The Antarctica Challenge

Climate Change Film Invited to IPY Science Conference

antarcticafilm — Mon, 24 May 2010 23:53:33 +0000

You may have already heard, but for those who haven’t, my film, The Antarctica Challenge: A Global Warning, has been invited to screen at the International Polar Year Science Conference in Oslo, Norway, June 8 to 12.
This is a rare honour for any filmmaker – in fact, there are only 10 films being screened in total – but even moreso when you consider that it is the only film to screen for both delegates attending the conference and for the public attending the PolarCINEMA Film Festival taking place at the same time.
The film will be screened throughout the conference to more than 2,600 polar scientists at an event that is being billed as the biggest environmental conference since Copenhagen.
It’s at this event that the world’s scientific community will be announcing their findings following two years of intense study in the Arctic and Antarctica during International Polar Year (2007 to 2009).
After debuting at COP15 at the invitation of the United Nations, I am thrilled to present the film to the scientists whose work the film profiles.
This high-profile conference is one of the most eagerly-anticipated events among the world’s environmental media.
To take advantage of this, sponsorships are being made available but only until June 5. To secure your place at this historic conference write now for details: mark@polarcapproductions.com.
And watch this blog – it will be updated regularly during the conference giving you the latest climate change news as it happens.

Why Are These Men Smiling?

antarcticafilm — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:34:29 +0000

Filmmaker, Film Star, Explorers

Filmmaker Mark Terry and film star Dan Aykroyd are all smiles during the Explorers Club annual dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. Could the two Explorers Club members be collaborating on Terry’s highly-anticipated new climate change doc, The Polar Explorer? Stay tuned….

Speaking Tour Launches in Canada

antarcticafilm — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 11:09:49 +0000

Mark Terry Speaking the University of Victoria

The Antarctica Challenge: A Global Warning has launched a tour allowing universities, school boards, environmental groups and the public at large a chance not only to see the film on the big screen, but to hear its filmmaker talk about climate change, the challenges of shooting in Antarctica and his experiences as a UN delegate at COP15 in Copenhagen.

I began the tour on Canada’s east coast visiting the elementary and secondary schools of New Brunswick. It was very encouraging to speak to hundreds of enthusiastic children, all of whom seemed to have questions about penguins and climate change. School board executives were extremely hospitable providing transportation, accommodation and meals throughout the 10-day tour. Special thanks to Patricia Lee of the Miramichi District 16 School Board for organizing such a successful tour.

From sea to shining sea. Next stop, the universities of British Columbia. With presentations at the University of Northern British Columbia and the University of Victoria, professors, scientists and environmentalists came out to discuss the impact of the changes in Antarctica on the rest of the world. Special thanks to Patrick Maher of the UNBC and Maeva Gauthier of U of Vic for doing such a great job of organizing these events on relatively short notice.

Next stop – Saskatachewan. I will be speaking at the University of Regina April 7.

If you would like to book myself and the film and be part of this tour, please contact me at 416-899-5855 or write me at mark@polarcapproductions.com for details.

COP 15 Update

antarcticafilm — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:53:42 +0000

A Globe Powered by Bicycles in Copenhagen City Square

There has been no shortage of energy here at COP15. Even though the much-anticipated United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (aka COP15) began officially on Dec. 7, conference related events begans here days ago.

Our film played each day at The Climate Exchange cinema to packed houses. Meanwhile, at the Bella Centre, home of the COP15 conference, “protestors” were chanting and singing quite loudly, frequently and angrily. However, I put protestors in quotes because they came across more as cheerleaders with an attitude. Shouting such demands as “Seal a Deal”, “Make it happen!” and the ever-popular “Stop Climate Change!”, the vociferous activists seem to be impatiently encouraging delegates, rather than denying global warming.

There is a tiny bit of irony here as the temperature in Copenhagen has remained at 6 degrees Celsius for the 14th day in a row – day and night! Not much change in the climate at the climate change conference…

Word of our film has spread quickly through the conference resulting in nearly 15 screenings — so far! The Greenpeace screening was so over-subscribed that they adde an additional screening to accommodate more delegates.

Yesterday we screened to an enthusiastic delegation from the Netherlands. For those who couldn’t get into the theatre, they listened from the other side of the wall and their reactions were heard by those inside!

The world leaders will be arriving in the conference’s second week. When they arrive, they will be given their own copies of the film along with a screening schedule should they wish to attend in person. The United Nations Environment Programme has been terrific in organizing and promoting our film and its screenings.

Reporting live from the Bella Centre, this is UN delegate and documentary filmmaker Mark Terry. Stay tuned for more updates.

Award Win in India

antarcticafilm — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:07:59 +0000

On October 30, 2009, in New Delhi, India, our film won the Best Picture Award in the Climate Change category of the Vatavaran Environmental & Wildlife Film Festival. Here’s what the jury said in handing out the award:

“For its rare images of the majesty and wonder of the frozen continent and the dangers its collapse poses to the world we live in.”

antarcticafilm — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:45:50 +0000

The Princess Cinema, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

The beautiful Princess Cinema in downtown Kitchener, Ontario (46 King Street North) will present a special screening of The Antarctica Challenge: A Global Warning Thursday, November 26 at 7:15 PM.

This will likely be the last chance to see the film before it premieres to 190 world leaders at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen December 7 to 18, 2009.

Tickets are $10 and I will be there to introduce the film and conduct a Q&A followig the screening.

For more information, click on the picture above.

Do We Care?

antarcticafilm — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:25:01 +0000

Mark Terry to Speak at Planet in Focus Symposium

I am participating in a panel discussion called “Do We Care?” at the Planet in Focus Film Festival currently running in Toronto, Friday, October 23 at 3:30 PM at the Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto. The panel is being moderated by Paul Lewis, President and GM of the Discovery Channel Canada and will include former head of documentaries for CTV and CBC, Bob Culbert, the director of Sharkwater, Rob Stewart and the Executive Producer of The Nature of Things, Michael Allder.
Click on the picture above for more details.

Best Envrionmental Film Award

antarcticafilm — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:10:39 +0000

Mark Terry Accepts Award in Ireland

Beating out stiff competition from five excellent American documentaries, The Antarctica Challenge: A Global Warning won the Best Picture Award in the Environmental category of the International Film Festival Ireland competition held in Tipperary this week.

Jurors from Wales and England selected our film as the first ever winner in this cateogry. The Mayor of Tipperary was also on hand to congratulate me in this unique photo op. In my acceptance speech, all involved were thanked with particular reference made to the film’s dedicatee, Catherine Terry, my mother. It was pointed out that her family had come from “just down the road” in County Cork, a fact that seemed to please the crowd immensely.

International Polar Year Film Festival

antarcticafilm — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:37:01 +0000

The International Polar Year Film Festival

The Canadian Film Institute has invited The Antarctica Challenge: A Global Warning to participate in this year’s International Polar Year Film Festival to be held in Ottawa September 28 to 30, 2009.

antarcticafilm — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:46:32 +0000

Blue Planet Film Festival

Sept. 4-7 I’ll be in the Los Angeles area for the World Premiere screening of my film The Antarctica Challenge: A Global Warning at the Blue Planet Film Festival. This is a new environmental film festival that promises to be as much fun as it will be enlightening. If you’re in the LA area, check it out. See why the United Nations chose this special film to participate in the Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen.