Zacharias Kunuk

Zacharias Kunuk's first feature, "Atanarjuat The Fast Runner", won the Camera d'or at Cannes 2001 and Best Picture at Canada's 2002 Genie Awards. He is president and co-founder in 1990 of Igloolik Isuma Productions, Canada's first Inuit-owned independent production company.

In 1981, Kunuk sold three sculptures in Montreal and brought home the arctic's first video camera. As director in the Isuma production team Kunuk's credits include the short dramas "Qaggiq (Gathering Place)" 1989, "Nunaqpa (Going Inland)" 1991, "Saputi (Fish Traps)" 1993 and documentaries "Nipi (Voice)" 1999, "Nanugiurutiga (My First Polar Bear)" 2001 and "Kunuk Family Reunion" 2004.

Isuma's 13-part series "Nunavut (Our Land)" 1995 was broadcast on Bravo! and selected for exhibition at Dokumenta 11 in 2002.

Isuma's collective work for the past twenty years has been showcased at numerous festivals and museums in sixteen countries with personal presentations at National Gallery of Canada, New York's Museum of Modern Art, among many others. Kanuk is presently completing his latest documentary, "Kiviaq versus Canada", set to air on The History Channel/Canada in the fall.

Kunuk is winner of the National Arts Award, National Aboriginal Achievement Award and in 2005 was awarded the Order of Canada.