Photo Caption: Mighty Indeed award-winning director Vanessa Wells with Doc Edge General Manager Rachael Penman.
A UC tutor’s mighty new documentary filmed in Antarctica that has already won two awards is the opening night feature for Christchurch’s Doc Edge Festival.
Vanessa Wells, filmmaker and part-time tutor at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC), is the director of Mighty Indeed, a documentary about three women scientists studying microalgae hidden beneath Antarctic sea ice.
UC’s Kōawa Studios is a sponsor of the Ōtautahi Christchurch Doc Edge Festival (16 - 27 July) which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Wells’ film, which was six years in the making, scooped Best Director and Best New Zealand Feature prizes at Doc Edge’s recent awards night, success that Wells describes as “thrilling”.
Three women scientists’ epic tales
Mighty Indeed follows Dr Natalie Robinson on a world-first expedition to McMurdo Sound; microbiologist Jacqui Stuart on her first trip south; and their mentor back in Aotearoa New Zealand, veteran sea ice physicist Professor Pat Langhorne.
Wells, who has made three trips to Antarctica, met Dr Robinson in 2018 on her first visit to the Ice. She says the oceanographer quickly smashed all her pre-conceptions about scientists. “Natalie was so down to earth and real – she too was juggling kids and a career, but in the most incredibly adventurous way. I found her so inspiring, and we have become firm friends.”
She says Stuart, a PhD student, “lit up the screen” with her enthusiasm for studying microalgae. “Jacqui is ridiculously talented, in so many ways – and we get to share a few of those on screen.”
Wells met Professor Langhorne in Antarctica New Zealand workshops as part of training before her first trip south. “Pat immediately draws you in and you can’t help but fall in love with both her and sea ice. Her legacy to global science cannot be understated, yet so few know her story.”
Wells’ documentary, made with support from Antarctica New Zealand, weaves together these personal stories with new and archival footage from the icy continent. Filmed in brutal, isolated conditions, Wells says the story is about communicating science in a compelling way and challenging viewers’ perceptions.
“It’s definitely a film that shows Antarctica in a different way. We really step inside these scientists’ lives and show their inner thoughts. I would love to shift the way people look at the world and shift their perspective and connection to these wild places. If we can shift beliefs, then we might be able to change our behaviour and take better care of the climate.”
Wells, who also made the 2019 documentary East to East about a group of Aranui High School students competing in the iconic Coast to Coast race, enjoys making films that drive social change.
She says it made sense as a Christchurch local to make a film exploring the city’s ‘gateway to Antarctica’ status.
While the title of the new film comes from the name of a song Stuart wrote about plankton, which features in the documentary, Wells says it’s also a hopeful title for what is ultimately – despite some gritty moments - a positive and uplifting film.
A Mighty Indeed impact on film at UC
Mighty Indeed is also likely to become a teaching tool for UC Bachelor of Digital Screen with Honours students, she says. “I’m a doco lover and there’s nothing like real-world experience, so this is definitely something I’ll be sharing with students to help them prepare for working in the industry.”
Wells’ fellow UC film tutor Ollie Dawe was a development editor on Mighty Indeed and also produced and directed the short film, I Know I'm Going to Paint about artist Philip Trusttum which features in the Shorts 2 Collection of Doc Edge.
UC Bachelor of Digital Screen with Honours student Evienne Jones has won a Doc Edge Best Tertiary Film award for her film Ally, exploring queer identity in Aotearoa.
The Christchurch premiere screening of Mighty Indeed is at 7pm on Wednesday 16 July at Hoyts EntX Cinema followed by a Q&A session with director Vanessa Wells and Professor Pat Langhorne, Jacqui Stuart, and Dr Natalie Robinson.
An extra screening of Mighty Indeed has been added to the Doc Edge festival programme at Lumiere Cinemas, 6.15pm on Friday 18 July.
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