Nalujuk Unnunga (Inuktitut Subtitled Version)

202113 min 3 secFilm: Documentary

Direction: Jennie Williams

Production: Latonia Hartery (LJH Films)Kat Baulu (Office national du film du Canada)Rohan Fernando (Office national du film du Canada)Annette Clarke (Office national du film du Canada)

Script: Jennie Williams

A National Film Board of Canada production.

Nalujuk Night is an up-close look at an exhilarating, and sometimes terrifying, Labrador Inuit tradition. Every January 6, 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.

Despite the frights, Nalujuk Night is a beloved custom, showing that sometimes it can be fun to be scared. Rarely witnessed outside of Nunatsiavut, this annual event is an exciting chance for Inuit, young and old, to prove their courage and come together as a community to celebrate culture and tradition.

Inuk filmmaker Jennie Williams plunges audiences directly into the action in this bone-chilling black-and-white short documentary about a winter night like no other.

Availability


Subject categories


  • Indigenous Peoples in Canada (Inuit) > CultureHistoryLabrador and QuébecTraditional stories
  • Worldview, Belief, Spirituality Philosophy & Ideology > Ceremonies, Rites, Traditions
  • Indigenous Peoples: Canada > Inuit & Arctic Peoples (in Canada)
  • Intangible Culture & Literature > Traditional Stories & Storytelling

Credits


script
Jennie Williams
direction
Jennie Williams
featuring
Communauté de Nain, Nunatsiavut
director of photography
Nigel Markham
Duncan de Young
editing
Justin Simms
sound editing
Paul Steffler
original music
Sarah Harris
location sound
Mark Neary
research
Jennie Williams
sound mixer
Harvey Hyslop
sound engineer
Matthew Thomson
foley effects
Hilary Thomson
producer
Latonia Hartery
Kat Baulu
Rohan Fernando
executive producer
Annette Clarke

Awards


  • Best Atlantic Short DocumentaryAtlantic International Film Festival
  • Best MusicVancouver Island Short Film Festival
  • Kathleen Shannon AwardYorkton Film Festival
  • Best of FestivalYorkton Film Festival
  • Documentary Arts & CultureYorkton Film Festival
  • Best Short DocumentaryCanadian Screen Awards
  • Best CinematographyFOGFEST Horror Film Festival
  • Best ScoreFOGFEST Horror Film Festival
  • Honourable Mention for Best DirectorFOGFEST Horror Film Festival
  • Honourable Mention for Audience ChoiceFOGFEST Horror Film Festival