Inuk film-maker Nyla Innuksuk showcased her new movie Slash/Back, set in Pangnirtung, at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas, United States on March 13, where it had its world premiere.

The movie is about a group of teenage friends who save their northern hamlet from an alien invasion using their horror movie knowledge and know-how. It is aimed at younger audiences.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is the first thing I ever really directed, itSA国际影视传媒檚 my first feature film,SA国际影视传媒� Innuksuk, the director and co-writer (alongside Ryan Cavan) of Slash/Back.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was a crazy first movie to try and make,SA国际影视传媒� she adds.

SA国际影视传媒漌orking with teenage actors and young people, we had lots of practical and visual effects that happened. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 also an action-horror movie so there were a lot of things that were fun and challenging.SA国际影视传媒�

Innuksuk has roots in Iglulik and Iqaluit and currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Filming took place in Pangnirtung over the summer of 2019, starting in late June, with the cast living at Attagoyuk School over the course of shooting. Initial filming took eight weeks with some additional filming and production work being done in Oct. 2020.

The decision to film in the community instead of Iqaluit where it would be easier was influenced by InnuksukSA国际影视传媒檚 experience seeing other movies in the Nunavut capital.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think itSA国际影视传媒檚 pretty clear people will know itSA国际影视传媒檚 Iqaluit,SA国际影视传媒� she said, SA国际影视传媒淚 thought it would be cooler if it was in a more remote community.SA国际影视传媒�

She also wanted to make a kids movie for her young nephews who also live in Pangnirtung.

SA国际影视传媒淚n a lot of ways I was making it for them. I thought it would be really cool for them to watch a movie that fun and exciting with aliens and monsters that was shot in their hometown.SA国际影视传媒�

It was also quite the positive experience for the main cast themselves, consisting of teenage girls who were cast from Iqaluit and Pangnirtung. It stars Tasiana Shirley as Maika, Alexis Wolfe as Jesse, Nalajoss Ellsworth as Uki and Chelsea Prusky as Leena.

SA国际影视传媒淚t felt like me and the cast were learning so much everyday,SA国际影视传媒� said Innuksuk, on filming.

While being in the movie business can be difficult, it is something Innuksuk has a passion for.

SA国际影视传媒淚t is really hard making a living doing this stuff, trying to make things. But in the end it is what I really loved, and when it came to start making Slash/Back it started with just a little proof of concept.

SA国际影视传媒淚t started out with me, a group of teenagers and some friends from college. Seeing those same teenagers in Texas in front of an audience talking about the movie and being proud of the work they did is kind of great,SA国际影视传媒� she adds.

Innuksuk said she saw these girls become proud of their Inukness over the course of the movie making process.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was really important to me that we use prideful language when it comes to our indigeneity and Inukness,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The director and the cast were able to attend the South by Southwest premiere together, which was the highlight of her trip, saying SA国际影视传媒淚 think it was a really great experience for them to be representing the movie.SA国际影视传媒�

Prusky, who plays Leena, initially took questions from the audience while in Texas in Inuktitut, having it translated.

The Canadian distributor of Slash/Back is Mongrel Media. Innuksuk said they plan to host special screenings in Iqaluit and Pangnirtung. No specific dates for those premieres have been planned.

SA国际影视传媒淲e want to bring it to Nunavut and share it with an audience and I think thatSA国际影视传媒檚 going to feel even better.SA国际影视传媒�

The Nunavut premieres will be followed by a theatrical release in various theatres across Canada, and depending on its success, other platforms as well.