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In the frozen Arctic, a herd of musk oxen fights to survive brutal seasons and mounting threats,
as a changing world begins to reshape life at the top of the planet.

Genre

Natural History,
Drama

Runtime

52 minutes

Narration

Daisy Head

Definition

4K

Sales & Distribution

Off the Fence

In the remote Arctic tundra, one of the harshest environments on Earth, a tightly bonded herd of musk oxen—ancient survivors of the Ice Age—endures a world shaped by cold, hunger, and constant threat. At the limits of survival, they rely on cooperation, memory, and collective defence to withstand predators and the brutal rhythm of the seasons.

Filmed over several years, Muskox: Survival in the Arctic offers a deeply immersive portrait of one of the Arctic’s most iconic yet rarely observed animals—bringing to the screen a rare feature-length look at musk oxen in the wild. As the seasons shift, tensions rise within the herd, predators close in, and the long polar night pushes their endurance to the edge. In an increasingly unpredictable world, the balance between survival and loss grows ever more fragile.

Narrated by acclaimed British actress Daisy Head and directed by Chris Schmid, Muskox: Survival in the Arctic is a story of resilience—and a powerful reflection on the forces reshaping one of the planet’s last wild ecosystems.

This is life at the edge of the world.
And something is changing.

With Muskox: Survival in the Arctic, director Chris Schmid crafts a cinematic experience driven by emotion, atmosphere, and mystery—far removed from traditional wildlife storytelling. Moving between intimacy and scale, the film captures the quiet intensity of life within the herd while revealing a fragile world under pressure.

Produced by Stay Wild Studio, Muskox: Survival in the Arctic is distributed by Off the Fence. Executive producers: Mélanie Schmid and Chris Schmid.

Recognitions

Innsbruck Nature Film Festival
Nature Documentary
Nominee
2026
Deauville Green Awards
Preservation of Biodiversity
Finalist
2026
Green Screen
Best Score
Nominee
2026
Seoul International Eco Film Festival
Nature documentary
Official selection
2026
Santiago Wild Festival
Beauty of Nature
Nomination
2026
Santiago Wild Festival
Story of Nature
Nomination
2026

Trailer

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Film information / Development status

DETAILS

Estimated release date: In distribution
Director - Chris Schmid
Producer - Stay Wild Studio
Executive Producers - Chris Schmid & Mélanie Schmid
Cinematographer - Chris Schmid
Original soundtrack - Christian Heschl
Narration - Daisy Head

TECHNICAL SPECS

Runtime - approx. 52 minutes
Color - Color
Aspect ratio - 2.39:1
Resolution - 4K
Format available - DCP, ProRes422, h.264, h.265
Audio - Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1
Language - English, French
Subtitles - English, French, Spanish

CONTACT

Public Film Contact - Stay Wild Studio
Sales & Distribution - Off the Fence