'Polheim' Premieres

Polheim, the documentary film following the Trust’s 2022 Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ to the South Pole, had its world premiere at the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival (VIMFF) on 26 February 2024. Directed by Simon Waterhouse and Liddy Whiteman of Resonate, and featuring stunning footage captured by Inspiring Explorer Mike Dawson, this captivating documentary takes viewers on an extraordinary journey from New Zealand and Norway, to Punta Arenas, Chile, and across the icy expanse of Antarctica.

Named after Roald Amundsen’s 1911 camp at the South Pole, Polheim (“Home at the Pole”) tells the story of three young explorers given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; to ski across Antarctica in celebration of 150 years since the birth of Amundsen, the first person to reach the bottom of the world. Enduring gruelling physical challenges and confronting the harsh realities of isolation, the team traverses nearly 1000km of unforgiving terrain. The film taps into the rich history of polar exploration and explores themes of mortality, ambition and family.

Capturing the essence of an expedition like this is no small feat. Mike Dawson, the cinematographer behind the lens, shed light on the immense challenges faced in bringing this remarkable journey to life.

“Capturing an expedition of this magnitude is a massive challenge. There are so many components to getting the shot and telling the story, all while surviving in such a hostile environment, contributing to the team and being able to successfully make it to the Pole,” said Mike.

Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ team on the South Pole Expedition, from above. ©AHT/Mike Dawson

Inspiring Explorer Mike Dawson filming. ©AHT/Marthe Brendefur

The harsh Antarctic conditions present a myriad of obstacles for filmmakers. Mike relentlessly battled freezing temperatures, which wreak havoc on equipment, freezing LCD screens, draining batteries and fogging lenses.

The constant motion of the expedition team posed another challenge for Mike, “The train of five skiers towing their sleds never stops. The ability to reach the Pole was tied to the ability to be efficient and constantly move forward. This was a challenge to film. In order to capture moments, I needed to move around the group during the day, creating distance between the group to showcase the environment, the beauty, and the journey, while always being ready to capture the little moments, the conversations, the tears, and the elation in-between.”

The film’s premiere at VIMFF, known for its dedication to showcasing thought-provoking mountain films, was met with an enthusiastic reception. The Trust was delighted to have it feature alongside more than 70 engaging films celebrating climbing, snow-sports, the environment and more.

The Trust held a private New Zealand premiere in Christchurch in early April, where friends and family of South Pole Inspiring Explorers Mike Dawson and Laura Andrews joined Trust staff and supporters in celebrating their achievements on the big screen. The film has also screened as part of the London Mountain Film Festival, and the Trust will share it more widely later in 2024, once its festival run is complete.

The Trust extends sincere thanks to Resonate, co-directors Simon Waterhouse and Liddy Whiteman, and Expedition Photographic Partner Canon for their generous support in bringing Polheim to audiences worldwide.

The Trust’s Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ South Pole, in partnership with Ousland Explorers, was supported by Clothing Partner Norrona, with logistics provided by Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions (ALE). We are also grateful for the support of Roald Amundsen’s House, Brynje of Norway, Fjellpulken, Helsport, Asnes, TrackMe NZ and donors to the Inspiring Explorers™ Fund.