2024 Daily Spotlight Films
Monday's Film Spotlight
Monday’s spotlight films give us a glimpse into the experiences, lives, and cultures of those living in the Polar and Alpine region.
Photo Credit: Criosfericas
Medium Length Film (14:00); Spanish/English
"Paños de Agua Azul" is a short film that invites us to reflect on the importance of preserving our natural and cultural heritage. Through it, we discover a world where art and glaciological science intertwine to create works that move and inspire us.
"Paños de Agua Azul" is a chilean short film that invites us to reflect on the importance of preserving our natural and cultural heritage. Through it, we discover a world where art and glaciological science intertwine to create works that move and inspire us.
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Contact: criosfericas@gmail.com
Photo Credit: Kitrea Takata-Glushkoff
Short Film (3:10); English
In the heart of Siberia, the world’s oldest, deepest lake, Lake Baikal evokes a powerful feeling that Buryats, Russians, and others have conveyed in their art, literature, spirituality, and science for thousands of years. Takata-Glushkoff embodies that feeling through place-based improvisational dance, honoring Baikal’s shapes, textures, and contours, along with its symphony of rumbling, creaking, and blowing snow-covered ice. Lake Baikal initially appears still and calm, but the 25-million-year-old continental rift zone dynamically sustains life for over 2000 endemic species through the water column 1600 meters beneath its frozen crust.
Contact: kitreatg@gmail.com
Medium Length Film (26:04); English
In the far north, the mighty Yukon river flows through Eric Nicolier's life. Mushing, rafting, carpentering, and playing music is Eric's way to composing his life of reverie.
Contact: diodiostudio@gmail.com
Photo Credit: Diodio Studio
Medium Length Film (12:00); Nepali/English Subtitles
Facing some of the grimmest climatic conditions 3500mts. and above the last family residing in the village of Darjeeling hills (India), across the Indo-Nepal border in the Himalayan region is dedicated to the age-old practice of yak herding. The documentary delves into unique cultural heritage and traditional livelihoods of indigenous Sherpa people in the Third Pole region. The film is a tribute to the perseverance and cultural significance of indigenous communities and their invaluable contributions to the global heritage.
Contact: yashikaelmo@gmail.com
Photo Credit: Nikhil Regmi
Tuesday's Film Spotlight
Tuesday’s spotlight films give a behind-the-scenes tour of Arctic, Antarctic, and Polar field research.
Photo Credit: UCAR
Short Film (7:03); English
Join the CAESAR project team in Kiruna, Sweden and learn all about the day-to-day logistics of running an atmospheric science field project in the Arctic.
Contact: zietlow@ucar.edu
Photo Credit: Norbert Untersteiner and F. G. Van Der Hoeven/NSIDC
Medium Length Film (33:04); English
This film, produced by Frans Guus Van Der Hoeven and Norbert Untersteiner, documents life and research at Drift Station Alpha. Alpha was established during the International Geophysical Year between 1957 and 1958, and was the first long-term scientific base on arctic pack ice operated by a Western country. This footage gives us a rare look into the foundations of modern sea ice camps and research.
This is the copyrighted work of producers Norbert Untersteiner and Frans Guus van der Hoeven, and the NSIDC, being highlighted here for purposes of education and public information.
Photo Credit: Angelo Odetti ©PNRA
Medium Length Film (17:17); Italian/English
Our film showcases the innovative use of the PROTEUS unmanned marine vehicle (UMV) during the XXXVIII Italian Expedition in Antarctica (2022-2023). Highlighting its versatility in extreme polar conditions, the film follows PROTEUS as it transitions between configurations to conduct vital scientific surveys in the Ross Sea, contributing valuable data to the global scientific community.
Contact: angelo.odetti@inm.cnr.it
Wednesday's Film Spotlight
Wednesday’s spotlight films take the excitement and wonder of students just beginning their studies into the Polar and Alpine regions.
Medium Length Film (11:17); English
A group of eight high school girls spend a week in Alaska's Kenai Fjords National Park learning about glaciers, art, and themselves. Throughout Girls* in Icy Fjords, they not only develop and grow as scientists but also gain confidence in their outdoors skills.
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Contact: achoi34@wisc.edu
Photo Credit: Alissa Choi
Photo Credit: Sullivan Fouquin
Medium Length Film (36:51); English
In the world's northernmost university center, follow Nele, Jorge, Aaro, Casimir, Tessa, Sullivan and the other students of this Arctic Geophysics course in their journey of measuring the glaciers Tellbreen and Blekumbreen. Will they be able to fulfill their mission despite the harsh conditions of Svalbard?
Thursday's Film Spotlight
Thursday’s spotlight are fun, educational, and enlightening short films that are perfect for the classroom or for anyone interested in better understanding the Polar regions.
Photo Credit: Mark Goldner
Short Film (9:05); English
In this video we explore the process of upwelling plumes at tidewater glaciers, and how this type of subglacial feature is connected to Arctic ecosystems. This video is part of a series of short educational videos about glaciers and was filmed in Svalbard, Norway during the summer of 2021. This is the result of a close partnership between science educator Mark Goldner and UMass Amherst professor Dr. Julie Brigham-Grette.
Contact: mgoldner3@gmail.com
Photo Credit: UCAR
Short Film (5:00); English
Sometimes cold air moves from the poles towards the equator as part of the global circulation of air around our Earth. This is called a cold-air outbreak (CAO) and they are common in mid-to high latitudes during winter. The cold air, when moving over open water, forms unique clouds, and can result in heavy snowfall and strong winds. Learn from the lead scientists of the CAESAR field project about CAOs and running a field project in Arctic Sweden.
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Contact: zietlow@ucar.edu
Photo Credit: Mark Goldner
Medium Length Film (11:12); English
This educational film explores how Ice Age geologic features in New England are directly connected to glacier systems in the Arctic. The video was shot in the summer of 2021 in Svalbard, Norway, and in various locations in New England. It is part of a video series which is the result of a close partnership between science educator Mark Goldner and UMass Amherst professor Dr. Julie Brigham-Grette.
Contact: mgoldner3@gmail.com
Friday's Film Spotlight
Friday’s spotlight centers on films that address climate change and the individuals that are raising awareness of its effects as well as ongoing efforts to address it.
Photo Credit: Lianna Nixon
Short Film (5:08); English
Letters to the Arctic explores a complex collaborative narrative around our relationship to the Arctic and what’s at stake. This anthology of letters were collected from scientists, crew and personnel onboard the MOSAiC expedition, reading handcrafted letters in their preferred language. These letters explore what drives people to understand the Arctic and what it means to them, the planet, and people.
Contact: lianna.nixon@colorado.edu
Short Film (9:18); English
What does it take to become the first human to swim under the Antarctic ice sheet wearing nothing but a cap, goggles, and a speedo?
On the Edge follows endurance swimmer and UNEP Patron of the Oceans, Lewis Pugh, in his toughest swim ever.
Contact: miguel@go-dreamcatcher.com
Photo Credit: Lewis Pugh Foundation / K. Trautman
Photo Credit: Earthrise Studio
Short Film (7:55); English
Uninhabitable to humans, yet impacted by every action we take, today Antarctica stands at a crossroads. We are Antarctica takes a look at our history with the ice covered continent and invites us to reimagine our relationship with this great land and listen to the ancient wisdom of those fighting to protect our last wild areas. If Antarctica had a voice, what would she say?
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Contact: viviencumming@gmail.com