An Interview with “Slash/Back” director Nyla Innuksuk and actors Tasiana Shirley and Nalajoss Ellsworth [SXSW Film Festival]

Elements of Madness contributor Lindsey Dunn speaks with Nyla Innuksuk, director of Slash/Back and two of the cast members, Tasiana Shirley and Nalajoss Ellsworth. This interview was originally featured on the Elements of Madness YouTube and podcast channels on March 14, 2022.

In this discussion, Innuksuk talks about why she wanted to tell the story, why she chose Pangnirtung as the perfect setting, and how the community came together to tell the film. Shirley and Ellsworth share about their characters and their experiences on set. And we all end with a quick game of “Would you rather?” It’s a fascinating discussion, made all the more enjoyable by the opportunity to interview teen actors.

Official Synopsis:

Pangnirtung, Nunavut: A sleepy hamlet nestled in the majestic mountains of Baffin Island in the Arctic Ocean, wakes up to a typical summer day. No School, no cool boys (well… except one), and 24 hour sunlight. But for Maika and her ragtag friends, the usual summer is suddenly not in the cards when they discover an alien invasion threatening Pang. But these teenagers have been underestimated their whole lives, and using makeshift weapons and their horror movie knowledge, they show the aliens you don’t fuck with the girls from Pang.