‘North of North’ Stars Anna Lambe, Zorga Qaunaq Topline ‘In the Heart of the South’ Thriller (Exclusive)

True Detective star Anna Lambe and Zorga Qaunaq are starring in director and screenwriter Nyla Innuksuk’s psychological thriller In the Heart of the South.

Lambe and Qaunaq are reteaming after lead roles in the Inuk comedy North of North for Netflix and Canada’s CBC and APTN. The series that sees Lambe play a young Inuk woman looking to restart her life after an abrupt and public exit from her marriage has earned high critical praise and a second-season renewal.

In the meantime, Lambe and Qaunaq wrapped work on In the Heart of the South, which was shot in Hamilton, Ontario and co-written by Ryan Cavan. The thriller centers on Yura Ivalu (Lambe), an ambitious Inuk multimedia artist who spirals out of control when an estranged childhood friend, Sesi Ilupaalik, played by Qaunaq, resurfaces.

That forces Yura to confront the trauma she’s built her career on and the identity she built as an avenue to escape. “In the Heart of the South is deeply personal to me,” says Innuksuk in a statement. “The story — one of power, authenticity and survival — is one we can all relate to on some level, and I’m thrilled we’ve brought it to life with such talented actors and creatives.”

The cast for In the Heart of the South includes Tara Nicodemo, Alexander Nunez and Star Slade, co-star of another indie film, Nika & Madison, that’s set to bow at the 2025 Toronto Film Festival.

Producer credits on the film are shared by Jennifer Kawaja and Laura Perlmutter, while Bruno Dube is executive producing. A 2026 release is targeted for In the Heart of the South.

“It’s exciting to see Nyla’s vision of the story come to life. She’s an inspiring filmmaker and we’re grateful to collaborate with her on this project and excited for audiences to see this captivating film,” producer Perlmutter, of Sphere Media, added in her own statement.

In the Heart of the South, also from producer The Mixtape VR, has Ann Tipper as director of photography, production designer Thea Hollatz, Sage Paul as costume designer and Hugh Elchuk as the editor.

The film is produced in association with Canadian streamer Crave, CBC Films and range of federal funding agencies and broadcasters and tax credits. Elevation Pictures will release the film in Canada.