New Book about Cannes Film Fest at 80! (2027)
Caméra d’Or Winning Films (1978-Present)
A rare Canadian film not in French, Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, was directed by Inuk filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk.
It was the first feature ever to be written, directed and acted entirely in the Inuktitut language.
Set in the ancient past, this Inuit legend, passed down through oral tradition. It revolves around the title character, whose marriage with two wives leads to animosity of the son of the band leader, who kills Atanarjuat’s brother and forces Atanarjuat to flee.
Pemiering at the 2001 Cannes Fest, the film was a major critical success, winning the Caméra d’Or, and six Genie Awards, including Best Picture.
Atanarjuat was also a commercial success, becoming Canada’s top-grossing release of 2002, grossing more than US$5 million worldwide.
The film was selected as the Canadian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, but was not nominated.
At Igloolik (“place of houses”), in the Eastern Arctic wilderness, Qulitalik bids goodbye to his sister Panikpak, wife of Kumaglak, promising to come if she calls for help.
In a flashback, the community is visited by the strange shaman Tungajuaq. During a spiritual duel with the visitor, the camp leader Kumaglak dies. The visitor removes the walrus-tooth necklace from Kumaglak’s body, and puts the necklace around the neck of Kumaglak’s son Sauri, who thus becomes camp leader. Much later, the shaman’s magic has poisoned the community with hatred. Tulimaq, the laughing stock of the camp, is having bad luck hunting and can barely feed his family. However, Panikpak brings meat for Tulimaq’s children, Atanarjuat and Amaqjuaq, hoping that they will make things right.
Atanarjuat grows up to be a fast runner, Amaqjuaq is strong, and they are rivals with Sauri and his son Oki.
Writer Paul Apak Angilirq and director Zacharias Kunuk had heard the Atanarjuat legend when they were young. Over the course of five years, Angilirq interviewed elders for their story.
Some critics complained at the time that the film takes major liberties with the Inuit myth: the original legend ended in revenge killing, whereas in the film Atanarjuat stops short of shedding blood.
The film’s goals were to show how for thousands of years Inuit communities had survived and thrived in the Arctic, alomgide with using the new medium of film to help Inuit communities survive into the future. It was an important step for an indigenous people who have, until recently, seen their culture recorded by outsiders (often white male directors)
With its compelling human drama, filtered through ritual and memory, and stunning cinematography The Fast Runner succeeded in transporting viewers to another world, with its own sense of time and space. Moreover, the film overcame the stereotypes created by the popular 1922 silent, Nanook of the North.
A commercial hit, the film grossed $3,789,952 in America and $1,398,337 in other territories, for an impressive worldwide total of $5,188,289.
New Book about Cannes Film Fest at 80! (2027)
Caméra d’Or Winning Films (1978-Present)
Alambrista! (1978), US
2. Northern Lights (1979), US
3. Adrien’s Story (1980), French
4. Desperado City (1981), West German
5. Half a Life (1982), French
6. The Princess (1983), Hungarian
7. Stranger Than Paradise (1984), US
8. Oriana (1985), Venezuela
9. Noir et Blanc (1986), French (woman)
10. Robinsonada or My English Grandfather (1987), Soviet-Georgian
11. Salaam Bombay! (1988), US-Imndoa (woman)
12. My 20th Century (1989), Hungary (woman)
13. Freeze Die Come to Life (1990)
14. Toto the Hero (1991), Belgium
15. Mac (1992), US
16. The Scent of Green Papaya (1993), Vietnam
17. Coming to Terms with the Dead (1994)
18. The White Balloon (1995), Iran
19. Love Serenade (1996), Australia (woman)
20. Suzaku (1997)
21. Slam (1998), US
22. Marana Simhasanam (1999)
23. Tie: Djomeh (2000); A Time for Drunken Horses (2000), Iran (Kurdish language)
24. Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2001); Canada, Inuk filmmaker
25. Seaside (2002)
26. Reconstruction (2003)
27. Or (My Treasure) (2004), Israel (woman)
28. Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005), US (woman)
29. The Forsaken Land (2005)
30. 12:08 East of Bucharest (2006), Romania
31. Jellyfish (2007), Israel
32. Hunger (2008), UK (Black)
33. Samson and Delilah (2009)
34. Año bisiesto (2010)
35. Las Acacias (2011)
36. Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012), US
37. Ilo Ilo (2013)
38. Party Girl (2014)
39. Land and Shade (2015)
40. Divines (2016)
41. Montparnasse Bienvenue (2017)
42. Girl (2018), Belgium (Gay director)
43. Our Mothers (2019)
44. Murina (2021)
45. War Pony (2022), US (woman)
46. Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell (2023)
47. Armand (2024)
48. The President’s Cake (2025)
49. ? (to be announced May 24, 2026)
