Inuit-led productions up for several Canadian Screen Awards

Nunavut and Nunavik based productions are up for several honours at this year’s Canadian Screen Awards.

Nominations were announced March 25 in a news release from the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. The ceremony is set to take place Sunday in Toronto.

CBC/APTN sitcom North of North has 20 nominations. In the 14-year history of the Canadian Screen Awards, only Schitt’s Creek, which earned 26 nominations in 2020, has earned more nominations in a single year, according to the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

Among North of North‘s nominations are Best Comedy Series; Arnaquq-Baril and Stacey Aglok for Best Writing – Comedy; Anna Lambe for Best Lead Performer – Comedy; Maika Harper in Best Supporting Performer – Comedy; Tanya Tagaq in Best Guest Performance – Comedy; and Best Ensemble Performance – Comedy.

Zacharias Kunuk’s feature film Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband) is up for four awards, including Best Motion Picture.

As well, Kunuk is nominated for Achievement in Direction. Theresia Kappianaq is vying for the award for Performance in a Leading Role – Drama, while Leah Panimera is nominated in the Performance in a Supporting Role – Drama category.

Other nominated productions with Nunavut or Nunavik ties are James Bay 1975: The Shock of Two Nations | Baie James 1975: le choc des nations in the Best Feature Length Documentary category, Mangittatuarjuk from Nunavut producer Louise Flaherty in the Best Animated Short category, and Tootoo for Best Documentary Program.

Sunday evening’s ceremony is set to be broadcast on CBC, CTV, Global TV, and streamed on CBC Gem, Crave and StackTV.