Inkwo for When the Starving Return

In a future distant from the present, the world faces destruction from a horde of ferocious, flesh-eating monsters that grow more powerful as they consume souls and bodies. A mysterious warrior named Dove, who possesses a fluid gender identity, must learn to utilize the burdens and gifts of their traditional medicine, known as Inkwo. By forming an alliance with the Earth and relying on their own resilience, Dove fights to protect their community from these creatures and the forces of greed they represent.

This Canadian animated fantasy short has a runtime of 19 minutes and was produced by the National Film Board of Canada and Spotted Fawn Productions. It marks the first film directed by Amanda Strong, who later directed Soul Catcher in 2026. Strong also served as a producer and co-wrote the screenplay alongside Richard Van Camp and Bracken Hanuse Corlett. The voice cast features Paulina Alexis as the protagonist Dove, with Tantoo Cardinal voicing Auntie and Art Napoleon voicing Frog.