Last Ocean Documentary to Premiere at McMurdo Station

Last Ocean Documentary to Premiere at McMurdo Station Antarctica

McMurdo Station, Antarctica – 19th January 2013

Attempts to hold an international premiere of the contentious film The Last Ocean at McMurdo Station are being challenged by an Antarctic storm. A key character in the documentary, US Antarctic Ecologist Dr David Ainley was to present the film to an anticipated full house at McMurdo Station’s dining hall this evening, but remains at Cape Royds penguin colony due to strong winds.

“Right now I'm stuck in the tent at Royds, with a gale blowing outside. I tried to leave last night to get to McMurdo ahead of the storm, but the storm won!” Ainley remarked in an email to director and producer of The Last Ocean, Peter Young.

Completed in July 2012, the documentary chronicles the race to protect the Ross Sea, which is regarded as the most intact marine ecosystem on Earth. A recent toothfish fishery spearheaded by New Zealand companies now threatens to destabilise the natural balance of the ecosystem. Ainley and many of his colleagues are advocating for full protection of the Ross Sea, so the ecosystem is left intact for science and for future generations.

The Last Ocean recently toured as part of the New Zealand International Film Festival, where it sold out theatres and received rave reviews across the country.

“McMurdo will be a great place to kick off the international campaign for the film” said Young, “It will definitely happen, it’s just a matter of when.”

From McMurdo the film’s first outing is at the Santa Barbara Film Festival at the end of January. From there it has outings in Boulder, Cleveland, Washington DC, London, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong and Germany with many other festivals still to come.

Dr Ainley was intending to invite New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, who is on a four day visit to the Ross Sea. New Zealand is the lead nation in the Ross Sea toothfish fishery.

In November last year the 25 nations that form the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources failed to reach agreement on establishing a marine protected area in the Ross Sea. Discussions will continue in a special meeting in Germany this July.

The Last Ocean is supported by NZ on Air, the New Zealand Film Commission, Antarctic Ocean Alliance, Biotherm, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Park Road Post, Global Ocean, and Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition.

The Last Ocean screening at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, Sunday 20th January 7pm.

ENDS

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