Unwavering

“Simply put, Unwavering is a masterpiece and demonstrates the immense talent of a team of truly inspiring filmmakers…”

Set against a landscape painted in shades of ice and snow, filmed over the span of three years, the documentary explores the strength and beauty of muskoxen living in hash winter conditions.

Director and cinematographer Chris Schmid is an accomplished Swiss filmmaker with over a decade of experience specialising in natural history. Upon the first viewing of Unwavering, we were totally blown away and know that this will be a very tough film to beat. Filmed over a three year span, Schmid takes us on a unique journey into a world rarely seen on the big screen by introducing us to a fascinating creature in the Musk Oxen. It’s a truly inspiring film that will leave an indelible impression on you.

Every shot is meticulously crafted and isn’t added in for the sake of showing off Schmid’ cinematography abilities. Every shot is precisely positioned and cut to tell this compelling story and showcase the raw power of the elements that really jumps from the screen. It’s also evident that the equipment used to capture the film is of the highest standard and demonstrates their capabilities, we suspect Sony and DJI are very happy with the outcome.

The narration from John Dyer is inspired and the perfect tone to match the depth of the story. This film called for a voice that not only added a dramatic undertone but also kept your attention, of which Dyer was able to deliver.

Christian Heschl’ masterful score keeps up with the high production value and gives it depth. Heschl’ choice of orchestrated music adds gravitas to the scale of the environment and the more delicate moments in the film. The sound design is a huge part of the film as we expect most of the audio recorded on location was unusable. Instead what we have is a complete soundscape that enhances the visuals with powerful and natural sounds.

Even with all the incredible filmmakers that were involved in this production, it’s worth noting that the foundation of the film relies on the story written by Schmid & Mélanie Eudes. Whilst the cinematography is outstanding, the story is one that truly connects with you and allows you a front row seat into the life of a majestic titan.

Simply put, Unwavering is a masterpiece and demonstrates the immense talent of a team of truly inspiring filmmakers…

— APEX Film Awards