Created by Craig Leeson, Malcolm Wood, Matt Reid and Jonathan Yeoh, ‘The Last Glaciers’ explores the relationship between climate change, mountain environments and glaciers
When?: November 30, 2022
Where?: Emperor Cinemas, iSquare Shopping Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui
Who?: Aron Harilela, Victoria Tang-Owen, Christopher Owen, Jean Sung and Ronna Chao
Here's what you missed:
With his 2016 documentary A Plastic Ocean, Australian environmental filmmaker and Tatler cover star Craig Leeson set the agenda on plastic pollution. Six years later, he’s back on the big screen. On November 30, Emperor Cinemas played host to the Hong Kong premiere of The Last Glaciers, a film about the importance of climate change.
The dress code was glacial white and the 400 guests in attendance did not disappoint. Dressed head to toe in their wintery finest, guests filed into the IMax cinema, popcorn in hand, ready for the 41-minute show.
Matt Reid, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Steelhead Group which includes Maximal Concepts and KIN Food Halls, addressed the crowd: “This is a great moment for us. We all work in different [fields]; whether it’s restaurants, food halls, films or healthcare, and while they all seem completely different, [our companies] have one thing in common and that’s purpose. In many ways, it’s been our friendship with Craig that has guided us towards that purpose. We’re really excited to share this journey with you and show you where it’s taken us,” he said.
“It’s so good to be home,” Leeson said to roaring applause. “Making a film hasn’t been easy during Covid-19. Thank you so much for your support. The team that made this film all live in Hong Kong. It’s super special to be able to share this with all of you.”
Previously screened in the US, Australia and at Cop27 in Egypt, The Last Glaciers was filmed over four years and across 12 countries, beginning in the European Alps. Chronicling the challenges, tragedies and friendships experienced by the explorers—Leeson himself and adventure athlete Malcolm Wood—during their epic journey to the top of the earth’s glaciers, the film reveals to the audience the close relationship between climate change, mountain environments and glaciers.
The 100-minute version of the film will be released in 2023 and will deep-dive into the scale and fragility of the natural world and the impact that humans have on our environment.
“The film isn’t for environmentalists,” said Leeson. “It’s not for scientists either. It’s for the average person who doesn’t understand the science behind climate change. We want people to engage in the issue. The adventure is a big part of the narrative arc of the film. The fear you see in my eyes is real. The lessons we learn along the way is a metaphor for the challenges we all face with the climate crisis.”
After the screening, shuttle buses ferried guests over to Mott 32, where they could get up close and personal with the film’s stars. If getting people to talk about the importance of climate change was the objective, we’d say mission accomplished.