A new Canadian animated short is gaining international attention at Switzerland's Locarno Film Festival, where Piluk is competing in the Pardi di Domani section.

The 10-minute film is the first animated collaboration between Elisapie Isaac and Marc Séguin and is produced by the National Film Board of Canada. The festival runs from August 5 to 15, 2026.

The story follows a young girl named Piluk as she moves between the Arctic tundra and an urban environment, exploring identity, memory, belonging and the relationship between people and the land.

Visually, the film uses graphite, acrylic and pastel on textured paper, giving the animation a handcrafted quality rather than relying entirely on digital production. Isaac also created the original soundtrack.

The film's themes connect contemporary Canadian filmmaking with Inuit storytelling and cultural transmission. Isaac has described storytelling as an important way of carrying knowledge and tradition between generations.

Its selection at Locarno gives the project an international platform while highlighting the growing visibility of Indigenous Canadian artists and animation.

For Canada's arts sector, Piluk also demonstrates how animation can bring together music, visual art, traditional storytelling and contemporary filmmaking in a single project.

The international festival exposure could introduce the film and its creators to new audiences, distributors and cultural organizations beyond Canada.