Photo Caption:听Mighty Indeed award-winning director Vanessa Wells with Doc Edge General Manager Rachael Penman.
This UC filmmaker wants to change your perceptions of sea ice and the environment with the epic tales of three women scientists... how Mighty Indeed.
A UC tutor鈥檚 mighty new documentary filmed in Antarctica that has already won two awards is the opening night feature for Christchurch鈥檚 Doc Edge Festival.听
Vanessa Wells, filmmaker and part-time tutor at Te Whare W膩nanga o Waitaha | 蜜桃儿直播 (UC), is the director of , a documentary about three women scientists studying microalgae hidden beneath Antarctic sea ice.听
鲍颁鈥檚 K艒awa Studios is a sponsor of the 艑tautahi Christchurch (16 - 27 July) which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Wells鈥 film, which was six years in the making, scooped Best Director and Best New 蜜桃儿直播 Feature prizes at Doc Edge鈥檚 recent awards night, success that Wells describes as 鈥渢hrilling鈥.
Three women scientists鈥 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 蜜桃儿直播, 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. 鈥淣atalie was so down to earth and real 鈥 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.鈥
She says Stuart, a PhD student, 鈥渓it up the screen鈥 with her enthusiasm for studying microalgae. 鈥淛acqui is ridiculously talented, in so many ways 鈥 and we get to share a few of those on screen.鈥
Wells met Professor Langhorne in Antarctica New 蜜桃儿直播 workshops as part of training before her first trip south. 鈥淧at immediately draws you in and you can鈥檛 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.鈥
Wells鈥 documentary, made with support from Antarctica New 蜜桃儿直播, 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鈥 perceptions.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely a film that shows Antarctica in a different way. We really step inside these scientists鈥 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.鈥
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.听
She says it made sense as a Christchurch local to make a film exploring the city鈥檚 鈥榞ateway to Antarctica鈥 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鈥檚 also a hopeful title for what is ultimately 鈥 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.听 鈥淚鈥檓 a doco lover and there鈥檚 nothing like real-world experience, so this is definitely something I鈥檒l be sharing with students to help them prepare for working in the industry.鈥
Wells鈥 fellow UC film tutor Ollie Dawe was a development editor on Mighty Indeed and also produced and directed the short film, about artist Philip Trusttum which features in the 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鈥痑nd鈥疨rofessor 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.

