ABOUT THE FILM

Acclaimed Australian filmmaker Liz Courtney will introduce her film Antarctica - The Giant Awakens, which sheds light on the looming threat of sea level rise. Despite Antarctica's geographical distance from the tropical landscapes of Australia, Oceania, and Asia, the rapidly changing Antarctic ice sheet presents a significant danger to these regions, with potential global implications.

The documentary follows a team of young women scientists on a mission to Antarctica, led by Prof Benjamin Horton, the Director of The Earth Observatory of Singapore.

Accompanied by renowned Australian Director of Photography Michael Dillon AM, the team endeavours to conduct innovative scientific research, providing critical insights into the pace of Antarctica's rapid melt and its implications for the region and around the globe.

Antarctica, nearly twice the size of Australia, holds 75% of the world's fresh water. However, the Antarctic ice sheet, perched on a bedrock base, is now under threat as colossal ice cliffs surrounding the West Antarctic coastline melt and collapse due to rising temperatures in the Southern Ocean, surpassing previous predictive models.

Prof Horton emphasizes the urgency of understanding the mechanisms driving the melting glaciers, the impact on ocean circulation, sea level rise and the importance of partnerships and teamwork to drive scientific discoveries and solutions.

Beautiful drone footage, captivating wildlife, a frozen land of ice and beauty sets an alluring backdrop to one of the world's hidden climate emergencies and poses the question - Is Antarctica Waking Up?

Although the answer is challenging, Liz says that the message of the film is ultimately one of hope - ‘through the voices of the younger generation that are in this film - they talk about the fact that we need action. Without action there is not hope and without hope there is not action - so these two things have to work together, and how we can all be part of the solution’ Liz Courtney.

Join us for an exclusive screening of the breathtaking new documentary “Antarctica – The Giant Awakens”. This stunning film will take you on a journey to the Antarctic Peninsula, where a team of intrepid scientists, led by Professor Benjamin Horton from the Earth Observatory of Singapore, reveal the alarming effects of climate change on the world’s most remote continent

Dr Rachel Cameron, healthcare leader, an advocate for climate courage, will host an ice-side conversation with award-winning Director Liz Courtney.

Dr Rachel will be travelling to Antarctica from 27 th January 2025 with 116 women on a boat built to support the expedition and non-binary experts in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) on the HBTransform Expedition. Liz is kindly supporting this event, as a visionary leader in climate advocacy and gender equity.

Learn more about the Homeward Bound initiative and The 2025 Island Sky Voyage.

Date and Time: 4-6.30 pm, Sunday 12th January, 2025

Venue: Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron (RMYS), Pier Rd, St Kilda VIC 3182

Tickets: $35

NB: PG content and children are welcome, but some children may find discussions on climate change distressing.

See you there!

Dr Rachel Cameron’s Antarctica page