Iglulik (Apr 17/06) - The response to Igloolik Isuma Production's move to Nunavik, ending decades as an Iglulik-based film company, has been muted.

Iglulik's Elizabeth Angtirjuag prepares wool clothing for Igloolik Isuma Production's The Journals of Knud Rasmussen in 2005. With Isuma filming its next project in Nunavik, some local jobs could be going with it. - NNSL file photo

"They are an independent company," said senior Nunavut Film Commission board member Bob Lock. "There are benefits being offered in all film jurisdictions in Canada, and filmmakers can go to the one that best suits their needs."

He refused to comment further on any Isuma-related matter.

Last week, Isuma co-founder Norman Cohn said the company would film its next movie, a $3.5 million feature called "Before Tomorrow," primarily in Nunavik because of a lapse in funding from the Nunavut Film Commission and the department of Economic Development and Transportation.

The company had asked for money to be used to tour Isuma's latest feature, the $6.5 million "Journals of Knud Rasmussen," through a number of Inuit communities around the North. That tour was halted two weeks ago.

The threat of a move is nothing new for Isuma, according to Nunavut Film board president Eva Aarliaka.

"They said that last year and the year before," she said.

Ed McKenna, director of policy, planning and communications with the Department of Economic Development and Transportation, said last week that Cohn had failed to go through "proper channels" for funding.

Cohn, however, said inefficiencies in the "proper channels" have accompanied the creation of Nunavut Film. He said applications began to be handled at the hamlet level, instead of directly with the department and Ed McKenna. This often involved community economic development officers "too inexperienced," to deal with a company the size of Isuma and long delays.

"It was a policy of empowerment that was actually dis-empowering," said Cohn.

Iglulik's economic development officer, Carroll Macintyre, said he had never dealt directly with Isuma, as the company usually dealt with McKenna directly.

"That's not something I would feel comfortable handling," he said.

Though he pointed out many of the jobs Isuma created in Iglulik were part-time and temporary, he said Isuma's move will have an impact.

"Any loss of employment, be it part or full-time, hurts," he said.