New Funding for Film, Television and Digital Media in Inuktut
IQALUIT, Nunavut (December 19, 2013) – The Government of Nunavut (GN) is proud to announce $200,000 in additional funding to support the use of the Inuit language (Inuktut) in films, television and digital media.
The $200,000 comes from the GN’s Department of Culture and Heritage. This support realizes the Government of Nunavut’s commitment under Uqausivut Plan, the government’s roadmap to implement the Official Languages Act and Inuit Language Protection Act.
“Nunavut films and television play an important role in protecting and promoting our Inuit culture, identity and language, even more so now with the advent of pop culture,” said Paul Okalik, Minister of Languages. “The Government of Nunavut is pleased to collaborate with the Nunavut Film Development Corporation in supporting the film industry and producing more television programming in Inuktut for our homes.”
The funding can be accessed by film, television and digital media producers through the Nunavut Film Development Corporation’s Nunavut Spend Incentive Program, The Short Film Fund, and the new Inuktut Versioning Fund for Existing Programming.
“There is no doubt that this support from the Government of Nunavut will significantly increase the amount of high quality film, television and digital media that will be available in Inuktut through television, the consumer market, educational institutions and the internet, “ said Derek Mazur, Nunavut Film’s Chief Executive Officer. “This program is important both culturally and economically to Nunavut.”
The GN’s Department of Economic Development & Transportation is working with the Nunavut Film Development Corporation on this initiative.
“The film industry spends about $13 million per year in Nunavut,” said Economic Development & Transportation Minister George Kuksuk. “We want this industry to reflect the language of the majority of the people in Nunavut. Our new government is committed to expanding and strengthening Inuktut.”
More information about accessing the Inuktut film funding is available at www.nunavutfilm.ca.
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Media contact:
Leevede Atagoyuk
Manager, Communications
Department of Culture and Heritage
Government of Nunavut
Tel: (867) 975-5526
Email: @email
Derek Mazur
Chief Executive Officer
Nunavut Film Development Corporation
Tel: (867) 979-3012
Matthew Illaszewicz
Manager, Communications
Department of Economic Development & Transportation
Government of Nunavut
Tel: (867) 975-7818
Email: @email