Nunavut Film CEO ‘elated’ over new funding for Indigenous filmmaking
Federal government says Indigenous Screen Office to receive $65 million over 5 years, ongoing funding after that
The Indigenous Screen Office has helped with funding construction of a new studio in Iqaluit, seen here, for CBC’s television series “North of North,” Nunavut Film Development Corp. chief executive officer Huw Eirug said. (Photo by David Lochead)
Huw Eirug didn’t hide his excitement over the federal government’s announcement of continued funding for Indigenous filmmaking in Canada.
“I’m quite elated,” said the chief executive officer of Iqaluit-based Nunavut Film Development Corp. in an interview.
The federal government announced Thursday it will provide $65 million over the next five years to the Indigenous Screen Office, which funds and advocates for Indigenous filmmaking projects across Canada.
After those five years it has committed to providing the Indigenous Screen Office with permanent annual funding of $13 million.
The organization had been receiving $13 million per year over the past three years, but that funding was set to end this year with no indication prior to Thursday whether it would be continued.
“We’ve been waiting a long time for confirmation that the [Indigenous Screen Office] would be secure,” Eirug said.
In April 2023, he expressed frustration that the office had yet to receive a renewed commitment from the federal government.
But this week’s promise provides a base for the organization to continue supporting Indigenous filmmaking, especially in Nunavut, Eirug said.
He used the new CBC comedy television series being filmed in Iqaluit, titled North of North, as an example of how the Indigenous Screen Office’s funding assists Nunavut filmmaking.
The office not only helped fund the studio that’s being built for the new production, Eirug said, it’s also providing financial help to train Nunavummiut for production roles.
Continued financial support from the Indigenous Screen Office for work in Nunavut also means Nunavummiut will be able to build careers in filmmaking and stay in the territory rather than having to move down south, Eirug said.
He said the announcement of permanent funding for the Indigenous Screen Office, along with Thursday being the first day of production for North of North, made it “a historical day on two fronts.”
I have never nseen so many new funding in the millions, hundreds of millions for Nunavut before, I’m not much into politics but the liberal government needs to do better in their advertising and PR, they have been throwing millions to the north especially Nunavut but don’t really promote it.
The conservatives spent more on their PR commercials Canada’s economic action plan, remember all those signs, tv commercials, radio commercials the Cons did, they actually spent more funds on those then the actual funding being announced.
I don’t mean to say do it that way but make a little more effort to promote all the new funding being made by this government for north.
Exciting news for the film industry for Nunavut. Great job!
The Liberals have been throwing money at all who ask, and boatloads of it. For Justin the lifelong adoration of us plebes is the calculus that makes it all worthwhile.
The problem with spending like this, which we should recognize for what it is, borrowed, deficit spending, is that it drives up inflation and in turn the cost of living for all of us.
Hopefully the next government will not be so reckless with our future.
Future generations will need to pay it back.