INUVIK - New Yorkers will be watching Inuvik on the big screen during a film festival in the big apple this weekend.

In 2003, filmmaker Mark Young came to Inuvik from London, England, to volunteer at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school. He brought his video camera along in hopes of capturing the experience on film.

Mark Young is a filmmaker from England. He began production on a documentary about Inuvik while working at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school. The film is premiering in New York this weekend. Young calls the film "a snapshot of Northern life." - photo courtesy of Mark Young

"I call it a snapshot of the way life is in the North," said Young.

"I'd always wanted to see Northern Canada and this looked like the best chance to make my first full-length feature," said Young.

Young spent six months working at SAM school in the computer room as the technician.

It was during this time that he arranged interviews and started shooting for the film he would later call "East 3; exploring a frozen frontier."

"I focused on a few things in town: the traditional life of a hunter, the community greenhouse, the SPCA situation with dogs in town, drum dancing and traditional sports," said Young.

When Young went back to England, he said started working on the film almost right away.

"It gets hard when you're doing it all yourself," he said. "I was the only crew member in Inuvik the whole time."

Young said a few of his friends have seen the latest cut of the film in a private screening.

"I let some people I know watch it and let me know what they think," said Young.

"The official premiere is during the New York underground film festival."

Young said working on the full-length documentary was different from his regular style: short fiction films.

"This was my first documentary and everything was a little different," said Young.

Young said he will always remember his time in Inuvik.

"It took about three weeks for me to get settled in and find out more about what was going on," he said.

"I fell in love with that place. On my first day the weather was -42 C, so it was quite a shock."

Young added that he would have liked to have had the film premiere in Canada, but he is still excited about sharing his experience with others.

"People from other countries are going to see how people in the region are living," said Young.

Linda Eccles, of the Inuvik SPCA was interviewed for the project, talking about the problem with stray dogs and animal abuse.

"Mr Young was interested in the dog problem that he saw himself after living in Inuvik for a time," said Eccles.

"He then got a hold of the society and interviewed us about the issues with animals we were witness to, including cruelty cases, strays and the ongoing puppy problem."

Eccles said some of the concerns were that dogs in heat were left outside and that male dogs were left unleashed and were mating with other dogs.

Eccles said the film is now dated and the situation in town has improved.

"The film is an important realistic look at the state we were in and I believe well done, as many times we overlook what is happening in our own backyard," she said.

"Since then great things have happened. We now have a full-time vet for our area and I work in the new Animal Care Facility owned and operated by the Town of Inuvik."

Young said he hopes to get copies of the final film to Inuvik for community use and viewing.