Cryospheric Sciences | Women Of Cryo VIII: Natalie Hewit – Documenting Antarctica’s Frozen Voices

Antarctica is a unique place where history, adventure, and science collide. It’s a continent that has fascinated explorers for centuries, but much of its story has been told through the lens of men who have ventured into its icy expanse. Natalie Hewit, a documentary filmmaker with a love for the polar continent, is changing that. Through her films, she brings Antarctica’s past and present to life, retelling its history and giving a voice to the stories that would otherwise stay frozen in time.

A Curiosity for the Polar Regions

Natalie stood on the deck of a ship outside, with two penguins and Antarctica behind her.

Natalie stood aboard the SS Agulhas II on the hunt of Shackleton’s ship. Photo Credit: Natalie Hewit

Natalie Hewit has spent more than a decade crafting documentaries that transport audiences to some of the most remote or extreme places on Earth. From documenting a team of adventurers on an epic journey across the Canadian wilderness, to following the London Police force as they tackle crimes in the Uk’s capital, Natalie has never shied away from the extreme. Subsequently, her fascination with the extreme led her to Antarctica, where she worked on multiple projects, including documenting the relocation of the Halley VI Research Station for the BBC’s Horizon’s Ice Station Rescue. Spending months on the ice, she captured the challenges of life and research in one of the harshest environments on the planet. Through her films, she makes the frozen continent accessible, showing not just the landscape, but the people who dedicate their lives to understanding it.

Retelling Shackleton’s Journey – A Woman’s Eye view on an all-male Expedition

From documenting modern operations in the Antarctic, Natalie then went on to re-tell the stories of the past, as a co-director of the documentary ‘The Endurance’. Natalie connected the past and the future together through a journey of hunting for Shackleton’s lost ship, by placing the tale in a broader historical and scientific context while integrating the voices of contemporary Antarctic explorers.

Ernest Shackleton’s ‘lost’ ship, Endurance, stuck in the ice in the Weddell Sea during the Antarctic expedition, 1915. Photo credit: GRANGER – Historical Picture Archive/Alamy

The documentary doesn’t just look at what happened a century ago; it highlights why these stories still matter today. Climate change, ongoing scientific research, and modern expeditions all shape the future of Antarctica, and Natallie ensures these elements are woven into her narratives. Her filmmaking approach is deeply human-centric, drawing audiences into the personal experiences of those who live and work in Antarctica.