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Join us on a summer’s evening at the Society for an exploration-themed night of thought-provoking short films that illuminate the diverse ways outdoor storytellers are putting their talents to task.

Meet fellow film buffs, exploration enthusiasts and filmmakers on the terrace and in our Map Room bar. The bar will be open from 6.00pm and screenings will begin at 7.00pm.

Our programme of short films and documentaries feature a diverse range of voices and subject matter, storytelling styles, purposeful journeys and fascinating adventures.

This event will include filmmaker Q&As and an interval, followed by a pay bar to continue the conversation into the evening.

Event programme

• 6.00pm – Doors and bar open
• 7.00pm – Welcome and introduction – Matt Pycroft
  • The Pine Hunters – Ted Simpson
    • Two intrepid ecologists journey to the loneliest Scots Pine in Britain, on a mission to record the last of our ancient wild Caledonian forests before they are lost forever. .
  • "TASBAQA" – Saxon Bosworth

    • The Ustyurt Plateau, more than 200,000 km2 vast. No permanent freshwater rivers or lakes. Extreme heat (+50°C), extreme cold (-40°c). And yet, life persists… After 10 months of sleep, it is time for the 'TASBAQA' of the great Ustyurt to emerge. There is much to do. Resilience and adaptation. A relationship between species and ecosystem more than 1 million years old. A project highlighting the timeless connections of our natural world. The story of the Central Asian Tortoise. .

  • To Know A Mountain – Michelle Sanders
    • Tired of stories focused on racing to the summit, Hannah Westhenry is inspired by Nan Shepherd's book The Living Mountain. She brings together a diverse group of women to follow in Nan's footsteps, adventuring into the Cairngorms to tell a different story of being in the mountains. .
  • Q&A with filmmakers
• 8.05pm – Interval (bar open)
• 8.35pm
  • Melting Giants
    • A stunning visual tribute to the monumental beauty and alarming fragility of icebergs, as captured by renowned polar explorer and environmental advocate Sebastian Copeland.
  • A Mountain Movement – Charlie Key
    • Set against the towering majesty of Kilimanjaro, this powerful short film follows Esther Ryoba—a trailblazing porter defying tradition. As part of a mission to elevate women in Tanzania’s adventure industry, Esther’s story is one of grit, hope, and the work still needed to open the mountain to all.
  • Polers of the Okavango – Olly Pemberton and Aldo Kane
    • A deep dive into the lives and culture of the mokoro polers of Botswana's Okavango Delta, who navigate one of the world's most unique wetland ecosystems with incredible skill. .
• Q&A with filmmakers
• 9.45pm-10.30pm – Bar

Booking information

• Advance booking for this event is required. In order to book you will need an account on our website. If you already have an account you will be prompted to log in when you click 'book now'. Please if you do not have one yet (you do not need to be a member of the Society to create an account).
• Tickets are £12, and £10 for Society members. 
• We do not issue tickets (electronic or physical) for this event. Instead your name will be on a list at the door. Please use the Society's entrance on Exhibition Road.

If you have any questions or require assistance with your booking, please email events@rgs.org