ABOUT THE PROJECT

LOGLINE
Three extraordinary women from three different generations grapple with the future for both the planet and themselves, as their scientific research in Antarctica discovers changes that signal huge global climate challenges ahead.

SYNOPSIS
THE CLIMATE CANARY follows an unusual “family tree”; three remarkable women across four decades have moved from predicting climate change to experiencing climate change.

Antarctic oceanographer Dr Natalie Robinson, 44, leads a team of ten scientists on an epic world-first research trip to McMurdo Sound. Jacqui Stuart, 31, a biologist and self-confessed algae-geek, is on her first trip to Antarctica, and Emeritus Professor Patricia Langhorne, 68, mentors them both from New Zealand, after more than 25 deployments to the Poles.

Camped out on the sea ice for 5 weeks, Natalie, Jacqui and the team battle brutal weather, gear failure, relentless snow drifts, and fatigue. With equipment and people pushed to their limits in the extreme cold, the team finally capture what they came for - samples of stunning fragile platelet ice crystals and the incredible ecosystem living within it.

In a jaw-dropping landscape with seals, penguins and underwater creatures beyond our imagination, our science team thrive. In some ways - life here is easier than at home.

Weaving the story of Natalie and Jacqui’s expedition with Pat’s fabulous archive footage, they also share their very personal journeys in life. The film asks if meaningful social change is possible and how these women tenaciously hold onto hope. For scientists on the frontline of climate change, their surprisingly refreshing attitudes are heartening.

THE CLIMATE CANARY is a character-driven film, combining spectacular wildlife and breath-taking scenery from the ends of the Earth, tackling climate change with agency, wit and - ironically - a whole lot of warmth.

PROJECT TYPE Documentary Feature

DIRECTOR Vanessa Wells
PRODUCER Polly Fryer
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Jill Macnab, Timothy White

WEBSITE theclimatecanary.com

The Film Collaborative (TFC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing programs and services for independent filmmakers. TFC’s federal tax ID number is 32-0295081. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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