Greenlandic Doc ‘Walls-Akinni Inuk’ Filmmakers on a Story About ‘How Human Connection Can Wash Away Prejudice’ (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Annika Pham Greenland’s “Walls-akinni inuk” makes its world premiere Friday at Denmark’s CPH:DOX documentary festival, amid a heated political debate on the future of the Arctic island.

While Denmark is fighting off President Donald Trump’s takeover efforts, and Greenland’s fresh elections has reinforced its claim for independence, the film delivers a timely message of reconciliation and understanding, through the voices of its co-directors, the Dane Sofie Rørdam and Greenlandic Nina Paninnguaq Skydsbjerg. “It’s very strange for us to have the film come out under such tense political circumstances,” says Rørdam to Variety ahead of the film’s debut in the NORDIC:DOX competition. “Of course, we want our film to be an opportunity to discuss Greenland and its relationship with Denmark; there is a lot of Danish colonial arrogance at the moment, but with our film, we are raising specific questions – such as the need to look into the Greenlandic prison system under Danish control – through a human story.” “In Greenlandic, the title of the film ‘akinni inuk’ means ‘the human being in front of me,’ ” explains Paninnguaq Skydsbjerg. “I want this film to remind audiences how much they can do just by being curious of the person in front of them.” “With today’s media attention on Greenland,” she adds, “I’m almost afraid to do interviews as people try to make the film into something it is not, to serve their own purpose.

But I want this film to be seen for what it is: a story about love, friendship, and how human connection can wash away all prejudice.” Produced by high-profile Greenlandic/Danish Emile Hertling Péronard, credited for the 2023 Oscar-nominated short film “Ivalu” and CPH:DOX opener “Twice Colonized,” “Walls-akinni inuk”.