Canada. Arnait is also connected to Isuma Productions.

The Story of Arnait Video Productions

Arnait was started in 1991 by Marie-Hélène Cousineau, Madeline Ivalu, Susan Avingaq, Mary Kunuk Iyyiraq, and Atuat Akkitirq. At first, it was called Arnait Ikajurtigiit, which in Inuktitut means "Women helping each other." The group wanted to record and share the experiences of women and their communities in Nunavut.

Susan Avingaq, one of the founders, explained what Arnait is all about. She said that a women's video workshop can help people talk to each other. It can help them understand things better. Long ago, people used to imagine stories and legends just by hearing words. She believes their stories are very helpful and easy to remember.

Films and Projects by Arnait

Just like Isuma, Arnait creates many different types of videos and films. They make interviews, short videos about traditional activities, TV shows, longer documentaries, and story-based movies.

First Feature Film: Before Tomorrow

Their first full-length story film was called Before Tomorrow (Le Jour avant le lendemain). It was based on a book by a Danish writer named Jørn Riel. The film first showed in Igloolik in 2008. The people from the community who helped make the film were there to see it.

Before Tomorrow was nominated for many important awards in Canada. It received nine nominations for the Genie Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. It also won four Jutra Awards, like Best Picture and Best Director.

Other Important Films

Their film Uvanga first showed at the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma in September 2013. After that, it traveled to film festivals around the world, including the Berlinale. It was shown in movie theaters across Canada in the summer of 2014.

In 2014, Arnait began making a documentary called Sol. This film was inspired by the sad passing of a 26-year-old musician named Solomon Uyarasuk. The film later won a big award for Best Canadian Feature at the RIDM Montreal International Documentary Festival. It was also chosen as one of Canada's Top Ten feature films of 2014 by a group of filmmakers.

Short Films and Documentaries

Arnait has also made several shorter films, including:

• *Ningiura* (Grandmother)
• *Qulliq*
• *Attagutaaluk Starvation*
• *Piujuq*
• *Angutautaq*

Full-Length Films

Here are some of the full-length films Arnait has produced:

• Anaana (Mother)
• Unakuluk (Dear Little One)
• Before Tomorrow (Le Jour avant le lendemain), 2008
• Uvanga, 2013
• Sol, 2014
• Tia and Piujuq, 2018
• Restless River, 2019