 Wildlife Film News
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Welcome to our newest Full Freelancer member: |
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Nico Baumgärtel – a wildlife filmmaker and camera operator based in Berlin, Germany, with a passion for capturing authentic animal behaviour in remote and challenging environments. He says ¨My work focuses on wildlife cinematography using long lenses, camera traps, thermal imaging, and drone operations. I enjoy spending extended periods in the field, whether working from hides, remote camps, or isolated wilderness locations, always aiming to document natural behaviour with patience and respect for the subject. My background includes military training, advanced first aid, survival, and wildlife tracking, providing me with the skills and mindset required for demanding productions in remote areas. I am particularly comfortable in situations that require endurance, self-reliance, careful planning, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. I have experience working with RED, ARRI, Sony, and DJI systems, as well as remote camera setups designed to capture natural behaviour with minimal disturbance. My approach to wildlife filmmaking has been strongly influenced by my mentor Oliver Goetzl, whose philosophy of patient observation and behavioural anticipation continues to shape my work today. I have also gained valuable experience through productions with GULO FILM. Above all, I am passionate about telling authentic wildlife stories and collaborating with people who share a deep respect for nature, conservation, and high-quality natural history filmmaking.¨ Profile Page: Wildlife-film.com/-/NicoBaumgartel.htm Website: www.vavo-nature.de |
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Join him, become a member of Wildlife-film.com: |
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As a full member of the site, you get a listing in all appropriate sections, a profile page, access to our members' private Facebook Group and priority on your news across the site, this newsletter and our social media accounts. To become a full member ... email me (Jason!) membership@wildlife-film.com for an application form. For more info, visit: Wildlife-film.com/freelancers (currently just £30/year!) or Wildlife-film.com/companies (only £100/year!) ... these fees need to go up soon! Membership fees help to keep the site going too ... Your support is much needed and appreciated! |
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WildEarth are looking for an intern WildEarth is a global leader in live, unscripted wildlife broadcasting, bringing Africa’s wilderness to millions of viewers each day. We are offering an exciting post-production internship for a recently qualified candidate looking to gain hands-on industry experience. This unpaid role will involve basic editing, logging footage, and supporting our fast-paced content workflow. In return, you’ll gain invaluable exposure to a unique media environment and join a passionate team of storytellers. The internship includes a fully paid two-week field trip with the WildEarth crew, offering rare behind-the-scenes access to live wildlife production. Ideal for motivated, detail-oriented individuals eager to learn. Find out about WildEarth on the website: www.wildearth.tv To apply, email Gwin Vera (Operations Manager) with your CV and a motivational letter (100 word max) to: gwinyai.vera@wildearth.tv The opportunity is open to everyone. |
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In Memory of Mike Salisbury OBE: A Legendary Natural History Film-making Pioneer (1942–2026) The international wildlife filmmaking community is mourning the loss of Mike Salisbury OBE, one of the foundational pillars of the BBC Natural History Unit (NHU), who passed away on 13 May 2026 at the age of 84. As the longest-serving series producer to collaborate with Sir David Attenborough, Mike’s visionary storytelling shaped the global landscape of blue-chip natural history. Over a career spanning more than three decades, his hands-on approach brought the natural world into millions of homes. His early milestone came as an assistant producer on the monumental Life on Earth (1979), where he worked alongside other pioneering NHU figures like the late Richard Brock to navigate the immense logistical and technical challenges of that ground-breaking 13-part series. Mike went on to live in the Arctic for Kingdom of the Ice Bear (1985) and served as series or executive producer for definitive epics including The Life of Birds (1998), The Life of Mammals (2002), and Life in the Undergrowth (2005). He was famously tenacious when it came to bringing ambitious ideas to life. When seeking funding for The Private Life of Plants (1995), he pitched the concept directly to Ted Turner. It was Jane Fonda—Turner's wife at the time—who was captivated by Mike's vision, declaring plants to be "the ultimate soap opera," which successfully secured the vital co-production backing from TBS. The resulting series revolutionized the genre through its ground-breaking use of computer-controlled time-lapse photography, turning plants into dynamic, dramatic characters. Later, as editor of The Natural World in the 1990s, Mike was instrumental in pivoting the strand toward hard-hitting conservation and environmental realities. Beyond his extensive accolades—including an Emmy and the prestigious Wildscreen Panda Award for Outstanding Achievement—Mike will be remembered across Bristol and the wider industry as a generous mentor who championed and shaped the careers of generations of filmmakers. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife Vyv, his three children, and his six grandchildren. See: theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/may/20/mike-salisbury-obituary, televisual.com/news/wildlife-filmmaker-mike-salisbury-obe-1942-2026 & news.mongabay.com/2026/05/mike-salisbury-wildlife-filmmaker-who-made-plants-behave-like-characters-has-died-aged-84 |
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Flashback: Listening to BBC Radio 4’s ‘The Reunion’ – Life on Earth In light of Mike's passing, we have been revisiting a remarkable audio time capsule that brought this legendary production team back together. Originally broadcast in 2014, The Reunion episode for Life on Earth features host Sue MacGregor sitting down with Sir David Attenborough, Mike Salisbury, Richard Brock, and their core crew to look back on the three years and 1.5 million miles of travel behind the 1979 masterpiece. The 45-minute archive broadcast pulls back the curtain on the technical constraints, creative risks, and intense logistics that laid the blueprint for modern blue-chip nature documentaries:
For anyone looking to understand the dedication, cameraderie, and foundational history of modern wildlife television, this archive episode is essential listening. The full programme remains available to stream on BBC Sounds. |
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A Century of Wonder: BBC Celebrates Sir David Attenborough’s 100th Birthday Alongside the Legacy of His Greatest Collaborators The BBC pulled out all the stops to celebrate broadcasting legend Sir David Attenborough’s milestone 100th birthday.
The broadcaster marked the centenary of the nation's favourite naturalist with a spectacular week of dedicated programming, live concerts, and brand-new natural history commissions. The Centenary Schedule Highlights Beyond flagships like Secret Garden and the live Royal Albert Hall gala, the BBC’s centenary programming schedule included:
Centenary Special Live from the Royal Albert Hall The crown jewel of the broadcaster's celebrations was the unmissable BBC One broadcast, David Attenborough's 100 Years on Planet Earth. Staged live from London’s Royal Albert Hall on his birthday, the 90-minute gala combined unforgettable archival wildlife moments with live music from the BBC Concert Orchestra. The event featured a star-studded guest list of royals, celebrities, and conservationists. Musical highlights included Bastille’s Dan Smith performing Pompeii (from Planet Earth III), Icelandic band Sigur Rós performing Hoppípolla, and Paraguayan harpist Francisco Yglesia revisiting music from the 1950s classic Zoo Quest. Secret Garden: A New Look at British Wildlife As part of the birthday slate, Attenborough returned to the screen with a charming new five-part series, Secret Garden. Turning away from global expeditions, the veteran broadcaster turned his attention to the dramatic, hidden worlds inside British backyards. The series explored diverse locations—ranging from otters in Oxfordshire to blue tits in Bristol—highlighting how the UK's massive network of private gardens can act as an environmental oasis to save struggling local species. See: bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/secret-garden Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure | Trailer A Look Back at "Attenborough's Greatest Adventure" The celebrations also featured a deeply poignant retrospective documentary, Making Life on Earth: Attenborough's Greatest Adventure. This behind-the-scenes special uncovered the hair-raising, three-year odyssey to create the landmark 1979 blockbuster, Life on Earth. By the early 1970s, the foundations of this legendary filmmaking duo were laid when Attenborough, then a senior BBC executive, handpicked Richard Brock to produce Eastward with Attenborough (1973). This ambitious expedition across Southeast Asia did more than just capture the region's wildlife; it forged a deep professional bond that would define natural history filmmaking for decades. By the time Life on Earth began production in the late '70s, Brock was an established force in the industry. With a string of successful credits for prestige programmes like The World About Us and Wildlife Spectacular, he brought a seasoned expertise that helped transform Attenborough's vision into a global phenomenon. Specifically, Richard Brock is credited with producing and directing several pivotal segments:
Richard's 35-year tenure at the BBC Natural History Unit eventually led him to found the Brock Initiative, where he continued his mission to tell the "whole truth" about the state of our planet. Passing away on 30 December 2024, he left behind a mission to tell the truth about our environment—a legacy that remains as relevant today as his groundbreaking work with Attenborough.
A Century of Unparalleled Achievement Sir David's 100th birthday is more than a celebration of longevity; it marks over 70 years of rewriting the television rulebook. Having joined the BBC in 1952, he remains the only person to win BAFTAs for programmes in black-and-white, colour, HD, 3D, and 4K resolution. Beyond pioneering the blue-chip natural history format alongside collaborators like Brock, his broadcast leadership—including a transformative tenure as Controller of BBC Two—introduced public masterworks like Civilisation and Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Yet his ultimate achievement remains his transition from a curious broadcaster into the planet’s foremost environmental diplomat, using his singular voice to unite world leaders and preschool groups alike in the fight for biodiversity. From delivering a powerful wake-up call directly to world leaders at the UN Climate Change Conferences (COP) to inspiring sweeping global policies like plastic bans following Blue Planet II, his storytelling has fundamentally changed international conservation law. In a characteristically humble birthday message shared via the BBC, Sir David looked less at his own monumental career and more toward the global community: "I had rather thought that I would celebrate my 100th birthday quietly, but it seems that many of you have had other ideas... I've been completely overwhelmed by birthday greetings..." In his message to the public on the BBC website, Attenborough expressed gratitude for the widespread well-wishes from people of all ages. He leaves humanity with an enduring challenge from his lifelong mission: "The final chapter is ours to write. We know what we need to do. What happens next is up to us."
Happy 100th Birthday Sir David! |
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The incredible life of the ‘bird man’ refugee who brought tweets, chirps and trills to British radio Ludwig Koch was once as influential as David Attenborough is today – a new film by his granddaughter sheds light on a tragic event in the naturalist’s life in Berlin before he fled the Nazis. In his lifetime, pioneering German sound recordist Ludwig Koch’s heavily accented voice was as familiar to British audiences as David Attenborough’s is today. His tireless passion for capturing birdsong and bringing it first into German and, after his exile from Nazi Germany, British homes via sound books and BBC radio, made him a household name from the late 1930s onwards. He was celebrated beyond his life, parodied by Peter Sellers (playing Koch observing life at a Glasgow traffic junction) and immortalised in Penelope Fitzgerald’s 1980 novel Human Voices, about the wartime BBC, which depicts Koch’s assiduous approach to capturing natural sounds and indirectly highlights how the organisation benefited from new voices like his. Yet to his film-maker granddaughter Anthea Kennedy, Koch was a somewhat aloof presence. “I don’t remember ever having a conversation with him,” Kennedy says. Instead, he preferred singing to her, vividly daydreaming of the brief career as a tenor opera singer he had had to give up in Germany because of the first world war. “He’d squeeze my hand tightly, which I hated, and sing classical opera, then ask me what he’d been singing. It didn’t seem to matter to him that I didn’t have a clue.” Given their relationship, it’s all the more surprising that Kennedy, with fellow film-maker and partner, Ian Wiblin, has created a loving tribute to Koch. Their film, Alarm Notes, interlaces images and sounds from modern Berlin and other places he visited as a naturalist with many of Koch’s own recordings, from the warm whistle of the golden oriole in Spandau, to sneezing seals on Skomer island, and his personal performances of Schubert lieder in old age. It’s a haunting and jarring intertwining of past and present, and acts like the dialogue between the granddaughter and grandfather that didn’t happen in life. “I wanted to explore what had really happened to him in Berlin,” Kennedy says. “Neither he nor my grandmother ever talked to a soul about anything in their past.” Read more: theguardian.com/film/2026/apr/13/ludwig-koch-bird-man-refugee-film-alarm-notes |
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New Short Film From Thailand Wild Uses Wild Boar Footage to Critique Global Animal Agriculture Natural history filmmaker Darryl Sweetland has released a compelling new short film on his conservation channel, Thailand Wild, capturing the early life of wild boar piglets at Big Pool in the Huai Khayeng Nature Park region. While the release initially presents a traditional, intimate look at native wildlife behaviours, it pivots into a sharp industrial critique, highlighting the profound ethical and physical juxtaposition between free wildlife and the billions of domesticated pigs (and other species) kept globally within industrial farming systems. The film relies on pristine, observational field tracking to document a striped litter of wild boars wallowing, foraging, and navigating their natural jungle habitat. Sweetland explicitly utilises these serene natural sequences as a direct subversion of typical wildlife shorts, using the baseline of natural freedom to pose urgent questions regarding systemic animal exploitation. The narrative directly confronts the conditions of the estimated 1.5 billion domesticated pigs moving through the global animal agriculture industry annually, drawing a stark line between the natural sovereignty of the wild boars and the total subjugation of their domesticated counterparts. "The goal of the project is to bridge the gap between traditional natural history filmmaking and proactive animal advocacy," says Sweetland. By emphasising the shared biology, high intelligence, and complex social traits inherent to both wild and farmed pigs, the production functions as an explicit call for systemic industry reform and a vocal endorsement of the global vegan movement. The short film is available for immediate viewing on the official channel, or below: Darryl´s text: ¨When I see these gorgeous animals, my heart bleeds for the 1.5 billion pigs that are enslaved in the animal agriculture industry each year for nothing more than gastronomic entertainment in virtually all cases. Meat eating really is the scourge of the modern world, and is not just an animal rights issue but is very much a conservation, environmental, and human health issue too. And there really is no justification for it in a world full of nutritious plant-based foods. For those who haven’t considered the arguments in detail, a plant-based diet has five major advantages. Firstly, it greatly reduces animal suffering. Pigs are highly intelligent, ranking higher than dogs and human toddlers in cognitive tests so they are well aware of the abuse inflicted on them. As are the other 90 billion land animals farmed for consumption each year. About 10 for every human on the planet. Secondly, it reduces the climate impact of food production. Animal agriculture has an effect on climate change equal to all forms of transport combined. Thirdly, growing plants is far more energy efficient, requiring much less land and water to produce the same number of calories. And everywhere we see wilderness being converted to farmland, and rivers and wetlands drying up. And therefore has a far kinder impact on the environment and on the species that we share the earth with, and which we are currently driving to extinction at an alarming rate. For example, 80% of world soybean production is grown, not for direct human consumption, but to be used for animal feed, including on vast areas of land that used to be Amazon rainforest. Fourthly, for better human health. Looking around we can all see the catastrophic effects of the modern human diet. A plant-based diet is associated with lower rates of heart disease, obesity and some cancers, and is strongly linked to improved endurance. Last, but by no means least. A reduction in animal agriculture could reduce the spread and emergence of zoonotic diseases, some of which have had disastrous consequences in recent history. HIV/Aids and Covid-19 had catastrophic effects on the world, but these would have been nothing if the WHO hadn’t successfully contained Ebola to small parts of Central and Western Africa. And SARS, MERS, Avian flu, Nipah virus, and Salmonella are all hazards of life that we have all felt the consequences of whether we eat animals or not.¨ Like & Subscribe for more from Darryl: youtube.com/@thailandwild4897 Support him and the project here: buymeacoffee.com/huaikhayengnaturepark |
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Large-spotted Civet Filmed through the Camera for the First Time Ever Darryl Sweetland has filmed Large-spotted Civet in Huai Khayeng Nature Park, he thinks for the very first time. He said ¨I have been spending many hours sitting in our hides at night recently, and at last, on the 17th February, 2026, I got what may be the first film in the wild ever obtained of a Large-spotted Civet. In any case, it was a wonderful experience and the first glimpse of this beautiful and elusive creature with my own eyes.¨ Large-spotted Civet Filmed through the Camera for the First Time Ever Subscribe/support here: Youtube.com/@HuaiKhayengNaturePark Also see: ¨On the 17th and 19th of February 2026 I got what is probably the first ever film of the rarely seen Large-spotted Civet in the wild live on camera. That footage can be seen on my other channel: / @HuaiKhayengNaturePark I have tried and failed a few more times since then, but on this day, the 10th April 2026, I got my best film ever of this species, and I am over the moon. I also took a lot of behind-the-scenes footage, and here is a film about how I film these rare and elusive mammals at night.¨ How I Film Large-spotted Civets in the Wild at Night Subscribe/support: Youtube.com/@thailandwild4897 |
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Protect The Wild´s powerful new animation to end the Guga hunt Actor Brian Cox narrates harrowing new film calling for an end to the Guga hunt in Scotland. This latest animation from Protect The Wild, narrated by Scottish actor Brian Cox, is out NOW! It’s hard to watch. But you need to see it. And we need this to go viral. In just 40 seconds, a life begins - and ends. A chick safe in their nest. A bright future ahead. Then - gone. An empty space. A parent bird calling out. No answer. A life taken before it ever began. All for the sake of human greed. The Guga hunt is an annual ‘tradition’ where 10 men travel to a remote Scottish island to bludgeon Gannet chicks (Guga) for a local delicacy. It must end. Visit: protectthewild.substack.com/p/watch-our-powerful-new-animation Sign the petition to end the Guga Hunt: protectthewild.org.uk/gannet-petition |
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The International Wildlife Film Festival is thrilled to announce the 11 award-winners for 2026! After much deliberation and film viewing, our jury has selected the winners of the 12 awards! The films are as diverse and exceptional as their subjects, from intimate stories of frogs in saunas to epics that trace mountain lions across miles and decades. Best of Fest + Best Feature: 'Snow Leopard Sisters' In a year of extraordinary filmmaking, this film struck the jury unanimously as the definitive choice for Best Feature and Best of Festival. The narrative cleverly weaves complex human struggles—gender, tradition, and poverty—with the urgency of conserving the snow leopards of Dolpo before they vanish. Animal Behavior: 'Heart of a Lion' Heart of a Lion is the Animal Behavior Award winner for its captivating storytelling and remarkable footage of mountain lions. The film offers an intimate look at their behavior, revealing the intelligence, resilience, and complexity of one of North America’s most elusive predators while helping change the narrative that mountain lions are solitary animals. Wildlife Conservation: 'Nuisance Bear' Nuisance Bear was selected as the winner of the Wildlife Conservation category for its honest, nuanced portrayal of the complex challenges facing polar bears. It thoughtfully explores the intersection of climate change, wildlife management, and human communities. The use of the narration of a member of one of the First Nations communities, especially his personal tragedy involving a nuisance bear, adds to the emotional attachment to the film. Living with Wildlife: 'In the Path of Giants' What sets In the Path of Giants apart is that it shows how the fate of wild elephants is inseparable from the lives of the people who share their habitat, and how conservation cannot succeed without addressing human needs, dignity, and survival. In the Path of Giants embodies the essence of this category by revealing that living with wildlife is as much about people as it is about protecting nature. Sustainable Planet: 'Spillover - Planet of Viruses' Spillover – Planet of Viruses is a timely and compelling look at how and why deadly pathogens move from wildlife to humans. The film is informative and pushes viewers to think more critically about prevention, responsibility, and our relationship with the natural world. Best Series: 'Kingdom of Fish' This episode manages to distill the staggering complexity of aquatic ecosystems into a narrative that is both visually breathtaking and scientifically based. It offers a refreshing and urgent deep dive into the often-overlooked world of freshwater and marine biology. By framing the lives of its aquatic subjects through the lens of both ancient evolutionary triumph and modern environmental peril, it engages viewers of all ages. Best Short: 'SLOOT - Life in the Ditch' In the short category, SLOOT – Life in the Ditch succeeds by performing a brilliant act of re-enchantment, turning the overlooked drainage ditch into a dramatic scene where high-stakes ecology unfolds. With intimate cinematography and a narrative that finds wonder in the weeds, it manages to capture the complexity of biodiversity in a context that most people simply see as utilitarian. Best Short Short: 'Red Wolf in Time Out' In the short category, Red Wolf in Time Out struck the jury as a masterclass in impactful storytelling. The film brilliantly distills one of North America's most complex conservation crises into a narrative that is as scientifically grounded as it is visually charming. Its vibrant, imaginative animation and witty writing offer a refreshing departure from the "doom and gloom" often found in endangered species media; this film is not "medicine," but a genuine piece of entertainment with a message. New Vision: 'Rock Pool' In the New Vision category, Rock Pool struck the jury as a bold reimagining of the natural history short. The film transforms a postage-stamp "footprint" of the ocean (tide pool) into a vast theater of survival. Through incredible macro-cinematography and a rhythmic, non-linear approach, it makes the viewer abandon their human-centric point of view and inhabit a miniature universe that is at once alien and beautiful. Best Student Film: 'Colourise: Exploring the Magical World of Biofluorescence' Colourise: Exploring the Magical World of Biofluorescence stands out as a student film that pairs striking visuals and strong storytelling with a passionate protagonist, revealing the hidden beauty of biofluorescence in a way that inspires curiosity, awe, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world that we cannot typically see with our own eyes. Youth Program: 'Escape' Escape brings the green and golden bell frog’s fight against a deadly fungus to life in a way that is engaging, accessible, and hopeful for young audiences, while showing how science and creativity can help solve conservation challenges. 'Escape' is screening exclusively in our Youth Matinee program, but will be available to stream digitally in our virtual festival. Congrats to all ... visit: wildlifefilms.org/festival/award-winners |
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Jackson Wild World Wildlife Day 2026 Film Showcase Each year on March 3, the world comes together to celebrate World Wildlife Day, honoring the incredible diversity of life on Earth and the vital connections between people and nature. In partnership with CITES, the United Nations, UNDP, and IFAW, Jackson Wild joins this global celebration through the World Wildlife Day Film Showcase. The 2026 theme, “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods,” highlights the essential role these plants play in global health, traditional knowledge, and sustainable economies. Films selected for the World Wildlife Day Film Showcase are available throughout 2026 in free educational screenings. Jackson Wild World Wildlife Day 2026 Film Showcase Watch the films for free until 31 December 2026 here: watch.eventive.org/wwd2026 |
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Funding Opportunities Now Open — My World Film Grant & Earth Alliance Impact Pitch The My World Film Grant has returned for 2026, supporting early- to mid-career filmmakers creating short films (10–20 minutes) that explore urgent environmental and nature stories rooted in their own communities. This grant is designed to help elevate local perspectives, amplify underrepresented voices, and support storytellers who are ready to take the next step in their filmmaking journey, while ensuring the stories being told reflect the realities and priorities of the places they come from. Selected filmmakers receive:
This opportunity is exclusive to Jackson Wild Collective members. If you’re not already part of the Collective, you can join for free via the app or at jacksonwildcollective.org to gain access to this grant and future opportunities. Apply by July 3, 2026 with a treatment, budget, timeline, and impact plan to be considered. Learn more + apply: jacksonwild.org/my-world-film-grant The Jackson Wild x Earth Alliance Impact Pitch is now open for 2026, offering filmmakers from our community a powerful platform to elevate impact-driven storytelling and turn campaigns into real-world change. In collaboration with Earth Alliance, this program invites filmmakers who enter the 2026 Media Awards toapply for the chance to pitch their impact campaign LIVE at the Jackson Wild x Hollywood Climate Summit Joint Event in November 2026, with the opportunity to secure funding and amplification (prizes up to $30,000). Finalists will receive travel stipends to attend the event, gain visibility for their campaign, and connect directly with key partners, changemakers, and decision-makers as part of the live pitch experience. This is your chance to bring an early-stage or soon-to-launch campaign to life—driving tangible outcomes for threatened species, irreplaceable wild places, and frontline communities. Did you enter the 2026 Jackson Wild Media Awards? Check your inbox! Impact Pitch applications have been sent directly to entrants. Applications close June 1, 2026 Awardees will be announced at the Media Awards Gala this November Visit: jacksonwild.org/news/now-open-2026-earth-alliance-impact-pitch |
| Wildscreen announces next Charity Chair Wildlife film charity, Wildscreen, has appointed Stephen Pomeroy as Chair of its Board of Trustees, with Poppy Mason-Watts also joining the Board as Trustee. Pomeroy is the founder of Cavendish Consulting and his production credits include an Executive Producer role at Floodlight, an Oscar and BAFTA winning independent production company. In addition to his professional experience, he brings a long-standing commitment to conservation and animal welfare through his work with charitable organisations. He has supported initiatives including the Global White Lion Protection Trust, contributing to efforts focused on species protection, habitat preservation and raising global awareness of endangered wildlife. “The question is not whether storytelling matters to conservation — it does, more than ever. The question is whether organisations like Wildscreen can scale their impact fast enough, and build the kind of inclusive, globally connected community the next generation of storytellers actually needs. That is the work. The talent across the global film, documentary and natural history storytelling community is extraordinary, and it is a genuine pleasure to work with such an experienced and committed team at Wildscreen,” said Stephen Pomeroy. “Stephen brings exactly what this moment requires — strategic clarity, creative credibility, and a genuine commitment to the voices we exist to serve. His commercial and leadership experience, combined with his deep personal commitment to conservation and ethical leadership, make him exactly the right Chair for this next chapter,” said Lucie Muir, Chief Executive, Wildscreen. Poppy Mason-Watts has also been appointed to the Wildscreen Board of Trustees. Mason-Watts is currently Global Director of Impact and Partnerships at Project Dandelion and runs her own consultancy working with founders to develop and embed growth and marketing functions at impact-led startups. The two new appointments will work alongside the current Trustees to oversee Wildscreen’s next phase of growth, including the 2026 Wildscreen Festival in Bath and the expansion of its digital community storytelling platform, NatureStory, which launched in October. From: televisual.com/news/wildscreen-announces-next-charity-chair |
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Yellowstone: INTO THE WILD Yellowstone is a land shaped by extremes. From the renewal of spring to the brutality of winter, every animal must endure the changing seasons in one of the harshest wildernesses in North America. In this cinematic wildlife documentary, journey deep into Yellowstone National Park and experience the lives of grizzly bears, wolves, bison, moose, coyotes, and more as they navigate a world defined by survival. Through intimate wildlife behavior, dramatic winter landscapes, geothermal wonders, and immersive natural soundscapes, Into the Wild explores the beauty, resilience, and struggle of life in the American wilderness. Filmed over multiple seasons in Yellowstone, this episode captures rare moments of animal behavior and the raw atmosphere of the park during the transition into deep winter. If you enjoy cinematic nature documentaries like Planet Earth, Yellowstone, Frozen Planet, Dynasties, and National Geographic wildlife films, this film is for you. Filming Yellowstone follows award-winning wildlife filmmaker Alan Lacy as he documents the wildlife and landscapes of Yellowstone National Park through changing seasons, extreme weather, and unpredictable encounters in the wild. Yellowstone: INTO THE WILD | Full Wildlife Documentary (4K) Ever wondered how to make a wildlife documentary? In this video, Alan breaks down the real process behind creating my Yellowstone wildlife documentary, Yellowstone: Into The Wild, from organizing years of footage and finding the story to filming animals in the wild, capturing cinematic sequences, building natural sound, and editing a finished wildlife film. How I Made My Yellowstone Wildlife Documentary & Becoming a Dad Support Filming The Wild on Patreon: patreon.com/cw/filmingthewild Visit: filmingthewild.com |
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DCEFF 34´s Interview With Bertie Gregory Ahead of their world premiere screening of Secrets of the Bees last month, DCEFF Advisory Council member Maggie Dewane sat down with Nat Geo Explorer Bertie Gregory and filmmaker Nadège Laici. With the two-part National Geographic special Secrets of the Bees now streaming on Hulu and Disney+, this insightful conversation makes for great supplemental viewing for those looking to learn more. How did they get such stunning footage? Is Bertie deathly allergic to bee stings or just very allergic? How can you, the viewer, support pollinators? And more! Secrets of the Bees Interview: Bertie Gregory & Nadège Laici From Executive Producer James Cameron, SECRET OF THE BEES follows Bertie Gregory as he explores the extraordinary lives of bees - among the planet's most important animals. Visit: dceff.org Watch on: disneyplus.com |
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Britain, Unexpected - Five surprising discoveries from a German film crew exploring the UK’s wildest places The UK is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. Yet around 10% of the country is protected as national parks. Across these areas wildlife continues to thrive, from remote uplands to ancient forests and exposed coastlines. These places are shaped by both nature and people. Inside Britain’s National Parks explores these iconic landscapes. The series is created by a young German production company from Berlin, encountering Britain’s national parks with fresh eyes. Here, they share their five most surprising discoveries. 1. Caring for the environment One of the biggest surprises was the locals’ level of commitment to protecting their environment. Across all four parks, people dedicate large parts of their lives to it. From rangers to volunteers, conservation here is not just policy, it is personal. What drives people like the guardian of a temperate rainforest on Dartmoor? Or the Commoners in the New Forest? Their spirit is rooted in wondrous traditions, carried forward over generations. In Britain, things tend to follow a plan. And it makes sense: on an island, space is never taken for granted, so you’d better look after it. Read more: bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4wHTHPVRjLtrK9tZjn4dgvV/britain-unexpected |
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London's Last Wilderness by Pablo Behrens now streaming on Amazon An explorer returns to a planet to study a region ruled by a mighty sea. A sense of foreboding takes hold of the explorer who sees dangers ahead: catastrophic flooding and toxic contamination. A succession of cargo ships leads the explorer to conclude that a controlling Citadel lies somewhere, but ultimately, the sea has lessons in store. It is an ecological and cosmological powerhouse that has been filmed during four years from land, sea and sky for the first time ever. London's Last Wilderness | Official Trailer Now available on Amazon Prime Visit here for more info: www.londonslastwilderness.com London’s Last Wilderness review – mudflats meets Mad Max towers on eccentric estuary voyage |
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Appian Way Boards Conservation Doc ‘Snow Leopard Sisters’ As Exec Producer & Noah Media Launches Sales Appian Way has signed on as an exec producer on Snow Leopard Sisters. The feature doc premiered at SXSW and follows snow leopard conservationist Tshiring Lhamu Lama as she mentors 17-year-old Tenzin Bhuti Gurung. Set against the backdrop of an isolated corner of the Himalayas, the film is billed as a story of an unlikely yet powerful friendship between two Indigenous women. Noah Media Group is across international sales and is now out in the market with the film. Appian Way, the environmentally-focused film and TV production company, has gotten on board with Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Davisson and Phillip Watson now exec producers. In the film, Tshiring Lhamu Lama and Tenzin Bhuti Gurung journey through the treacherous and breathtaking Himalayas in search of endangered snow leopards. Their journey highlights the power of women’s voices in conservation, the producers said, with the hope of shaping a better future for themselves and the elusive snow leopards. More here: deadline.com/2026/04/appian-way-backs-sxsw-documentary-film-snow-leopard-sisters-1236784406 |
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Behind the scenes of the Amazon’s gold rush: Director Richard Ladkani on the making of ‘Yanuni’ Austrian director and cinematographer Richard Ladkani knew little about the Amazon Rainforest before he decided to make a film about it. It was 2019. Fires raged across the Amazon. Ladkani had just finished his film Sea of Shadows, about the desperate effort to rescue the critically endangered vaquita porpoise in the Sea of Cortés and the drug cartels and traffickers threatening its habitat. He was inhaling news about the fires, which got him thinking: “Is there a movie out there that really explains to people, emotionally, that this is our Amazon? That we’re losing not a remote place far away in Brazil or South America, but that this actually relates to us, wherever you live on the planet?” Ladkani soon found that the impact-driven film he envisioned did not exist. And so, the first seeds of Yanuni were sown. Filmed across two worlds, the Brazilian capital Brasília and a remote village in the Xipaya Indigenous Territory, the documentary film focuses on Juma Xipaia, an Indigenous chief from the Brazilian Amazon. It centers her ongoing effort to confront illegal gold miners, land grabbers and multinational corporations threatening the Amazon’s forests, alongside her husband, Hugo Loss, the head of special operations at Brazil’s environmental protection agency, IBAMA, who leads dangerous operations to crack down on illegal mining deep in the rainforest. The film captures the personal realities environmental defenders face in the Amazon and features rare video of an IBAMA mission to combat illegal miners. Yanuni was screened in Washington, D.C., on March 28 at the DC Environmental Film Festival (DCEFF), where Mongabay is a media partner. In an interview with Mongabay’s Aimee Gabay, Ladkani shares behind-the-scenes insights into capturing the life of the Indigenous conservation leader, the filming process, important conversations, and the critical events in Yanuni that bring the Amazon’s dramatic stories to the big screen. The interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. |
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Neon Buys Bong Joon Ho’s First Animated Feature ‘Ally,’ About a Piglet Squid Who Dreams of Movie Stardom The "Parasite" and "The Host" filmmaker is turning to animation for the first time with his "Ally," but it's not all new: he's also re-teaming with his "Parasite" distributor to bring the film to the world. Neon has acquired North American rights to Bong Joon Ho’s highly anticipated debut animated feature film, “Ally.” The filmmaker returns to Neon following the release of his “Parasite,” which won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Director, and Original Screenplay, in addition to the film winning Best International Feature Film, becoming the first film to win both Best Picture and Best International Feature Film. The film will be completed in the first half of 2027. Neon will give the film a wide theatrical release in North America in the same year. Academy Award–winning writer and director Bong Joon Ho’s first animated feature, “Ally,” isn’t even here yet, and look, we’re already learning so much from it. Like, is a “piglet squid” — the species at the center of the film — real? You bet it is, and it’s adorable. Director Bong and his team have today revealed a first look at “Ally,” which has been in development since 2019. Bong directed the film and co-wrote the script alongside “Sleep” filmmaker Jason Yu. Per today’s announcement, the film follows “a curious and endearing piglet squid living in the uncharted depths of the South Pacific Ocean. She dreams of one day seeing the sun and becoming the star of a wildlife documentary. But when a mysterious aircraft sinks into the ocean, her peaceful world is suddenly thrown into danger. Alongside her colorful and loyal — yet unlikely — companions, Ally is thrust into an extraordinary journey that will take her all the way to the surface.” Read more: indiewire.com/news/breaking-news/bong-joon-ho-first-animated-feature-ally-squid-1235187097 |
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VFX breakdown: Lux Aeterna's deep time for The Dinosaurs Across the four-part Netflix documentary series The Dinosaurs, produced by Silverback Films in association with Amblin Entertainment and narrated by Morgan Freeman, the camera travels across vast spans of geological time. Continents shift across the planet, dense prehistoric forests emerge and disappear, volcanoes reshape the terrain, and oceans deepen as coastlines fracture. While Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) focused on animating the prehistoric creatures themselves, VFX studio Lux Aeterna was responsible for the transitions that situate those animals within an evolving Earth. The sequences demanded something beyond simply creating multiple prehistoric landscapes. They required a way to visualise planetary evolution within continuous cinematic shots. To solve that problem, Lux Aeterna developed a procedural system in Houdini where time itself became a controllable parameter. Read more: televisual.com/news/vfx-breakdown-lux-aeternas-deep-time-for-the-dinosaurs |
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How Malaika Vaz Is Using Films To Drive Conservation Awareness Around The World Malaika Vaz discusses the shift toward ethical wildlife tourism and the importance of putting local communities at the heart of conservation. At five, she knew she wanted to film the untamed wild. By 18, she was pursuing her ultimate dream. Malaika Vaz is a filmmaker, co-founder and CEO of Untamed Planet, a film production company to bring raw, immersive, and impactful stories of our planet to inspire people, give them a gentle nudge to be better, and mostly, to protect the natural world. From Rwanda to Northern Colombia, Vaz is set on making the world a better place, one film at a time. Excerpts From The Interview With Malaika Vaz T+L India: What sparked your passion for the natural world? Malaika Vaz: I’ve always been deeply in love with the natural world. I was a feral kid who spent every moment she could with animals. I grew up by the beach in Goa and spent lots of time outdoors diving, windsurfing, hiking into forests, and riding horses. I knew I wanted to make wildlife films at 5 and began my career at 18. When I began my career, I realised there was a disconnect between what I saw on TV and the ground realities across wild spaces in India and beyond. On TV, I saw unpeopled wildernesses, pristine landscapes, and few interactions between people and wild animals. In real life, I saw a planet that was under huge pressure because of the human footprint. As I began making my first films for media networks, I chose to dive deep into filming stories about what it takes to balance people, planet, and profit. Read more: travelandleisureasia.com/in/people/malaika-vaz-interview |
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The Highland Tiger is Clinging by a Claw Known as the Highland tiger, Scottish wildcats are among the UK’s most iconic predators. They form a crucial part of Scotland’s natural heritage and once roamed across Britain and Europe. However, over time, persecution, habitat loss, disease, and hybridisation with domestic cats drove the population close to extinction. These pressures explain why Scottish wildcats are endangered today. As Britain’s last remaining native cat and one of its few apex predators, Scottish wildcats play a vital role in healthy ecosystems. They regulate prey numbers and help diversify woodland and grassland habitats. In 2019, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature declared the species ‘functionally extinct’ in the wild. This is because, at that point, too few wildcats remained to rebuild a healthy population, even with full legal protection. So, without a strategic programme to strengthen genetic health and release wildcats back into suitable habitats, Scotland would have lost the species entirely. The Film by Saving Wildcats The Scottish wildcat documentary Clinging by a Claw is a 60-minute film narrated by Outlander star Sam Heughan. It follows the struggle and hopeful comeback of the Scottish wildcat, tracing its journey from the brink of extinction. Along the way, it reveals intimate moments of wildcats living in the rugged landscape of the Cairngorms National Park. The film also examines conservation work led by Saving Wildcats, showing how coordinated action supports safe reintroductions across the Highlands. Set against striking Highland scenery, the documentary offers both a warning and a hopeful vision for the future of Scottish wildcats. Clinging by a Claw was produced SCOTLAND: The Big Picture. |
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Springwatch makes international debut BBC natural history format Springwatch is to make its international debut with a version of the format heading to Spain. Produced by Brutal Media, part of BBC Studios, the Spanish adaptation will be titled Bizi Natura: Udaberria , meaning “Living Nature: Spring” in the Basque language. The series will celebrate the region’s rich biodiversity and natural heritage, bringing audiences closer to wildlife in real time. Bizi Natura: Udaberria will consist of a total of 15 episodes. The series will launch late May with a one-hour prime-time special airing across both of EITB’s main channels. This will be followed by 13 predominantly live episodes. The season then concludes with a one-hour prime-time episode. Sumi Connock, EVP Creative Network and Formats at BBC Studios, said: “We are incredibly excited to see Springwatch travel beyond the UK for the very first time. It’s more than a format – it’s event television that has built a deep emotional connection with audiences year after year through its authenticity, expertise and sense of shared experience. Working with EITB to bring Bizi Natura: Udaberria to life in the Basque Country is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate local wildlife in a way that feels both distinctive and true to the spirit of the original.” Isabel Duran, Head of Entertainment, Brutal Media, said: “We’re very proud to be leading the first international adaptation of Springwatch and bringing this distinctive format to Spain with Bizi Natura: Udaberria. Brutal Media has had great success adapting BBC Studios’ unscripted formats for Spanish audiences, and this marks an exciting step into factual entertainment formats. The Basque Country offers a rich and diverse natural setting, and we look forward to creating a series that feels both authentic to the format and deeply rooted in the local environment.” Isabel Octavio, Director of EITB, said: “In the Basque Country, we live surrounded by remarkable biodiversity that is part of who we are, even if we are not always aware of it. Bizi Natura: Udaberria is an invitation to pause, to observe, and to rediscover this nearby nature with fresh eyes. We want to move people, but also to raise awareness so that audiences don’t just see nature, but feel it as their own—because only when we truly feel something belongs to us do we understand the importance of protecting it.” From: televisual.com/news/springwatch-makes-international-debut |
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Who is Hannah Stitfall? All you need to know about the BBC Springwatch and Winterwatch presenter Meet wildlife presenter and photographer Hannah Stitfall If you’re a fan of BBC natural history TV shows such as Springwatch, then you’ll be familiar with Hannah Stitfall. But who is she and how did she get into filmmaking? Hannah Stitfall is an RTS-nominated British wildlife filmmaker, presenter, photographer and author. She regularly presents on BBC TV shows such as Springwatch, Winterwatch and The One Show. She shares her filmmaking and wildlife content on her social media platforms and co-leads photography trips. Hannah is also the author of Wild Treasures: A Year of Extraordinary Encounters With Cornwall’s Wildlife. How did she get into wildlife filmmaking? Hannah studied zoology at the University of Plymouth, gaining a first-class degree. She then went on to complete a master’s degree in wildlife filmmaking at the University of the West of England, in Bristol, and worked with the BBC’s Natural History Unit. Hannah has worked in the wildlife filmmaking industry since 2018. Hannah also completed a Wildeye course. More here: discoverwildlife.com/people/who-is-hannah-stitfall |
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Iolo Williams celebrates wildlife that’s back from the brink in new S4C series As spring makes an appearance, Iolo Williams is taking viewers along with him to explore Europe’s natural beauty and wildlife in a new S4C series. Nôl o’r Dibyn (Back from the Brink) will follow the naturalist and broadcaster on a hopeful journey throughout Wales and Europe, sharing stories about protecting, restoring and making room for wildlife to flourish in our towns and cities. “Over the next twenty-five years it is crucial that every country in Europe does their best to protect the habitats we have left,” explains Iolo Williams, originally from Llanddwyn in the Efyrnwy Valley. From: nation.cymru/news/iolo-williams-celebrates-wildlife-thats-back-from-the-brink-in-new-s4c-series |
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Springwatch 2026 Debuts Historic Northern Ireland Hub The BBC Studios Natural History Unit has launched Springwatch 2026 (25 May – 11 June), marking the first time the live flagship series has based its main hub in Northern Ireland. Broadcasting from the National Trust Crom Estate in County Fermanagh, the production leverages Upper Lough Erne’s ancient woodlands and wetlands to spotlight pine martens, red squirrels, and rare waterfowl.. Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan anchor live from the main desk at Crom, while Iolo Williams roves across the UK to broadcast from the Knepp Estate in Sussex, urban London, and Bempton Cliffs. Bringing a vital multi-platform edge to the production, wildlife filmmaker and presenter Hannah Stitfall returns to front the digital coverage. Operating directly from the Crom Estate base, Stitfall hosts Springwatch Digital features, provides live commentary on the ecosystem's round-the-clock wildlife cameras, and connects the broadcast directly to younger audiences via YouTube and real-time social media engagement. See: @bbcspringwatch Behind the scenes, a crew of over 100 people manages more than 50 remote camera feeds to deliver 11.5 hours of daily live streaming via BBC iPlayer. According to Executive Producer Rosemary Edwards, the 2026 editorial strategy weaves these technical achievements with a heavy narrative focus on climate-driven shifts in UK migration patterns. |
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Jordan Stephens collaborates with nature ReRooted is Studio BlueGreen´s music series that sends artists into nature to create exclusive tracks inspired by the sounds around them. For the brand new episode, they invited musician, writer and presenter Jordan Stephens, one half of Rizzle Kicks, to Rainham Marshes with just a sound recorder and a notebook. His brief: soak it all in, then put nature front and centre in whatever he makes. This is the result. Jordan Stephens collaborates with nature Watch as the marsh, the birds, and the wind through the reeds become part of the creative process in real time. The result is True Doves. More here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsHC9jX99y04dts4GYSMXa0-uuQ8VlKjV Visit: studiobluegreen.org |
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Upstream Downriver Media Project Launches "Women Water Warriors" Series on YouTube! Award-winning filmmaker Maggie Stogner and Blue Bear Media have officially launched "Women Water Warriors," a powerful new digital documentary series tracking the modern fight for clean water. The series is now streaming on the Upstream Downriver YouTube channel. The Upstream Downriver Media Project began as a 30-min. film created for the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act in 2022. It was expanded to a one-hour film for public television broadcast and screenings across the country. What began as an historical marker has become a deeper exploration of where we are now and what still needs to change. “Women Water Warriors” is a new series of short videos showcasing women at the forefront of today’s water justice movement. Welcome to Women Water Warriors | An Upstream Downriver Media Project “Upstream Downriver Media Project” founder Maggie Burnette Stogner introduces the “Women Water Warriors” series and shares why she is so passionate about water issues.. Learn more about the project: upstreamdownriver.org |
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With Orangutan, Disneynature Completes Its Best Unofficial Trilogy Rudyard Kipling brought the jungles of India to life through The Jungle Book, filling them with unforgettable animal characters whose social dynamics mirrored our own. In a sense, Disneynature has been doing exactly that for nearly two decades now. With Orangutan, the brand's latest Earth Day film, the parallels feel more intentional than ever — the film even incorporates "I Wanna Be Like You" from the 1967 animated classic, leaning into the Disney magic of Disneynature more than perhaps any film before it. Meet Indah, a 9-year-old female orangutan living in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra, a teenager in orangutan years. Indah lives with her mother, Diann, and her 2-year-old brother Bimo, but the time has come for Indah to leave the nest, or the tree, as it were. Orangutan chronicles Indah’s first leaps into the wider forest world. Orangutans have the longest childhoods of any animal in nature, and Orangutan explores why. Survival in these forests requires extraordinary intelligence, and being on the lower class of orangutan society, Diann has had to learn many survival techniques, which she passed on to Indah. The film not only documents this behavior, but also includes Indah making a friend by sharing the wealth. The film delights in the full ecosystem of the Sumatran rainforest, delivering one gorgeous montage after another: gibbons swinging, Thomas' leaf monkeys leaping, gliding snakes and draco lizards launching themselves through the air, and an unforgettable nighttime sequence featuring moon moths, whip scorpions, giant-eyed tree geckos, and the wide-eyed slow loris. The dominant male Bintang, a 200-pound flanged male whose thunderous calls shake the trees, gets some of the most impressive footage in the film. A comical sun bear who benefits from Bintang's tree-toppling habit — and who Indah follows to a honey-filled discovery — is a supporting scene-stealer of the first order. Josh Gad brings a warm, playful energy to the narration that suits the material perfectly. Best known as the voice of Olaf in the Frozen films, Gad leans into the humor and heart of Indah's story without ever undercutting its emotional weight. He even gets to deliver a sun bear pun that lands with the spirit of a Jungle Book sidekick. Director Mark Linfield, a 30-year veteran of wildlife filmmaking, clearly has deep affection for his subjects, and that love comes through in every frame. More here: laughingplace.com/disney-entertainment/disneynature-orangutan-review-earth-day-2026 |
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Born Free´s new short film: What Will You Tell Your Children? The story behind this remarkable new film – created for Born Free´s gala event this March, which is connecting with audiences, touching hearts, and supporting fundraising. At this year’s Footsteps to Freedom Ball, guests were mesmerised by the deeply moving new film, ‘What Will You Tell Your Children?’ Poignant and impactful, the short is now available to a wider audience, so we spoke to the film’s creator, Born Free’s Head of Comms & PR Amanda Poole-Connor, to find out more. How would you introduce the film? It doesn’t explain Born Free’s work in detail. It doesn’t list achievements or statistics. And it doesn’t ask directly for money. Instead, it asks one simple question, quietly at first, and then again at the very end – what will you tell your children? In the film, ‘your children’ is used in a symbolic sense. It stands for the next generation, whether or not we are parents ourselves. It is about the people who will inherit the world, shaped by the choices we make today. What Will You Tell Your Children? One day, the next generation will ask what the world used to be like, and what we did while we still had a choice. When that moment comes, what will you tell your children? More here: bornfree.org.uk/news/our-new-short-film-what-will-you-tell-your-children |
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ZDF Studios Secures Global Distribution for “Lord Howe Island – Reset of Paradise” Florian Guthknecht’s latest wildlife documentary chronicles ecological collapse and restoration on a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. ZDF Studios is expanding its international catalogue of premium nature and wildlife programming by taking on worldwide distribution of “Lord Howe Island – Reset of Paradise” (1 x 60’) from internationally acclaimed wildlife filmmaker Florian Guthknecht. Nikolas Hülbusch, Director Unscripted at ZDF Studios, said: “‘Lord Howe Island – Reset of Paradise’ is an ideal addition to our nature documentary portfolio. Florian Guthknecht’s new film is far more than an observation of nature: it tells a story about humanity’s ability to destroy nature – and our equally powerful ability to restore it. Especially at a time of global climate and biodiversity crises, this film shows that nature can recover when responsibility is taken. We are delighted to distribute this hopeful story internationally and make it accessible to audiences worldwide.” The island’s ecological balance was pushed to the brink of collapse by introduced rats and mice. Rather than accepting this fate, residents joined forces with scientists, including renowned photographer and naturalist Ian Hutton, as well as national park rangers, to undertake an unprecedented rescue mission. Over nearly three years, the island was completely cleared of invasive rodents. What followed was a remarkable recovery captured on film: vegetation began to regenerate, insects and birds returned, and species long thought extinct for centuries reappeared. Life flourished again in ways that surprised even experts. |
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"Superfish – Wild Salmon" wins Environment Award at International Ocean Film Festival The documentary, distributed worldwide by ORF-Enterprise, received the prestigious accolade in San Francisco following a successful international run that includes reaching over one million viewers on NHK in Japan. ORF-Enterprise has announced that the "Universum Nature" documentary "Superfish – Wild Salmon" has been honored with the Environment Award at the 2026 International Ocean Film Festival. Directed by acclaimed marine biologist Rick Rosenthal and written by Kate Youngdahl, the film was produced over two and a half years across 18 international locations. The recognition at the San Francisco-based festival, a leading platform for marine conservation and ocean literacy, marks a major milestone for the production. Beyond its festival success, the documentary has seen significant commercial reach, notably on Japanese public broadcaster NHK, where it drew more than one million viewers and performed strongly on the network’s streaming service. ¨Receiving the Environment Award and seeing such strong viewership in Japan underscores the global relevance of this story,” stated Armin Luttenberger, Head of Content Sales International at ORF-Enterprise. “'Superfish – Wild Salmon' shows how documentary storytelling can illuminate urgent ecological challenges and inspire international audiences.”: The film explores the spectacular pink salmon run in Alaska and follows Rosenthal’s journey to key salmon regions to investigate the decline of wild salmon populations due to climate change and human activity. By uncovering scientific insights into the species' resilience and fragility, the documentary supports global conservation efforts and highlights the ecological and cultural importance of protecting wild salmon. From: senalnews.com/en/content/superfish-wild-salmon-wins-environment-award-at-international-ocean-film-festival Trailer: vimeo.com/1154510443 |
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What wildlife documentaries don’t show: 6 times filming turned terrifying, from nearly dying in Antarctica to being arrested for subversive activities Filming a wildlife documentary is no small feat – and sometimes, nature is working against you by Magda Patynska Capturing wildlife on film isn’ t without risk, but filming crews are kept safe by numerous safety measures and equipment. However, even those sometimes fail in a stark reminder that nature is wildly unpredictable. 6 times filming a wildlife documentary has gone scarily wrong A close call A journey out onto the river in Zimbabwe to film the mesmerising lunar rainbows that form in the mist of Victoria Falls during a full moon turned into a life or death situation for Jamie McPherson and Tommy Varley “As I was to discover, filming rainbows is not necessarily a serene experience,” said McPherson. The two men headed out onto the water in a small fibreglass speedboat; the plan was to spend the night filming and head back upstream in the morning. After catching a beautiful sequence of lunar rainbows on camera, they packed the kit back up. McPherson was a bit nervous about how close they were to the edge (about 30 metres), but got on with the job at hand. And then... “We’re out of fuel,” Tommy yelled. The engine cut out, and the boat was carried by the fast-flowing water towards the 100m drop. Find out what happened next: “ We were in a small boat in the deadly, croc-infested Zambezi River, just metres from the edge of Victoria Falls. Then the engine spluttered and cut out...” Full feature: discoverwildlife.com/people/times-filming-wildlife-documentary-gone-wrong |
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Announcing the 2026 Whitley Award winners! Celebrating the 2026 Whitley Award winners and 2026 Whitley Gold Award winner. From Cameroon to India and Ecuador, and guitarfish to lions and Himalayan salamanders, these exceptional conservationists and their teams are leading solutions for nature and people. Discover the winners' stories through powerful short films made by Silverback Films and narrated by Miranda Richardson. Visit: whitleyaward.org/2026/04/30/meet-the-2026-whitley-award-winners/ |
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Project Slingshot Has Launched! A provocative campaign by Project Slingshot has launched on the London Underground in the UK, aiming to bring to light the secretive practice of slaughtering pigs in gas chambers. Supported by comedians Diane Morgan, Jen Brister and Shabaz Ali, TV’s Dr Amir Khan, and TV personality and athlete Mathew Pritchard, the ads challenge the industry’s claims that CO2 gassing qualifies as “humane slaughter” In England and Wales, 90% of pigs are slaughtered inside CO2 gas chambers, which according to a 2025 report by a government advisory body, causes severe pain, fear, anxiety, and respiratory distress. More than 750 ads will appear in 206 London Underground stations, and there are 2,200 more inside tube carriages, for two months from today. The stations include Euston, Charing Cross, Liverpool Street, Embankment, and Kings Cross St Pancras. Take Action - Join the Movement here. |
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Hogwood horror pig farm is closing forever! Exciting news from Viva! - Hogwood Farm is FINALLY closing. Planning documents reveal that Hogwood’s intensive pig operation will shut down for good in September 2026, with the farm’s own planning statement explicitly citing Viva!’s investigations and relentless public pressure as a core reason the business became unviable. The owner tried to sell to three major industry suppliers, including Cranswick. None of them would touch it. And with that, the countdown to the closure begins. Vist/support the work of Viva! here: viva.org.uk/animals/campaigns/hogwood |
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