Norsk filminstitutt

An epic journey that reveals the struggle of a polar bear mother and her cubs as the ice melts under their paws.   

This is an unpretentious and sensitive film on the meeting between Frost, a beautiful polar bear mother, and a Norwegian wildlife filmmaker. It is a five-year journey, since their first encounter in 2013 at her arctic home in Svalbard. Climate change and especially rising temperatures are responsible for dramatic changes in her ecosystem as the ice is melting away at record speeds. The dazzling beauty of the Arctic is still enchanting. Vast landscapes, unforgettable light, and all forms of life from microscopic algae to huge walruses come together to accentuate an unprecedented struggle for survival. While avoiding didactic and normative interpretations, the film is an insightful reflection on man’s place on earth and an homage to life. With feelings alternating continually between hope and despair for Frost and her small cubs, the film explores the question “this planet is home to all of us, can we afford to ignore it?”

Production and distribution

Production Year:
2018
Production country:
Norway
Release date (national):
2017-12-26
Production company:
Artic Light AS
Producer:
Asgeir Helgestad

Director

  • Asgeir Helgestad

    Asgeir Helgestad (b. 1968) is a Norwegian filmmaker with over thirty years of experience in wildlife cinematography. Having grown up in the countryside, nature has always been his greatest love and inspiration. His work reflects a deep passion for creating the perfect image and a remarkable empathy for his subjects. 

    His most recent documentary, Queen without Land (2017/2018), has been shown in more than fifty festivals, received over thirty international awards, and reached audiences worldwide. 

    Asgeir Helgestad

Awards

2018:
International Wildlife Film Festival
Best Environmental Film
2018:
Green Screen Naturfilmfestival
sh:z Audience Award
2018:
Matsalu International Nature Film Festival
Best Cinematography
2018:
Wildlife Vaasa International Nature Film Festival
Best Nordic Production
2018:
Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam
Best Film
2018:
Festival International Du Film Ornithologique De Menigoute
Grand Prix
2019:
Elements Film Festival
Best Feature Film
2019:
Festival Les Écrans de la Mer des Sables d'Olonne
Prix Ushuaïa TV
2019:
Nordic/Docs
Honorable Mention - Best Cinematography
2019:
Deauville Green Awards Festival
Le prix spécial Cie des Réals : Originalité de la réalisation
2019:
Gran Paradiso Film Festival
Premio Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso
2019:
Baikal International Film Festival People and Environment
Special prize for sending a clear message to humanity - Jury of the Limnological Institute, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science
2019:
Inkafest Mountain Film Festival
Environmental Award
2019:
International Science Film Festival World of Knowledge
Best Cinematography
2020:
Scandinavian International Film Festival Helsinki
Best Environmental Film
2020:
Wasatch Mountain Film Festival
Feature Film Award
2020:
Nature Track Film Festival
Best Adventure Film
2020:
Fort Myers Film Festival
Best Environmental Film

Festivals

2018:
International Wildlife Film Festival
2018:
Fjellfilmfestivalen - Norwegian Mountainfilm Festival
2018:
Green Screen Naturfilmfestival
2018:
Matsalu International Nature Film Festival
2018:
Wildlife Vaasa International Nature Film Festival
2018:
Wildscreen Festival
2018:
Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam
2018:
Festival International Du Film Ornithologique De Menigoute
2018:
Northern Film Festival, Leeuwarden
2018:
InScience International Science Film Festival Nijmegen
2019:
CPH:DOX
2019:
Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival
2019:
Elements Film Festival
2019:
Trento Film Festival
2019:
Festival Les Écrans de la Mer des Sables d'Olonne
2019:
Nordic/Docs
2019:
International Nature Film Festival Gödöllő
2019:
Tulum World Environment Film Festival
2019:
Deauville Green Awards Festival
2019:
Gran Paradiso Film Festival
2019:
Festival Dei Festival - International Mountain Film Festival
2019:
Ulju Mountain Film Festival
2019:
Baikal International Film Festival People and Environment
2019:
Festival International Nature Namur
2019:
Inkafest Mountain Film Festival
2019:
Environmental Film Festival Australia
2019:
Nordic Film Days Lübeck
2019:
International Science Film Festival World of Knowledge
2019:
BergBuchBrig
2019:
Sondrio Festival
2019:
CMS Vatavaran Environment & Wildlife Film Festival
2020:
Scandinavian International Film Festival Helsinki
2020:
Wasatch Mountain Film Festival
2020:
DocLands Documentary Film Festival
2020:
Nature Track Film Festival
2020:
Fort Myers Film Festival

Crew

Director:
Asgeir Helgestad
Screenplay:
Anne Elvedal
Cinematographer:
Asgeir Helgestad
Camera:
Theo Jebb
Alexander Sletten
Editor:
Inge-Lise Langfeldt
Mette Cheng Munthe-Kaas
Asgeir Helgestad
Sound Design:
Fredrik Berg
Composer:
Julian Cisneros

Technical information

Genre:
Documentary
Format:
DCP 4k
Screen ratio:
16:9
Colour:
Colour
Sound format:
Stereo 5.1
Length in min's:
70'
Language:
English

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