SARILA is the story of a voyage of initiation in which three young Inuit go in search of Sarila, a promised land, hoping to save their clan from famine. It is also the story of a fight to the death between two shamans, the young Markussi (Dustin Milligan) who finds Sarila and the aged Croolik (Christopher Plummer) who feels that his power is threatened. Produced by CarpeDiem Film & TV and Productions 10E Ave, SARILA is the first animated feature film directed by Nancy Florence Savard, a labour of love brought to the screen after ten years. It is the first entirely Canadian 3D stereoscopic animated feature film.

The original English version of SARILA stars Dustin Milligan, (as the young shaman Markussi), Rachelle Lefevre, (the beautiful Apik), Geneviève Bujold (Saya) and Tim Rozon (Poutulik, the chief`s son). The all Canadian cast also includes Christopher Plummer (Croolik), Natar Unqalaq (Ukpik), James Kidnie (Kwatak) and Ellen David (Sedna). Dubbing of the French version will begin in early 2012, for release by the end of the year.

Far North. Autumn 1910. An encampment of Inuit nomads is threatened by famine and the situation is growing dire. Day after day, the hunters return empty-handed. The tribe’s aged shaman, Croolik, is unable to solve the problem. The clan’s wise woman, Saya, recalls the legend of Sarila, a promised land hidden among the glaciers, where wild game is said to be plentiful. Legend has it that only those with pure hearts may enter this hallowed place.

Three of the clan’s young people, chosen by Croolik’s treacherous crow Kwatak, agree to go in search of Sarila in order to save their tribe. There is Putulik, the chief’s son; the beautiful Apik, his fiancée; and Markussi who only Croolik and Saya have discerned has a shaman’s gifts.

Sensing that his power is threatened, the old shaman tries to get rid of his rival Markussi. With the help of the forces of evil, Croolik throws up obstacles to impede the mission of the three young Inuit. Along the way, Markussi must learn to accept and use his shamanic powers.

After many trials, Markussi leads the three friends to Sarila. There he is given a new mission by the goddess Sedna: unmask the treacherous Croolik and take his place as shaman. It will mean a fight to the death between two sharmans, an epic battle from which Markussi must emerge victorious or doom his clan to the forces of evil at Kiliq’s hands.

CarpeDiem Film&TV is a Montreal-based media entertainment company which focuses primarily on the family market. The skills and depth of experience of its founders (Marie-Claude Beauchamp, Paul Risacher and Normand Thauvette) allows CarpeDiem to go from live action productions to 2d / 3d / stereoscopic animation to productions blending live action and CGI. Whether feature films, television series, mobisodes or web games, CarpeDiem delivers top-quality programs that satisfy the most demanding viewers from three years old to one hundred three.

Founded by Nancy Florence Savard, Productions 10e ave is a digital film and television production company. It is reknowned for the universal themes of its projects, their high production values and artistic approach, as well as the international distribution of its productions on multiple platforms:  the big screen and the small screen, podcasts, the internet and mobile devices. Its projects are aimed at families, youth and children, both animation and documentaries of international interest and appeal.

Distributed by Alliance Vivafilm, the animated film SARILA will appear on Quebec screens in 2012.

Alliance Films est l’un des plus grands distributeurs de longs métrages au Canada qui opère également dans le marché de la distribution de films au Royaume-Uni et en Espagne. Alliance Films distribue des longs métrages à des salles de cinéma, sur DVD, ainsi qu’auprès des entreprises de télédiffusion. Alliance Films détient les droits de distribution au Canada des productions de grands studios indépendants, incluant CBS Films, Focus Features, The Weinstein Company, Overture Films, Apparition, The Film Department, A Bigger Boat, Grosvenor Park et Relativity Media.