At the heart of this Arctic frontier is Longyearbyen — a fully equipped town with a university, international airport, cinema, hospital, hotels and cafés. And based right here is PolarX, a world-leading provider of polar film logistics and production services. Whether it’s a BBC wildlife documentary, a Hollywood blockbuster, or a scientific expedition, Jason Roberts and his team have made the impossible possible in the most extreme environments on Earth.
Meet Jason Roberts, Founder and CEO of PolarX
From suburban Australia to Arctic legend, Jason Roberts’ journey into polar filmmaking began not in film school, but under the ice.
“It started with exploration and adventure,” Jason recalls. “I never set out to run a production services company. I came to Norway out of a desire to explore, and ended up diving under ice in Svalbard for a Ringed Seal research project. One day the cameraman handed me the camera and said, ‘Would you mind filming this?’ That one moment changed everything.”
With a childhood spent poring over National Geographic magazines from the 1920s onwards, Jason’s obsession with the polar regions took root early. After a stint in finance and a detour through Finnmark, he eventually landed in Svalbard. In 1991, he was asked to run logistics for his first feature film — and he never looked back.
How Wild Does It Get?
Jason has worked on productions from Blue Planet and Frozen Planet to Superman (2025). So, how extreme is Arctic filmmaking?
“It really depends on how well you prepare,” he explains. “With proper planning, the Arctic is much easier to film in than most people expect. Dress correctly, and you’ll find the cold is often more manageable than, say, filming in the desert heat.”
While the environment is undeniably raw and remote, PolarX has maintained an impeccable safety record. Wild weather can happen, but chaos is rare — because logistics are Jason’s specialty.
Filming here is a world apart from shooting in a place like London. It’s not just about closing streets — it’s about handling extreme weather and preparing crews to operate efficiently in Arctic conditions.
Ironically, the Arctic can actually be easier: crews are fully-focused, well-prepared, and no one’s wandering off. It’s a highly disciplined and controlled environment.
Why Filming in Svalbard Just Works
“Compared to other polar regions — Canada, Greenland, Alaska, or Russia — Svalbard stands alone,” says Jason. “Accessibility and infrastructure are the key. In just five hours from central Europe, you're in Longyearbyen — a logistical hub that can support productions of any scale.”From solo wildlife shoots to massive studio productions with hundreds of crew members, Svalbard offers unmatched Arctic production support. Its compact infrastructure, direct flights, and high-capacity facilities make it the go-to for complex shoots looking for remote polar landscapes.
Behind the Scenes of Superman (2025)
“It was almost too smooth,” Jason laughs. “It didn’t feel like work — it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. We had cast hanging on wires in the Arctic winter, in Lycra costumes. Keeping them warm was a new challenge!”
Despite the high stakes and harsh setting, the Superman team wrapped ahead of schedule — a testament to meticulous planning and deep experience.
A Full-Spectrum Arctic Production Partner
Though PolarX began with wildlife documentaries, its services now span drama, feature films, scientific missions, conservation campaigns, arts residencies, and private clients including superyachts.
“What we do is incredibly diverse,” Jason says. “We operate at both poles, the Arctic and Antarctic, supplying logistics solutions to fit a production requirement enabling the project to achieve editorial storytelling in a cost effective way. Every project is different — from filming polar bears to action stunts. Crews are also different, a nature documentary crew has different thresholds for adventure than the crew of a blockbuster feature film”
But no matter the client, community and sustainability remain central.
Longyearbyen is a small town. We operate globally, but we care deeply about our local impact in the community.
Sustainability at the Core
“Filming in the Arctic comes with a responsibility, and as we’ve grown as a company, so has our responsibility. We've cut single-use plastics on set years ago, designed eco-friendly logistics specific to our clients needs, and see that productions that we work with are truly motivated to film sustainably. We’re deeply passionate about wildlife and protecting what makes the Arctic so special.”
With a third of his work life spent in a tent, Jason’s background in wildlife filming has shaped a deep respect for the environment. And it’s this mindset that he brings to every shoot — from a prestige drama to a beach clean-up expedition.
From Polar Bears to Tom Cruise: Career Highlights
“Some of the best moments are deeply personal, like spending time with the Superman cast and crew together with the local husky dog teams, getting to know people in such a unique environment for them” Jason shares. “Filming with a star like Tom Cruise out on a remote glacier, or watching a Planet Earth scene I shot with just one other person appear on a billboard for hundreds of thousands in Times Square — those are surreal moments.”
But what really keeps him going?
“The adventure. At PolarX, we don’t copy and paste. We love the challenge of ‘firsts.’ We take people out of their comfort zones and give them the experience of a lifetime.”
– Jason Roberts, Managing Director at PolarX.
What’s Next for PolarX?
With Superman (2025) set for release, Jason hopes the film inspires even more filmmakers to embrace shooting on location in the Arctic:
“The Arctic is more accessible than people think — if you have the right team behind you. We’ve been delivering results for 35 years. Some producers are wary of Arctic shoots, but that hesitation isn’t based on reality. Once they arrive, they realize it’s not only doable — it’s magical. Real landscapes, real light, real adventure. That’s what PolarX is all about.”
