Presented with the Embassy of France.

A frozen continent stretching across 13 million km2, Antarctica had until now seemed sheltered from the dangers of climate disruption. Protected by an international treaty it has been spared the effects of hunting and fishing. But signs in ice’s cyclical patterns and its biodiversity have become worrying. Connected to the planet’s global ecosystem via atmospheric circulation and ocean currents, this white haven is suffering the effects of human activities. To document and explain what is unfolding in Antarctica, photographer, diver, and marine biologist Laurent Ballesta and photographer of extreme environments Vincent Munier will be blending their artistic perspectives of a rapidly changing continent. Laurent Ballesta will tackle technical and human prowess below the ice to bear witness to its remarkable underwater life. His photographs will advance knowledge on Antarctica’s unique and little-known biodiversity. On land, his eye riveted to the lens of his camera, Vincent Munier captures snapshots of life in an Emperor Penguin colony. Genuine guardians of the ice, the birds are central to Antarctica’s mechanisms, acting as bio-indicators of an extraordinary territory. Antarctica, In the Footsteps of the Emperor is an ode to the biodiversity and protection of the white continent.  In French with English subtitles.

Directed by Jérôme Bouvier. Coproduced with: ARTE FRANCE, PAPRIKA FILMS, WILD-TOUCH PRODUCTION, ANDROMÈDE OCÉANOLOGIE, CNRS IMAGES, with support from THE ILE DE FRANCE REGION, THE CNC’S PARTICIPATION and institutional support from THE FRENCH SOUTHERN and ANTARCTIC TERRITORIES (TAAF) and THE FRENCH POLAR INSTITUTE (IPEV), in partnership with BLANCPAIN (FRANCE, 2016, 1H30) Distributor: TERRANOA