Nunavut filmmakers find stiff competition for funding

The Nunavut Film Development Corp. says it has received more proposals this year from Nunavut filmmakers than before, making it difficult to decide which projects to fund in the territory.

The rising number of filmmakers in the territory has meant more demand for funding from Nunavut Film — it has received proposals requesting more than double the amount of money it has available.

"There was a lot of really worthwhile proposals that we had to turn down or reduce funding to," Sarah Brown, the corporation's project manager, told CBC News.

"We received 30 proposals requesting almost $350,000, which was more than double the amount that was available through the program. So this kind of interest really shows not only the positive growth in the industry, but also that there is a demand."

Brown said the number of independent filmmakers and the number of youth film projects have both gone up recently.

In the end, the film corporation handed out a total of $150,000 to 17 film projects.

One funding recipient, emerging Inuk filmmaker Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, said she received half the funding that she had sought for Angry Inuk, a film that aims to give an Inuit perspective on anti-sealing movements.

"The rapid growth that's happening right now in our industry means the infrastructure for film here is struggling to keep up," Arnaquq-Baril said.

"But we're all working together to try and expand it and make it possible for young people like me to start making films."

She said Nunavut's film industry not only helps the territory's economy, but also enriches Inuit culture.

"There are more and more of us young emerging producers now, and all of us are wanting to be making films … which is great for Inuktitut language and culture, to be seeing more of our productions on television," she said.