Tribeca 2026: Labrador — Autopsy of Silence | Interview with Christopher Angatookalook
From a Facebook message he thought was a scam to a Tribeca-winning debut, Actor Christopher Angatookalook reflects on the unexpected journey that changed his life.
For first-time actor Christopher Angatookalook, the journey to Tribeca began with an unexpected Facebook message and a leap into the unknown. Angatookalook has made his acting debut in Labrador – Autopsy of Silence, a Canadian thriller and murder directed by Acadian Rodrigue Jean, which made its World Premiere at the 25th Tribeca Film Festival.
In Jean’s film, a cook, Alex (Alexandre Landry), is murdered on a cargo ship sailing off the coast of Basse-Côte-Nord. Alupa Tulugak (Angatookalook), an Inuk mechanic and Alex’s secret lover, becomes the prime suspect in a tense investigation.
Jean’s film won three major awards at the festival this year, including Best International Narrative Feature, Best Cinematography in an International Narrative Feature, and Angatookalook won the award for Best Performance in an International Narrative Feature. After that major win, the future seems bright. In the interview, Angatookalook discusses taking on their first acting role and working with a patient and supportive director like Jean.
Kristin Ciliberto (KC): I have to ask you as this is your first acting role, what was the experience like, and what made you want to take on this project?
Christopher Angatookalook (CA): Well, it was an amazing experience. I have a background in the circus. I’ve been doing the circus since I was like 18. So crowd work and being in front of a crowd is one thing. Like, I’m kind of used to it, but being on stage is different than having a camera in your face. Instead of being super expressive, I had to learn how to be very minimalistic. t was really, really fun to go out, and I’ve done things that I didn’t expect. Like I was filming a scene where I was in a tent with my cousin. And just in the moment, it was really weird because we had like a six-person tent and I was beside her and on the other side there was a camera right in my face. Then there were like other people in a small tent all filming and like they were all serious doing their things. It was unreal, I didn’t expect this. I never thought that would happen, and then here we are.
KC: Here you are in the starring lead role, and you were excellent as Alupa Tulugak. Did you do any preparation or research to get into character?
CA: No, getting into character was something because I am very extroverted and I’m very bubbly, but my character, he’s a lot more to himself. Very quiet. So it was a little hard at times to get into the mindset, but when I got into it, I was able to switch a little bit better.
KC: What was it like working with Roderique Jean, especially knowing this is your first project?
CA: Roderique Jean was amazing. So he has the way he helped coach and direct, he was telling us, okay, you know, you have to relax your jaw when I’m talking. People tend to have their voice up here, but we really have to relax and then let the voice go down. It carries a lot more, he taught me a lot, and he was super patient with me. There were a few times when I felt bad, but he was really patient, and I’m really grateful.
KC: Well, I’m glad the collaboration process worked well, but I’m also very impressed to see how strong the chemistry was between you and Alexander, your co-star. He plays such an important part in the story. What was it like building that on-screen chemistry?
CA: Alex is a very funny guy. He’s very helpful. Since this was my first-ever role, I asked everyone for tips. We would run some lines, and he was always very helpful. He was super sweet. So, the chemistry we have on camera was similar to our friendship we had off camera. It wasn’t hard to like him, he’s an easy person to like. He’s just really lovable.
KC: Well, I’m glad, and I know you are a performer, and you sound like you are meant to be a performer based on our conversation here. Do you want to continue to act in more projects and films?
CA: I mean, if I get the chance, I’ll definitely jump on it, but I’m not going to try to be too optimistic. I won’t count my eggs before they hatch.
KC: What part of the filmmaking process fascinated you the most when you were behind the scenes? What was your favorite thing?
CA: I think I have like a few different answers for that. I was really surprised at the amount of detail that goes into the set dressing. Production is so amazing. They put in so much work. I mean, it’s things you don’t look at, really. You look at the people doing the scenes, you don’t look at the background, but they put such an important role on it, and they’re so meticulous, and they’re so it’s impressive.
KC: You’re so right! What does it mean to have the project that you just started selected and be part of the Tribeca Film Festival?
CA: I just feel blessed. I feel honored when I got this role through a message on Facebook saying, Hey, did you want to be in a movie, and I thought it was a scam. So, afterward, I learned the wrong lines because I didn’t expect to be applying for the main character role. They were beautiful. They let me take some time and learn the actual lines. And then, like starting from there to be featured in Tribeca, I do not believe it! It’s just that it changes everything. I never thought I’d be here, but I’m just relishing all of the work that everybody did. I’m so happy.
Our team is on site for the 25th Tribeca Film Festival, from June 3 to 14, 2026.
