SHORT SYNOPSIS
For ten years, Norwegian filmmaker Asgeir has followed the extraordinary life of a polar bear named Frost – a mother struggling to raise her cubs in a rapidly changing Arctic. What begins as observation slowly becomes an intimate journey of survival and love, conflict and loss, transforming Asgeir from a quiet witness into a storyteller.
Driven by a deep connection to nature, he seeks to reveal the devastating impact of climate change on Frost’s home, Svalbard – the fastest-warming place on earth. As Asgeir confronts the consequences of human actions, he reflects on his encounters with Frost and asks: can empathy and understanding bridge the gap between humans and other animals before it’s too late?
CREDITS
Director and Original Idea: ASGEIR HELGESTAD
Editors: HELGE BILLING, ASGEIR HELGESTAD
Writers: ASGEIR HELGESTAD, ANNE ELVEDAL, AGELIKI LEFKADITOU
Director of Photography: ASGEIR HELGESTAD
Composer: RAYMOND ENOKSEN
Sound Design: ANDERS TVETEN, ERIK WATLAND
Narrative and Editing Consultant: JESPER OSMUND
Story Consultant: HELLE HANSEN
Additional Photography: INGE WEGGE, ISMAELE TORTELLA, FRANCISCO MATTOS, ODDGEIR SAGERUP, SVEIN WIIK, THEO JEBB, ALEXANDER SLETTEN, AUGUSTUS MOLTUBAKK, CARL HERDENBERG
Producers: AGELIKI LEFKADITOU, ASGEIR HELGESTAD, OLA K. HUNNES
Co-producers: INGE WEGGE, YNGVAR CHRISTENSEN
Executive Producer: GITTE HANSEN
Financed in Collaboration with DR Sales
Executive Producer: KIM CHRISTIANSEN
Senior Sales & Acquisitions Executive: FREJA JOHANNE NØRGAARD SØRENSEN
PR, Marketing & Festival Executive: NANNA LYKKE
Funded by: NORWEGIAN FILM INSTITUTE, NORDISK FILM & TV FOND, VIKEN FILMSENTER, ARTS COUNCIL NORWAY, NORWEGIAN AUDIO AND VISUAL FUND, THE FRITT ORD FOUNDATION, ARCTIC FILM NORWAY, BERGESEN FOUNDATION, NORSK FILMDISTRIBUSJON, DR SALES, NRK, SVT, RUV, WESTDEUTSCHER RUNDFUNK
PRODUCTION DETAILS
Format: DOCUMENTARY
Length: 94
Master: 4K 16:9 and 2.39:1 scope
Shooting Format: 4K–8K
Languages: NORWEGIAN (AND ENGLISH)
Country of Origin: NORWAY, GERMANY
Filming Country: NORWAY (SVALBARD)
Production Company: ARTIC LIGHT
In Co-production with: LOFOTEN FILM COLLECTIVE and WESTDEUTSCHER RUNDFUNK in collaboration with ARTE
Distribution Norway (cinema): NORSK FILMDISTRIBUSJON
PR and Marketing: KULTURMEGLERNE
Broadcasters: WDR, ARTE, NRK, SVT, RUV
World Sales: DR SALES
Pitched at
NORDISK PANORAMA
BELOW ZERO, Winner of the Arctic Documentary Award
DOC NORWAY
WILDLIFE FILM FESTIVAL ROTTERDAM
Selected at
EFM Doc/Fiction Toolbox 2025