About the Film, Creatives, Cast, Crew & Acknowledgements

 

An all-female eco-action fantasy set in a frozen world

A young girl raised by a polar bear pursues her destiny after escaping capture by brutal warriors intent on killing her mother.

Set in 2144 against the harsh backdrop of a frozen wasteland, SUMI, a human child raised by MAMA POLAR BEAR, narrowly escapes capture from a brutal MORAD hunting party and sets out across the vast winter landscape. When Sumi stumbles across FROZEN GIRL, an unlikely friendship is forged and together they race ahead of the vindictive hunters towards the only guiding light Sumi knows, the POLARIS star.

LENGTH | 89 minutes
GENRE | Eco-action Fantasy
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN | Canada
DISTRIBUTION | Filmoption International (Canada)
SALES | Epic Pictures Group (USA/ROW)

 
 

 

Director’s Notes

 

Polaris tells the origin story of a world gone to shame that builds from themes of environmental stewardship/horror. It is inspired by eco-feminism and the need for significant cultural and sustainable change. The film portrays these themes with an entirely female cast – including the Polar Bear. 

It is a dystopian world viewed through the lens of an extraordinary 10 year old girl, Sumi, who offers a different perspective. As someone raised by an apex predator, Sumi has an intimate relationship with nature and extraordinary survival skills: she can speak with animals and trees but has not yet learned to speak with people. Other humans speak fictional languages to represent this gap in understanding. This creates a primarily non-verbal experience that is strengthened by not having subtitles. My intention is to place audiences in the story world and encourage an emotionally immersive type of film-watching that is more empathy-based, intuitive and universal.

 
 


 
 

WRTER / DIRECTOR

KC Carthew

KC Carthew’s multiple-award winning debut feature, The Sun at Midnight (2017) starring Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs), sold worldwide and was released theatrically in Canada, the USA and Australia. Recognized for spectacular world-building in her visual storytelling, KC excels in bringing forth award-winning performances, cultivating innovation and pushing both technical and narrative elements to new heights in her work. Polaris is her second feature film. IMDB

... a singular vision of a post-apocalyptic world.
— Fantasia 2022
 
 

 

Lead Cast

SUMI | Viva Lee

Viva Lee is the youthful lead actor in Polaris. Viva has several screen credits. Polaris is her first lead in a feature film.
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Viva is a Canadian actor, who was born in Seoul, Korea. She knew she wanted to be an actor on the set of the Russo Brothers’ production of Deadly Class. After days of running, screaming and crying, there was no doubt that acting was going to be a part of her life, forever. Viva enjoys challenges like taking on things that she isn't good at. Which explains why she is currently learning three languages, plays multiple instruments like ukulele, guitar, and electric guitar, as well as being a martial artist training in TKD, boxing, BJJ, MMA, and weapons.

Viva enjoys learning about all aspects of performing arts, from vocalizing, dance, screenwriting, and recently produced and acted in a short film. In her limited spare time, Viva focuses on advocacy work especially when it comes to social injustice and fair representation in the media. She is currently working on a production that will be released next year. Viva hopes to one day work all around the world and if the fates align she would love to focus on action films and doing her own stunts.

DEE | Muriel Dutil

Muriel Dutil is a highly regarded, award-winning star of stage and screen from Quebec. ©Photo by Lucas Harrison Rupnik
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In 1967 Muriel Dutil entered the Conservatoire d'Art Dramatique in Montreal and since graduating in 1970 she has never stopped working in theatre, television and cinema. She also taught acting for a few years at the National School of Canada.

Let us mention some outstanding roles in theatre: Le temps d’une vie by Roland Lepage, Albertine en 5 temps & Thérèse et Pierrette à l'école des Saints-Anges by Michel Tremblay, Félicité & Ennemi Public by Olivier Choinière, Sacré Coeur by Alexis Martin and Alain Vadeboncoeur, Avec Norm by Serge Boucher, and in 2005 she won the Best Actress Masque Trophy Award for her role as Grace in the play Grace & Gloria by Tom Ziegler (translated by Michel Tremblay).

On television, her notable roles include Graffiti, Les girouettes, SOS j’écoute, Tandem, Virginie, Portrait vidéo, L'Amour avec un grand A, La promesse, Nouvelle adresse, File d'attente, and for the past 3 years in the ongoing the role of Francine Bérubé in 5e Rang airing on Radio-Canada. At the first Gémeaux Gala, in 1987, Muriel Dutil won the Best Actress Award for the role of Mary in the series L'Amour avec un grand A by Jeannette Bertrand. She was later nominated for many of her performances including Portrait vidéo, Graffiti, Le gentleman, La promesse and in 2015, she won a second Gémeaux Award for her role in Nouvelle adresse.

On the big screen, she can be seen in Curling by Denis Côté, Idole Instantanée by Yves Desgagnés, Ressac by Pascale Ferland (nominated for a Jutra Award for her role of Dorine) and Sous la neige de la Floride by Sylvio Jacques in which she was cast as mother with Alzheimer’s. The latter won four awards including Best Canadian Short Film in 2018.

In 2020, she was cast in the webseries Claire & les vieux, produced by Ugo Media, which won numerous awards at CannesSeries the Berlin International Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival. In 2021, Muriel won her third Gémeaux Award for Best Actress in a Digital Series for her role as Pauline. Her upcoming projects include Niagara by Guillaume Lambert (to be released in fall 2022) and in the role of Dee in Polaris by KC Carthew (World Premiere at Fantasia 2022 and set to be released in 2023).

FROZEN GIRL | Kamisa Wilsher

Born and raised in Vancouver, Khamisa is a sought-after actress, model, & singer/songwriter.
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Born and raised in Vancouver, Khamisa found her love for performing through musical theatre as a teen, and has since established herself as a sought-after actress, model, & singer/songwriter in the Canadian market.

Some of Khamisa’s notable network credits include her recurring roles on CW’s Charmed and Netflix’s Wu Assassins, and she can also be found on hit shows such as Firefly Lane, The Flash, The Twilight Zone & Supergirl. She got her start on the big screen starring alongside Valter Skarsgård in horror flick Funhouse and is proud to be on the cast of Polaris, a dystopian fantasy thriller shot in the Canadian Arctic, in the role of Frozen Girl. Most recently, Khamisa shot a supporting lead on A Royal Run Away Romance (Hallmark) and is currently filming season two of AppleTV+’s musical parody, Schmigadoon!

Aside from acting, Khamisa has modelled for brands such as Native Shoes, Londre Bodywear, Bahhgoose, KSLAM Clothing & Forever Yours Lingerie. She also showcases her musical talents by performing all around Vancouver and you can find her debut single “One More Time” on Spotify & Apple Music.

MAMA POLAR BEAR| Agee

Agee is the world’s only trained polar bear. She has starred in numerous films and commercials over her long career. She is spending her retirement years at Assiniboine Park Conservancy in Manitoba. IMDB

 

 
 

Key Creatives

DAVID SCHUURMAN
Director of Photography

David is an experienced Ontario-based cinematographer with a track record of outstanding creative productions from horror to music videos. IMDB

MERCEDES COYLE
Production Designer

Mercedes is an Ontario production designer who has worked on a variety of projects. She was most recently the production designer for The Family (2021). IMDB

MONIKA ONOSZKO
Costume Designer

Monika is an eclectic designer who shares her time between Canada and Poland. Her work has been featured on screen and the big stage. IMDB

KARLEE MORSE
Special Effects Makeup

Karlee is an Emmy award-winning make-up artist ("Outstanding Special Effects Costume, Make-up and Hairstyling") specializing in prosthetic design and application. IMDB

CARLO HARRIETHA &
JEAN-MATHIEU BÉRUBÉ
Special Effects

Better known as the Blood Brothers, Carlo and “Jib” are an award-winning special effects team applying their talents to pyrotechnics, atmospheric effects and custom props. WEBSITE

GEOFF KLEIN
Editor

Geoff is an editor with an impressive resume of films including The Corruption of Divine Providence, Woodland Grey and Pink Lake, as well as numerous highly-acclaimed documentaries. IMDB

JUDITH GRUBER-STITZER
Composer

An experienced composer, Judith is known for her work on the films Animal Behaviour, Wild Life and Above the Drowning Sea. IMDB

CHRISTIAN RIVEST
Sound Designer

Christian is an Emmy award-winning sound designer and editor. His credits include The Pillars of the Earth, Bon Cop Bad Cop, Polytechnic, The Young Victoria, Surviving Progress, Pillar of the Earth, Apocalypse: World War One and many others. IMDB

 

Northern Crew

*Click on an image to scroll through the gallery


Producers

MAX FRASER
Producer

Max is an independent Yukon filmmaker with experience in digital media, TV drama and TV documentaries. “Polaris” is his first scripted feature. IMDB

PAUL CADIEUX
Producer

Paul is a well known Canadian film and television producer based in Montreal. He won the 2003 Genie Award for Best Motion Picture for The Triplets of Belleville. IMDB

ALYSON RICHARDS
Producer

Alyson Richards is an Ontario based producer and writer, known for The Retreat (2021), Don't Talk to Irene (2017) and Guidance (2014). IMDB


Acknowledgements

Filmed with gratitude on the shared Traditional Territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta'an Kwäch'än Council, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.


Produced by:

Little Dipper Films Inc., Megafun Productions and Alyson Richards Productions


The producers wish to extend their appreciation for financial support from the following agencies and broadcasters below.

Additional support from:

Screen Production Yukon Association
CanNor
Yukon Film Training Fund
Northwest Territories Professional Media Association

Thanks to:

Air North
Best Western Gold Rush Inn
Northern Vision Development
City of Whitehorse
Frontiers/Fantasia
Marlin Travel
Raven Inn
Tetra Tech Canada Inc.
UBCP/ACTRA

 
 
 

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