VP9THU South Sandwich

Voyage to the Edge of the World

September 1976 •French

On his ship "Calypso," as well as in a submarine, Jacques Cousteau and his crew sail from South America and travel to Antarctica. They explore islands, reefs, icebergs, fossils, active volcanic craters, and creatures of the ocean never before seen. This voyage took place in 1975, and Captain Cousteau became one of the first explorers ever to dive beneath the waters of the frozen South Pole.

The Great White Silence

May 1924 •English

Herbert Ponting travelled to Antarctica with Captain Scott’s ill-fated South Pole expedition and filmed the stunning images that make up this extraordinary documentary. (Originally released in 1912 as With Captain Scott in the Antarctic, the material was re-edited and re-issued by Ponting in 1924 as The Great White Silence.)

The Unknown Life of Antarctica

June 2019 •German

This documentary explores the harsh and mysterious environment of Antarctica, focusing on the King George Island research stations. It highlights the scientific discoveries, extreme weather conditions, and the unique challenges faced by researchers living in one of the most isolated places on Earth.

Au Sud du Sud

February 1992 •French

The Transantarctic expedition led by the American Will Steger and the Frenchman Dr. Jean-Louis Étienne took place between July 1989 and March 1990. It was the first successful attempt to cross the entire extent of Antarctica without the use of motor power. Six men of various nationalities, including Viktor Boyarksy (Soviet Union), Geoff Somers (Great Britain), Qin Dahe (China) and Keizo Funatsu (Japan), crossed Antarctica from east to west for seven months on dog sleds pulled by 63 sled dogs, covering a total distance of 6,048 kilometers, with temperatures as low as minus 45 degrees Celsius and long-lasting storms. Their aim was to draw global attention to the continent's endangered future and the early signs of climate change. The documentary relives this great human adventure, which took more than three years from the first meeting of the participants to the final success.

Sea Gypsies: The Far Side of the World

August 2017 •English

The vessel is Infinity, a 120-foot hand-built sailboat, crewed by a band of miscreants. The journey, an 8,000 mile Pacific crossing from New Zealand to Patagonia, with a stop in Antarctica. Unlike all the other boats heading to the Southern Ocean, Infinity is no ice-reinforced super-yacht crewed by professional sailors; rather, Infinity lives in the moment and sails on a whim. What can be found in abundance on board is blood, sweat, enthusiasm, risk tolerance, disdain for authority, and an ample supply of alcohol – all in all a mad voyage of reckless adventure just for the sheer joy of it. Along the way the crew will battle a hurricane of ice in the Ross Sea, assist the radical environmental group Sea Shepherd in their fight with illegal whalers, and tear every sail they have. At the heart of their journey is a quest for awe and a sense of wonder with the raw power of the natural world.

Elementa

July 2020 •English

A black-and-white visual meditation of wilderness and the elements. Wildlife filmmaker Richard Sidey returns to the triptych format for a cinematic experience like no other.

Crossing the Ice - A journey to hell and back

September 2012 •English

James Castrission and Justin Jones, dare to not only tackle the perilous journey across Antarctica to the South Pole and return, but to do it completely unassisted – no sled dogs, no wind kites, just two men dragging their food, their shelter and themselves across 1140 kilometres of barren ice. And back again. As they battle frostbite, hypothermia, crevasses and starvation over three months of torture in the harshest place on Earth, Cas and Jonesy discover their limits, the nature of sportsmanship and the boundaries of the human spirit.

Project: Antarctica

October 2018 •German

Licence to Krill

June 2015 •English

In February 2013 a film crew led by documentary filmmaker David Sington will leave Montevideo in Uruguay for a voyage across the South Atlantic into the stormiest waters on Earth. Their destination will be a rendezvous with the Saga Sea, a high-technology trawler operating in the Antarctic Ocean. It will be a voyage to the latest and possibly last frontier between industrial civilization and the natural world, in search of a mysterious sea creature which for decades has held the promise of transforming human nutrition: krill. Could the exploitation of krill improve diet across the globe, or will it simply lead to the collapse of one of the most important ecosystems on the planet?

Antarctica: Ice & Sky

October 2015 •French

Documentary about the work of Claude Lorius, who began studying Antarctic ice in 1957, and, in 1965, was the first scientist to be concerned about global warming.

Extreme der Tiefsee - Abysses

December 2018 •French

The deep waters of the Southern and Pacific Oceans still hold many mysteries. Two international teams of scientists set out to explore the icy depths of Antarctica and the abysses of the Mariana Trench. Filmed for the first time, creatures seemingly from another galaxy cohabit with champions of survival in extreme conditions.

Solo to the South Pole

September 2019 •French

At only 26 years old, the adventurer Matthieu Tordeur undertook an expedition of 1150 km by skiing from the coast of the Antarctic continent to the South Pole, alone, without assistance and in total autonomy. This immersive documentary plunges us into the intimacy of the 51 days of this exceptional and very moving expedition.

Antarctica: A Message from Another Planet

April 2019 •Spanish

The first documentary that describes the official policy and coverage of the sixth continent. With humor and beautiful landscapes in 4k, we will find out if Antarctica is an example of global peace, science and the environment, the scene of the next great war.

Wildlife South Africa 3D

May 2012 •English

In this three part documentary we look at all topics South Africa has to offer. THE BIG FIVE focuses on the kings of animals, lion, rhinoceros, elephant, leopard and the African buffalo. Armed with 3D cameras, we visited the Kings of the savannah and the jungle, where we sensed the fascination that emanates from the largest animals in the wild. In SAFARI we look behind the scenes of a park and found out what it means to pursue eco-tourism and just what the opportunities and the risks are. Finally, we discover the WEST CAPE region and its unique flora and fauna, swim with whales and sea lions, follow penguins and – as a highlight – we meet the white sharks. Join us on a spectacular 3D journey.

Snow Chick - A Penguin's Tale

December 2015 •English

A chronicle of the birth and development of one penguin chick, born late and smaller than any of its fellow toddlers.

Whales in a Changing Ocean

February 2021 •English

Wildlife photographer Richard Sidey joins an international team of whale research scientists in Antarctica to document their work on how Humpback Whales are adapting to a changing ocean.

Mawson: Life and Death in Antarctica

May 2008 •English

The Douglas Mawson Antarctic Expedition of 1912 is considered one of the most amazing feats of endurance of all time. Although his two companions perished, Douglas Mawson survived, but how? In a bold historical experiment, scientist and adventurer Tim Jarvis is retracing the gruelling experience, with the same meagre rations, primitive clothing and equipment to uncover what happened to Mawson physically — and mentally — as a man hanging on the precipice of life and death.

Seven Cities of Antarctica

December 1958 •English

In 1955 Operation "Deep Freeze" began. This film tells the story of its purpose - the establishment by the United States Navy of seven bases in Antarctica for scientific study and observations in connection with the International Geophysical Year. Rare motion pictures record sequences from the expeditions of the early pioneers, Mundsen and Scott, and the film becomes the story of man's instinct to understand and conquer the unknown.

No Horizon Anymore

September 2012 •English

From summer to winter and back again, 'No Horizon Anymore,' takes you on a journey few have experienced. Less than 2,000 people have spent the austral winter at the South Pole Station. Here, we follow members of the winterover crew from 2009 as they share their views on the interactions, the people, the environment, and the science that takes place during a busy year. After the sun sets, the crew succumbs to six months of inky darkness. Certain levels of 'toastiness' set in as routines are interrupted, and limits are tested. The only cure for claustrophobia is an unattainable outside world. With rare footage of the austral winter at 90 S, this is a must see for polar enthusiasts and adventurers alike.

Terre Adélie

June 1952 •French