Jorge Barrera and Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Iglulik (Feb 11/02) - Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner) cleaned up at last Thursday's Genie Awards, winning recognition as best Canadian picture, director, screenplay, original score and editing of 2001.

The five awards from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television made the first full-length feature filmed entirely in Inuktitut the outstanding winner of the evening.

Director Zacharias Kunuk of Iglulik was also honored by the academy with the Claude Jutra special achievement award.

Reached Friday on cell phone at York University in Toronto, Kunuk said his win proves Canadian films are not just in French and English.

"Finally we are here," said Kunuk."We are Canadian and we have the right to be here too. Anyone who is a Canadian filmmaker has this chance."

The Genies cap a year-long ride that began at the Cannes Film festival, where Kunuk won the Camera d'Or. Since then Kunuk received endless global exposure for his film. Now he wants to slow down.

"I'm going to get on my snowmachine and go hunting with my hunting buddies," said Kunuk, who expected to arrive in Iglulik today.

In his home town, the community is overwhelmed with pride. "He put Iglulik on the map. I think the whole world knows where Iglulik is now," said Mayor Elijah Evaluarjuk.

He added that a giant community welcome was planned for Kunuk at the airport.

Pakak Innukshuk, an actor in the film, watched the awards with his wife and children. "I was getting pretty excited," he said. "It makes people think that it's possible to do anything."

The next challenge for Atanarjuat is the Oscars in April. It is Canada's entry in the competition for best foreign film Oscar nomination at the Academy Awards.

Though most Canadians have yet to see the film, that should change in April when it is scheduled to open across the country. The delay allows the distributor, Alliance Atlantis to take advantage of hype generated from the Genies -- and the Oscars, should the film get a nomination.

The nominees are scheduled to be announced this Tuesday.