Natar Ungalaaq

Natar Ungalaaq (Inuktitut syllabics: ᓇᑕᕐ ᐅᖓᓛᖅ, born 1959) is a Canadian Inuk actor, filmmaker and sculptor whose work is in many major collections of Inuit art. Before playing the lead roles in Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner and The Necessities of Life (Ce qu'il faut pour vivre) (2008), Ungalaaq played major roles in other Canadian and American films, including Kabloonak (1995), Glory & Honor (1998). He is also a producer and director of the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation.

Ungalaaq was the carving buddy of director Zacharias Kunuk. With funds raised by selling their handmade work, they bought their first camera gear in 1981, and started a production company in an Inuit community that didn't even have a TV.

Natar is also a renowned carver. He began when he was 9 or 10 years old, using his grandfather's tools. His carving in white soapstone, "Sedna with a Hairbrush 1985",is featured in the National Gallery of Canada's collection.

In 2016, he made his debut as a director, codirecting the film Searchers with Kunuk.

Filmography Year Title Role 1994 Frost Fire (TV) Inuit Trial at Fortitude Bay Tommy 1995 Kabloonak Mukpullu 1998 Glory & Honor (TV) Ootah 2001 Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner Atanarjuat 2004 Sleep Murder (TV) Jimmy Tarniq 2006 The Journals of Knud Rasmussen Nuqallaq 2008 The Necessities of Life (Ce qu'il faut pour vivre) Tiivii 2013 Maïna Tadio 2016 Iqaluit Noah 2018 The Grizzlies Pete

Awards Ungalaaq was awarded the Best Actor award at the American Indian Movie Awards in 2002 for Atanarjuat. He won the Genie Award for Best Actor at the 29th Genie Awards for his role in Ce qu'il faut pour vivre. He also won the Jutra Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and the Best Actor award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival for the same performance. This award recognized Natar's body of work and his contribution to Nunavut's film community. In 2016, Ungalaaq won Best Indigenous Language Production (2016) for "Maliglutit (Searchers)" at the ImagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival.