Zacharias Kunuk (, born November 27, 1957) is a Canadian Inuk film producer and director, best known for his film Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, the first Canadian dramatic feature film produced entirely in Inuktitut with an all Indigenous cast.
He is the president and co-founder of Igloolik Isuma Productions, Canada's first independent Inuit production company. His co-founders are Paul Qulitalik, Paul Apak Angilirq, and Norman Cohn (the only non-Inuk team member). Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2001) was named as the greatest Canadian film of all time by the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival poll.
Background Zacharias Kunuk was born in Kapuiviit (Jens Munk Island) on Baffin Island, Nunavut (then part of the Northwest Territories), Canada. In 1966, he attended school in Igloolik. There he carved and sold soapstone sculptures to afford movie admissions. As his skill improved, he was able to buy cameras and photographed Inuit hunting scenes. When he heard about video cameras in 1981, he purchased the basic equipment to teach himself how to create his own movies."Zacharias Kunuk." Famous, Should Be Famous, and Infamous Canadians. (retrieved January 29, 2011)
Career In 2002, Kunuk was made an Officer of the Order of Canada."Carleton Stories" Zacharias Kunuk Shares Intimate Picture of the North. (retrieved February 27, 2017)
His second film, The Journals of Knud Rasmussen, in which he is a co-writer and co-director with Norman Cohn, is a co-production with Denmark. It premiered on September 7, 2006, as the opening film at the Toronto International Film Festival.
In June 2007, Zacharias Kunuk filmed the rescue and return of his father, Enoki Kunuk, who was lost for 27 days in the Arctic tundra.
Kunuk is the co-founder of the Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change Project, along with Ian Mauro of the University of Victoria's School of Environmental Studies. The goal of the project is to collect information from Inuit elders for a film about the Inuit perspective on the impact of climate change on Inuit culture and the environment. The project submitted a video to the United Nations for the 2009 COP15 Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change which was presented at the National Gallery of Denmark.
As of April 2011, Kunuk is developing a project with Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond about the 18th century conflict between Cree and Inuit, which lasted almost a century.
In July 2017, Kunuk joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as part of 774 new members invited that year.
In March 2019, Kunuk was made a member of the Order of Nunavut, the sole member of the Order's 2018 class.
Filmography Nunavut: Our Land - 1995, director and writer of television series Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner - 2001, director, producer, writer and editor Kunuk Family Reunion - 2004, director and producer of television documentary Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through Canadian Cinematic Psyche - 2004, appeared in television documentary The Journals of Knud Rasmussen - 2006, director, producer and art director Before Tomorrow (Le Jour avant le lendemain) - 2008, executive producer Tungijuq - 2009, executive producer of short Home - 2011, director and writer of short Sirmilik - 2011, director of documentary Searchers (Maliglutit) - 2016 Edge of the Knife - 2018, executive producerCatherine Porter, "Reviving a Lost Language of Canada Through Film". The New York Times, June 11, 2017. Kivitoo: What They Thought of Us - 2018 One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk - 2019 Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's Apprentice - 2021 Wrong Husband (Uiksaringitara) - 2025Jamie Casemore, "Zacharias Kunuk’s Uiksaringitara to have world premiere in Berlin". Playback, January 16, 2025.
Awards Year Award Result Recipient 2001 Cannes Film Festival: Golden Camera Win Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner 2001 Edinburgh International Film Festival: New Directors Award Win Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (Tied with L.I.E.) 2001 Ghent International Film Festival: FIPRESCI Prize-Special Mention-Grand Prix Win Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner 2001 Hawaii International Film Festival: Special Mention Best Feature Film, Best Feature Film Nominated Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner 2001 Santa Fe Film Festival: Luminaria-Best Feature Win Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner 2001 Toronto International Film Festival: Best Canadian Feature Film Win Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner 2001 Cinemanila International Film Festival: Lino Brocka Award Win Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (Tied with What Time Is It Over There?) 2002 Genie Awards: Claude Jutra Award-Best Achievement in Direction, Best Achievement in Editing, Best Motion Picture Win Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (Shared with Norman Cohn, Paul Apak Angilirq, Germain Wong) 2002 Newport International Film Festival: Audience Award-Best Feature Win Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner 2002 San Diego International Film Festival: Festival Award-Best Feature Film Win Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner 2002 Toronto Film Critics Association Awards: TFCA Award-Best First Feature Win Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner 2003 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards: CFCA Award – Most Promising Director Nominated Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner 2003 Independent Spirit Awards: Independent Spirit Award-Best Foreign Film Nominated Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner 2019 Vancouver International Film Festival: Best Canadian Film Award Won One Day in the Life of Noah Piugattuk 2021 Toronto International Film Festival Award for Best Canadian Short Film Won Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's Apprentice 2025 Toronto International Film Festival Award for Best Canadian Film Won Wrong Husband
Books
Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's Apprentice (2021)
See also Indigenous Canadian personalities
References
External links