“Gripping, edge of the seat stuff.”
‘An absolute triumph. I found the film incredibly powerful.”
“Heart stopping. Funny. A ripping yarn!”
“The best documentary I have ever seen!” Dick Smith
” Wonderful! Just Wonderful!” Jack Thompson
VIEW TRAILER
Scroll down for THE FINAL SPRING 2024 ENCORE SCREENINGS ….
Deep in the wild Southern Ocean, halfway between Australia and South Africa, a snowy volcano, nine thousand feet high, rears up from the sea like a great white whale.
Five times it tried to kill the first team that attempted to climb it. Yet in 1964, back they sailed, through the worst seas in the world, to try again, this time with legendary explorer, Bill Tilman as their skipper.
Its one of the least known yet most audacious Australian adventures of the 20th century,
Join us on those first attempts to climb Big Ben, the smoking glacier ringed volcano on Heard Island, Australia’s loneliest, most remote outpost. It’s a tale told with quirky humour by those who were there, backed up with their beautifully shot archival footage. Paul Jarman’s brilliant musical score pays tribute to the utter boldness of the quest, bringing to life this little known moment in Australian history.
GRAND PRIZE & BEST DIRECTOR, Mendi International Mountain Film Festival, Balboa 2023, BEST EXPEDITION FILM & ITALIAN ALPINE CLUB AWARD Trento International Mountain Film Festival. 2024. BEST FILM Sestriere Film Festival 2024. AUDIENCE AWARD Cervino Film Festival 2024. BEST FILM Ulan Unji Film festival, Korea 2024
Directed and Produced by Michael Dillon.
Editor: Mike Balson. Sound: Michael Worthington. Music: Paul Jarman.
As the summer approaches THE GREAT WHITE WHALE will head for cooler waters, as whales always do. But stay in touch…
THE WHALE WILL BE BACK IN 2025!
WOULD your local CINEMA or COMMUNITY GROUP like to HOST A SCREENING of The Great White Whale? Email us for details. mcdillonfilms@gmail.com
- ENCORE: CINEMA NOVA, CARLTON Click for session times
- ENCORE: FIVE STAR NEW FARM (Brisbane) 2.00pm Sunday 17th November
- ENCORE: THEATRE ROYAL, CASTLEMAINE, 6.30pm Sunday 17th November Q&A Event
- ENCORE: HOTA, GOLD COAST Extra screenings being scheduled
- ENCORE: LUNA LEEDERVILLE, PERTH 6.45pm Wednesday 20th November
AND IN NEW ZEALAND…..
- ENCORE: LUMIERE CINEMA,12.00pm Saturday Nov 23rd
- ENCORE: THE METRO CINEMA, Check with cinema for session times
- THE REGENT CINEMA, HOKATIKA, NZ, Click for session times
- AUCKLAND CLIMBING CLUB, TBC
Interviews, Reviews and Articles
- Sydney Morning Herald, 14 Oct 2024
- ABC Sydney Drive Michael Dillon chats with Richard Glover, 7th Oct 2024 (4 mins in)
- ABC Great Southern, 17th Aug 2024
- The West Australian, 10th August 2024
- The Fremantle Herald, 3rd August 2024
- The Australian 60th Anniversary Article, 22nd July 2024
- Extension of the Marine Park, ABC News July 2024
- ABC Melbourne Evenings Michael Dillon chats with David Astle (1:32:30 to 1:49:33
- ABC Article: Australia’s Mysterious Land of Fire and Ice
- Review: Documentary Drive Review
- We are Moving Stories Interviews Michael Dillon
- Review: David Parer, ANARE Club
The Great White Whale – The Back Story
- Big Ben – The Great White Whale
- The Expeditioners
- Their Sturdy Ship – Patanela
- Their Great White Whale – Big Ben on Heard Island
- The Filmmakers
Archival Interviews, Reviews, Articles
- Dr Grahame Budd on Heard Island in 2012. Video
- Australian Geographic: Australia’s first ascent of Big Ben
- Australian Geographic Article by Dr Grahame Budd
- Aurora Journal Autumn 1964: The Souther Indian Ocean Expedition to Heard Island
- Dr Graham Budd’s ANARE report on the 1963 Expedition.
- Aurora Journal Autumn 2011: Heard Island – The Climbing of Big Ben (Tim Bowden)
- Exploration of Heard Island 1947 – 1972 by Dr Grahame Budd
- Bill Tilman’s account -preparing for the voyage.
- The Bishop Museum – Insects on Heard. Philip Temple
- Yachting World 2023: The Sea and The Snow, A Stunning Tale of Adventure
- Article Otago Daily Times 2024
- Alpine Journal Article by Warwick Deacock
Exhibitor Enquiries