A film co-created by Yukon resident Mike Code featuring a polar bear has clinched a prestigious award at the Sundance Film Festival. Titled “Nuisance Bear,” the documentary secured the Grand Jury Prize in the U.S. Documentary category, as confirmed by the festival on Friday morning. Expressing his surprise at the win, Code remarked that they were completely taken aback by the recognition. The film follows a fictionalized journey of a lone polar bear facing challenges in the Arctic, particularly human-bear interactions, as Code revealed in an interview with CBC’s Midday Cafe on January 20. It delves into the significance of the bear for two distinct communities, Churchill, Manitoba, and Arviat, Nunavut, without drawing direct comparisons but focusing on the nuances of each community’s approach to dealing with bears entering their towns. Having spent his formative years in both Churchill and Arviat and witnessing numerous polar bears, Code shared that his father, a teacher in Arviat and a wildlife cinematographer and bear guide in Churchill, influenced his deep connection with these animals. Code first connected with the future directors of “Nuisance Bear,” Jack Wiseman and Gabriela Osio Vanden, at the Hot Docs film festival in 2019. Filming for the project commenced in Churchill in 2023, utilizing specialized car-mounted cameras with advanced stabilization technology for capturing close-up shots of bears amidst the safety of a moving vehicle. The filmmakers were aware of the uniqueness of their footage, showcasing never-before-seen bear behaviors on film, a fact that resonated with audiences at the festival, who were captivated by the visual spectacle and storytelling. Code emphasized the significance of being featured at Sundance as a recognition of producing high-quality work and an opportunity to network with industry peers and promote the project. Anticipating the event, Code highlighted that winning at such competitions could potentially pave the way for future accolades, akin to receiving an Oscar nomination.