Three remarkable women push the boundaries of what we know about Antarctica’s frozen ocean
In one of the harshest places on Earth, three women from different generations chase a hidden and fleeting world beneath the Antarctic sea ice.
In the award-winning documentary, Dr Natalie Robinson leads an expedition to McMurdo Sound, joined by PhD student and microbiologist Jacqui Stuart on her first trip south. Mentoring them from afar is veteran sea ice physicist Professor Pat Langhorne.
Battling brutal weather and isolation, the team discovers extraordinary tiny creatures within the delicate structures of the ice. Weaving personal stories with groundbreaking science, this is an intimate and deeply human portrait of life set against the immense scale of Antarctica, told with grit, wit, and warmth.
Producer, director and WIFT NZ Member Vanessa Wells says from an artistic perspective she is fascinated by what drives others in extreme environments.
"I’m intrigued by human/non-human interactions and drawn to those who challenge preconceptions of what a scientist or explorer should be.”
The film won Best New Zealand Feature & Best New Zealand Director at Doc Edge Film Festival 2025 and is produced by Polarella Films & Elanti Media. Mighty Indeed was produced with support from RNZ, the New Zealand Film Commission, ChristchurchNZ, Antarctica NZ, the Antarctic Science Platform, NIWA, & Earth Sea Sky.
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