Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's Apprentice is a 2021 Canadian animated short film, directed by Zacharias Kunuk.[1]

Summary

A story about the traditional Inuit role of the shaman, the film centres on a grandmother (Madeline Ivalu) and granddaughter (Lucy Tulugarjuk) who travel to the underworld in an effort to heal an ill young hunter (Jacky Qrunnut).[2]

Release

The film was released alongside a children's picture book of the story, written by Kunuk and illustrated by Megan Kyak-Monteith.[3] The book was published in both English and Inuktitut; the latter edition won the 2021 Indigenous Voices Award for work published in an indigenous language.[4]

The film premiered at the 2021 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, where it won the FIPRESCI Award.[2] It had its Canadian premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the award for Best Canadian Short Film.[5]

Reception

The film was named to TIFF's annual year-end Canada's Top Ten list for 2021.[6] It was on a shortlist for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for the 94th Academy Awards but ultimately was not nominated,[7] and won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Animated Short at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards in 2022.[8]

It also won Best Independent Short Film at the Festival Stop Montreal.[9]

References

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