Nuisance Bear (2026 film)

Last updated

Nuisance Bear
Directed by
Produced by
Cinematography
  • Gabriela Osio Vanden
  • Jack Weisman
  • Michael Code
  • Sam Holling
  • Ian Kerr
  • Jack Gawthrop
Edited byAndres Landau
Music by Cristobal Tapia de Veer
Production
company
Release date
Running time
90 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • Canada
Languages

Nuisance Bear is an upcoming documentary film directed by Gabriela Osio Vanden and Jack Weisman. It is a feature-length expansion of their 2021 short film of the same name.

Contents

The film depicts the relationship between polar bears and humans in Churchill, Manitoba. It premieres in the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. [1]

Premise

The film takes place in Churchill, Manitoba. It documents the migration of polar bears as they move through the town, which is populated by tourists, wildlife officers, and hunters. An Inuit narrator describes the bears that are monitored, photographed, and redirected by humans.

Production

The film is directed by Gabriela Osio Vanden and Jack Weisman. They previously directed the 14-minute short film Nuisance Bear (2021). The short film received an honorable mention for the Best Canadian Short Film award at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, [2] was a nominee for Best Short Documentary at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards, [3] and was named to the shortlist for Best Documentary Short Film at the 95th Academy Awards. [4]

The directors filmed in Churchill for the feature expansion. The film is produced by Michael Code, Will N. Miller, and Teddy Leifer. The score is composed by Cristobal Tapia de Veer.

Release

Nuisance Bear was announced as part of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on December 10, 2025.

References

  1. Jamie Casemore, "Canadian doc Nuisance Bear to world premiere at Sundance". Playback , December 11, 2025.
  2. Steve Pond, "‘Belfast’ Wins Toronto Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award". TheWrap , September 18, 2021.
  3. Ramachandran, Naman (February 15, 2022). "'Sort Of,' 'Scarborough,' 'Night Raiders' Lead Canadian Screen Awards Nominations". Variety . Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  4. "95th Oscars Shortlists Announced for 10 Categories". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . December 21, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2025.