Zacharias Kunuk facts for kids

Zacharias Kunuk OC (Inuktitut: ᓴᖅᑲᓕᐊᓯ ᑯᓄᒃ, born November 27, 1957) is a famous Canadian filmmaker from the Inuit people. He is known for directing and producing movies. His most famous film is Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner. This movie was special because it was the first Canadian movie made completely in the Inuktitut language, spoken by the Inuit, and all the actors were Indigenous people from Canada.

Zacharias Kunuk is the president and a co-founder of Igloolik Isuma Productions. This company was Canada's first independent Inuit production company. He started it with Paul Qulitalik, Paul Apak Angilirq, and Norman Cohn. In 2015, Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2001) was named the greatest Canadian film of all time by the Toronto International Film Festival.

Early Life and Education

Zacharias Kunuk was born in Kapuiviit on Baffin Island in Canada. In 1966, he went to school in Igloolik. To earn money for movie tickets, he carved and sold sculptures made from soapstone.

As he got better at carving, he saved enough money to buy cameras. He used these cameras to take pictures of Inuit hunting scenes. In 1981, he learned about video cameras and bought one. He taught himself how to make his own movies using this equipment.

Filmmaking Career

Zacharias Kunuk has created many important films. His second film, The Journals of Knud Rasmussen, was made with Norman Cohn. It was shown for the first time on September 7, 2006, at the Toronto International Film Festival.

In 2002, Kunuk was given a special honor and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. This award recognizes people who have made a big difference in Canada.

Climate Change Project

Kunuk also helped start the Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change Project. He worked on this with Ian Mauro from the University of Victoria. The project's goal is to gather information from Inuit elders. This information is used to make films about how climate change affects Inuit culture and their environment.

For example, the project sent a video to the United Nations for a big meeting about climate change in 2009. This video was shown at the National Gallery of Denmark.

Future Projects

In 2011, Kunuk began working on a project with Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond. This film is about a conflict that happened almost a century ago between the Cree and Inuit people in the 18th century.

In July 2017, Zacharias Kunuk was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This is the group that gives out the Oscar awards. In March 2019, he was also made a member of the Order of Nunavut.

Films and TV Shows

Here are some of the feature films and television projects Zacharias Kunuk has worked on:

• Nunavut: Our Land – 1995, director and writer for a TV series
• Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner – 2001, director, producer, writer, and editor
• Kunuk Family Reunion – 2004, director and producer of a TV documentary
• The Journals of Knud Rasmussen – 2006, director, producer, and art director
• Before Tomorrow (Le Jour avant le lendemain) – 2008, executive producer
• Tungijuq – 2009, executive producer of a short film
• Home – 2011, director and writer of a short film
• Sirmilik – 2011, director of a documentary
• Searchers (Maliglutit) – 2016
• Edge of the Knife – 2018, executive producer
• Kivitoo: What They Thought of Us – 2018
• One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk – 2019
• Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's Apprentice – 2021
• Wrong Husband (Uiksaringitara) – 2025

Awards and Recognition

Zacharias Kunuk's films have won many awards:

• 2001: Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner won the Golden Camera at the Cannes Film Festival.
• 2001: Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner also won the New Directors Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
• 2001: It won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Ghent International Film Festival.
• 2001: It won the Luminaria-Best Feature at the Santa Fe Film Festival.
• 2001: It was named Best Canadian Feature Film at the Toronto International Film Festival.
• 2002: Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner won several Genie Awards, including Best Achievement in Direction and Best Motion Picture.
• 2002: It won the Audience Award for Best Feature at the Newport International Film Festival.
• 2002: It won the Festival Award for Best Feature Film at the San Diego International Film Festival.
• 2002: It won the TFCA Award for Best First Feature from the Toronto Film Critics Association.
• 2019: One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk won the Best Canadian Film Award at the Vancouver International Film Festival.
• 2021: Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's Apprentice won the Toronto International Film Festival Award for Best Canadian Short Film.

Books

• Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's Apprentice (2021)

See also

• Indigenous Canadian personalities