Photo: Darren Hamlin Photography / Martin Olson Photography

On October 6, “Frozen Atlantis” will celebrate its German premiere in Hamburg

“Frozen Atlantis” is a cinematic essay produced as part of a “Freigeist” grant from the Volkswagen Foundation. In it, Renaissance scholar Bernhard Schirg sets out in search of the wondrous that people have found in their world throughout the ages—a poetic journey through the inner and outer landscapes of the 21st century that explores the human need for belonging, connection, and stories.

On his journey through Sweden’s mountains, rivers, and glaciers, Bernhard Schirg—guided by 17th-century books, maps, and panoramic sketches—follows in the footsteps of Olof Rudbeck the Elder (1630–1702). Over the course of three decades, Rudbeck had expanded his thesis and, in his monumental work *Atlantica*, asserted that all ancient myths originated in the North and that the cradle of civilization lay there.

Together with explorer Lars Larsson, Bernhard Schirg ventures into landscapes that Rudbeck claimed formed the basis for myths such as Atlantis and Elysium. His journey thus becomes a search for answers to the question of what perspectives these myths once anchored in the nature of the North.

Rudbeck’s holistic vision and narrative of the Swedish landscapes are contrasted with the transformative influence of humankind. Through its interventions in nature, humankind continually alters what Rudbeck once described as immutable. “Frozen Atlantis” raises the question of how the stories we tell shape our relationship to the world around us. Can myths—even in the post-truth era—inspire new perspectives—perspectives that move us?

To kick off the winter semester, the Master’s program in Public History at the Department of History at the University of Hamburg invites you to the German premiere of “Frozen Atlantis – Seeking Wonder in Shifting Lands.”

The screening (in English with German subtitles, 62 minutes) will take place on October 6, 2026, starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Metropolis Cinema (Kleine Theaterstraße 10, 20354 Hamburg). Admission: 5 euros.

Following the film, Dr. Bernhard Schirg (researcher, director, and producer of “Frozen Atlantis”), Dr. Barbara Sutter (University of Hamburg, Head of Career and Qualification and Deputy Director of the UHH Transfer Agency), Sarah Gorf-Roloff (freelance illustrator and science communicator), and Prof. Dr. Thorsten Logge (University of Hamburg, Professor of Public History) will discuss the possibilities, opportunities, and limitations of science communication in the humanities.

A movie trailer and more information are available on the Public History Research Group’s website.

(This content has been translated automatically.)