Trivia

Werner Herzog dedicated the film to Roger Ebert, who he calls a true "warrior of cinema". Due to the dedication Ebert could not review the film, but he wrote a complimentary letter to Herzog and later published it.

Werner Herzog has disclosed that the scene of scientists putting their ears to the ice to listen to seal calls was entirely staged. Herzog asked them to position themselves according to his directions, and the sounds were previously recorded through underwater microphones by sound artist Douglas Quin.

Although he has had a vast and varied career of dozens of documentary films going back to the 1960s, this is the only time (as of 2025) director Werner Herzog has been nominated for an Academy Award (features or shorts).