Each episode has a main theme and displays either one of the arctic seasons such as the polar night and arctic summer, or a special natural phenomenon such as frost smoke and northern lights. Chronologically combined, the episodes tell the story of one arctic light year in Northern Norway.

The filmmaker Christian Uhlig will be present at the screenings for an introduction and Q&A.

THE POLAR NIGHT
During the two months of polar night in Tromsø, 21st of November to 21st of January, the sun does not rise above the horizon. However, some hours of a certain day light always remain around midday. This phenomenon is referred to as the polar twilight. Depending on weather conditions the polar twilight can result in a remarkable diversity of different lights and colours, so the residents call this period "Season of Colours". Moon and northern lights above the snow-covered winter landscape make a magic scenery.

FLYING ANGELS
Northern lights appear in many colours, shapes and intensities, which sometimes may remind of flying angels. This film covers the span from the first visible northern lights in autumn towards a full geomagnetic storm.

FROST SMOKE
Frost smoke, also called sea smoke or steam fog, is frozen fog over water. Frost smoke forms when very cold air moves over warmer water and is thus a local phenomenon. Combination of frost smoke and polar twilights is particularly impressive.

NORTHERN LIGHTS TRANSPIRE
Northern lights transpire their real magic when combined with Arctic landscapes.

ARCTIC SPRING – MAY IMPRESSIONS
After an at least six-month-long winter, temperatures are finally high enough to start the spring thaw in May. Snowfalls may still occur, and water ponds freeze during frosty nights. May is also the season for apparently never-ending sunsets lasting until the middle of the night.

ARCTIC SUMMER
During the two months with midnight sun in Northern Norway the sun never sets below the horizon. However, a significant amount of solar energy and time is needed to warm up the frozen arctic land after a long winter.

AUTUMN MIST OVER TROMSØ
In September, Tromsø is regularly covered by a dense but shallow layer of autumn mist. Taking the cable car to nearby Fløya is a great way to enjoy a spectacular view of the city and its surrounding fjords wrapped in thick mist.

ARCTIC AUTUMN
The arctic autumn bridges the time between midnight sun and the polar night. Insects and plants dance for the last time in the sunlight. Nights are dark enough to observe northern lights again. Steadily snow and ice decent from the summits and cover land and water.

GLIMPSES OF ICE
focuses on the combination of ice, light and time within Arctic landscapes. Just like the aphorism "You can never look at the same ice twice" the film shows the arctic nature as a creator of seemingly endlessly unique virtuosity, which we experience in glimpses.

Christian Uhlig is a self-made independent filmmaker from Hannover, Germany. After moving to Tromsø in January 1990 he devoted his life to the arctic nature by doing environmental research and outdoors life. Among others, he specialized on outdoor photography, particularly during winter. Inspired by the expressional possibilities of time-lapse photography he launched the project AN ARCTIC FAIRYTALE in the Autumn 2014. September 2015, he released his first time-lapse film “Arctic Autumn”. After four years of filming “An Arctic Fairytale” was completed in July 2018.

Several episodes of “An Arctic Fairytale” were already screened at international film festivals. “Flying Angels” won the best Experimental/Travel/Time-Lapse Short at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards 2018."Glimpses Of Ice" was awarded for the Best Cinematography at the Arte Non Stop Festival 2018 in Buenos Aires.