MONTREAL, May 12, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Four young students from the Innalik school in Inukjuak (Nunavik) were honoured today for their short film Una Unikkaavut, during the CLIP GALA organized by Youth Fusion. At once a gripping cry from the heart, an ode to hope and an intimate portrait of and tribute to the memory of their friend Sarah Patsauq, this film by Lucy Gailey Nappatuk, Bobby Idlout, Sarah Naqtai and Peter Nutaraluk speaks to a harsh reality: the suicide rate among Nunavik's Inuit kids, among the highest in the world, and 11 times above the national average. Their message is about to reach far beyond what the four budding filmmakers could have imaged: it is going to be screened throughout the month of August in several independent movie theatres across Quebec, including Cinéma du Parc, Cinéma Beaubien, Cinéma Pine, Clap and Maison du Cinéma, as the opening film before the feature presentation.
"I was so impressed with the quality of the films these high school students produced for this competition. In fact, I was so wowed by the Clip Program as a whole that I spoke about it at the annual dinner of the association of Quebec theatre owners. That's when many owners offered to screen the winning clip free of charge at their venues. Their kindness will make it possible for this touching short film about this troubling reality young Aboriginals are dealing with, to enjoy a wider audience," said Ann Champoux, president of the Régie du cinema, who also chaired the CLIP GALA jury.
"Each year, Youth Fusion works with over 1,800 young Aboriginals, ages 7 to 18, in Mashteuiatsh, Kahnawake and remote Cree and Inuit communities like Inukjuak. Every young person we come across has had to face mental health issues from a very early age. That Bobby, Peter, Lucy and Sarah have been able to find their voice and show the entire province their strength of character and will to live, is both moving and brave," declared Sarah Houde, Executive Director of Youth Fusion.
Youth Fusion's CLIP Program attracted nearly 650 young students from 30 Quebec schools, who worked several hours a week since last September to produce one of the 30 short films entered in the Gala competition. They handled everything from the scriptwriting to the editing, and were mentored throughout the process by university film students and graduates who took the time to share their expertise and experience.
Congratulations to all the participants and winners:
- Silver Clip: Suicidal Wings (Wiinibekuu School – Cree School Board – Waskaganish)
- Jury Prize: Le kidnapping (École sec. Joseph-François-Perrault – CS de la Capitale – Quebec City)
- CLIP Cinema of Quebec: Un regard vers l'intérieur (École secondaire Louis-Riel – CSDM)
- Best Photography: Fraternité (École secondaire Jean-de-Brébeuf – CS de la Capitale – Quebec City)
- Best Art Direction: Bitter Tea (John F. Kennedy High School – EMSB)
- Best Sound: Le survenu (École secondaire Saint-Henri – CSDM)
- Best Soundtrack: Qui es-tu ? (École secondaire La Source – CSRN – Rouyn-Noranda)
- Best Overall Performance: La compétition de danse (École secondaire Pointe-aux-Trembles – CSPI)
- Best Editing: Démons (École secondaire Académie Dunton – CSDM)
- Best Screenplay: Projet S (École secondaire Honoré-Mercier – CSDM)
- Best Poster: De la haine jusqu'à l'amour (École secondaire Vanier – CS de la Capitale – Quebec City)
- People's Choice: La retenue (École Kassinu Mamu)
- Discovery of the Year: Émile Cartier (École secondaire Paul-Gérin-Lajoie-d'Outremont – CSMB)
To watch Una Unikkaavut and the other CLIP Program short films
www.projetclip.ca
About Youth Fusion
Youth Fusion is an award-winning Canadian charitable organization, founded in Quebec, whose mission is to lower school dropout rates by creating continuous ties between the school system and the community, in order to involve at-risk youth in innovative and meaningful educational projects that contribute to their learning, their qualifications, and their social integration.
www.youthfusion.org
About the Régie du cinéma
The Régie du cinéma is a government agency operating under the Québec Department of Culture and Communications. It is primarily entrusted with classifying films intended for screening in Québec and informing the public of said classification, especially young people and their parents, so they may be aware of the nature and content of the films.
www.rcq.gouv.qc.ca/
Photos: Available upon request
SOURCE Régie du cinéma
Caroline Marinacci, 514 912-5847, [email protected]; Ariane Gaudreau-Bégin, 514 873-2371, ext. 286, [email protected]
Share this article