“Gripping, edge of the seat stuff.”
‘An absolute triumph. I found the film incredibly powerful.”
“Heart stopping. Funny. A ripping yarn!”
VIEW TRAILER
Scroll down for UPCOMING 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.
UPCOMING SCREENINGS: Click highlighted links for tickets. More dates, locations & links are added as they become available.
- SAWTELL CINEMA, Tuesday 22 October Q&A Event
- ENCORE: SAWTELL CINEMA, Wednesday 23 October Q&A Event
- EMPIRE CINEMA, BOWRAL, Sunday 27 October Q&A Event
- ENCORE: ORANA BUSSELTON Sunday 27th October, General
- ENCORE: ORANA BUSSELTON Sunday 27th October, Bogarts
- ENCORE: ORANA ALBANY Sunday 27th October, General
- ENCORE: ORANA ALBANY Sunday 27th October, Bogarts
- REGENT CINEMA, ALBURY, Monday 28th October Q&A Event
- ENCORE: HAYDEN ORPHEUM, CREMORNE, 12.50 Saturday 2nd November
- ENCORE: HAYDEN ORPHEUM, CREMORNE, 12.50 Sunday 3rd November
- ENCORE: CINEMA NOVA, CARLTON Sunday 3 November Q&A Event
- ENCORE: GOLD COAST, Sunday 3rd November – Tickets from theatre
- ENCORE: STAR NEWFARM (Brisbane) November TBC
- ENCORE: STATE CINEMA, HOBART Tuesday 5 November Q&A Event
- CAPRI CINEMA, ADELAIDE, Sunday 10 November Q&A Event
- ENCORE: THEATRE ROYAL, CASTLEMAINE, Sunday 17 November Q&A Event
- ENCORE: LUNA LEEDERVILLE, PERTH Wednesday 20 November
AND IN NEW ZEALAND…..
- THE STATE CINEMA, NELSON, NZ
- THE METRO CINEMA, DUNEDIN
- THE VILLAGE CINEMA, GOLDEN BAY, NZ
- CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday 16 October. DAYS OF ICE FESTIVAL
Interviews, Reviews and Articles
- The West Australian, 10th August 2024
- The Fremantle Herald, 3rd August 2024
- The Australian 60th Anniversary Article, 22nd 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