A short film shot in Iqaluit is one of 10 short films on the shortlist for an Academy Award nomination.

“Throat Song” stars Rankin Inlet artist Ippiksaut Friesen as a young woman struggling to leave an abusive relationship.

It was produced by Stacy Aglok Macdonald, originally of Kugluktuk but now living in Iqaluit where she runs her own production company.

Laakkuluk Williamson-Bathory played a hip receptionist in Throat Song. She says it's important people see Inuit culture as presented by the Inuit.

"Here we have a film that is made from the inside," Williamson-Bathory says. "Made by people who know this life, who know the housing and knows the situations that people live in. And it's an immense statement to say there are artists who know how to portray our lives here in a beautiful and potent way."

“Throat Song” already won the award for best live action short drama at the Canadian Screen Awards in March. (The Canadian Screen Awards replaced the Genie Awards for film and Gemini Awards for television.)

According to the Oscars, 120 films originally qualified for the category. The shortlist will be trimmed further after screenings take place in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco in December.

Academy Awards nominations will be announced Jan.16, with the awards ceremony on March 2.