The Edge of the Shadows – Greenland

It’s eight years since six young people were attacked by the mythical Qivittoq in Qaqqat Alanngui. Tuuma is a tourist guide in Nuuk, Greenland and sails people around for sightseeing. While sailing with some tourists, they ask if they could go to the place where the young people were attacked, against Tuuma’s will. When they arrive, Tuuma’s fears become warranted as the two tourists disappear. Tuuma quickly sails back to Nuuk to get help from the police. But is it a good idea to go back and look for the tourists when the Qivittoqs are roaming the mountains?

With his unique ability to build on Inuit stories and mythology, the director of The Edge of the Shadows (Alanngut Killinganni) combines modern storytelling techniques with humour and horror from Greenlandic oral storytelling traditions. One of the film’s central elements is therefore its use of Greenlandic tales and mythology, which are woven into the story in a natural and authentic way.

Greenlandic landscapes are also a key component in the film, where breath-taking views of the mountains and the sea form a fantastic backdrop for the action. The beautiful landscapes enhance a sense of dread and unease, while adding an extra dimension to the thrilling action.

The film explores important themes related to grief, community, and tradition. This can be seen in the clash between civilizations, between city and country, and between the natural and the mystical, as well as in the respect for nature and history. There are things out there that we don’t know about. The film places itself elegantly in the newer tradition of ‘Arctic chills’ from the high north.

Malik Kleist (born in Greenland in 1977) is an editor, writer, director, and producer.
He studied film, television, and media production at Medieskolerne in Viborg (2000 to 2004).
He has worked as a television technician since 2001 and went into film in 2009 when he started his company Tumit Production, and later Imalik Film. Kleist made his debut as writer and director with the thriller Qaqqat Alanngui in 2011. His second feature Unnuap Taarnerpaaffiani, which he wrote, directed, produced, edited, sound-designed, and colour-graded, was made in 2014. His third feature and sequel to his debut, Alanngut Killinganni, premiered in Greenland in 2022.

Nina Paninnguaq Skydsbjerg (born 1985) is a writer, director, producer, line-producer, and founder of the production company PaniNoir in Nuuk, Greenland. The self-taught professional has worked in the creative industries for 13 years and, since 2016, as a producer mainly of Greenlandic features and documentaries. Her production credits include a television series about filmmaking in Greenland Assiliiviup tunuani, the comedy feature Ukiutoqqami Pilluaritsi by Otto Rosing (2019), and the chiller The Edge of the Shadows by Malik Kleist, sequel to his 2011 break-through film. She is currently working as co-director with Sofie Rørdam on the documentary Walls, produced by Anorâk Film.

Original title: Alanngut Killinganni

International title: The Edge of the Shadows

Director: Malik Kleist           

Screenwriter: Malik Kleist                         

Producer: Nina Paninnguaq Skydsbjerg                           

Production company: PaniNoir / Imalik Film

Length: 112 minutes

Greenlandic distribution: QaqqatAlanngui

International sales: Not available