Jackson Wild has announced the winners of the 2023 Jackson Wild Media Awards and Special Jury Awards. Considered the highest bar of achievement in natural history filmmaking, the Jackson Wild Media Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in nature, science, and conservation storytelling.
This year’s competition saw over 1,100 category entries filmed in 74 different countries, with films competing for 30 content, craft, program, and special jury awards, as well as the Grand Teton Award, awarded to the overall best film in competition.
Winners were announced at the Grand Teton Awards Gala held at the Center for the Arts in Jackson, Wyoming as part of the 2023 Jackson Wild Summit. For more information, visit www.jacksonwild.org.
2023 Jackson Wild Media Awards Finalist Trailer
2023 Jackson Wild Media Awards Winners:
Grand Teton Award
Silverback
An Off the Fence Production for BBC In co production with France Télévision in association with Featuristic Films
Special Jury Award Winner
Deep Rising
A film by Matthieu Rytz
Special Jury Award Winner
Wildcat
Amazon Studios
CONTENT CATEGORIES
Animal Behavior Film
Awarded to the film that most effectively examines animal behavior in an innovative and illuminating way.
Long Form – Sponsored by Love Nature
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Our Planet II: World on the Move
Silverback Films, Netflix |
Short Form – Sponsored by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
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KAPPE RAAGA The song of Kumbara - A Night Frog
Creative Capture Pvt Ltd, Goutham Shankar, Prashanth S Nayaka, Pradeep K Sastry, Ashwin P Kumar |
Ecosystem
Awarded to the film that most effectively explores a habitat and the interconnectivity of its unique ecosystem.
Long Form – Sponsored by GBH
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Once Upon a Time in Tsavo
A Deeble & Stone Film
Co-producers Waterhole Films, Terra Mater Studios, The WNET Group in association with PBS and CPB |
Short Form – Sponsored by Conservation International
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Heart of Maui
National Park Service, Harpers Ferry Center for Interpretive Design |
Conservation
Awarded to the film or episode that most effectively shines a light on efforts to protect a species, resource or habitat.
Long Form – Sponsored by ORF
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Mollie's Pack
Grizzly Creek Films and IMAX Original Documentaries |
Short Form – Sponsored by Global Conservation
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Batsies
Fin and Fur Films Productions; Presented by H-E-B
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Climate Stories
Awarded to the film or episode that most effectively highlights the environmental issue of our time, climate change - this can include social inequity issues and environmental justice.
Long Form – Sponsored by Doclights
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The Last of the Nightingales
Colorfool Films, Blind Films |
Short Form – Sponsored by PBS
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Dream To Cure Water
TENT Film, National Geographic Society |
People & Nature
Awarded to the film or episode that best explores the relationship between humans and the natural world, and how nature is critical to our lives.
Long Form – Sponsored by Save Our Seas
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Silverback
An Off the Fence Production for BBC In co production with France Télévision in association with Featuristic Films. |
Short Form – Sponsored by Institute of American Indian Arts
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Daughter of the Sea
Backroads Pictures, Patagonia |
Natural Science
Awarded to the film or episode that best explores the science of planet Earth and the cosmos beyond. Relevant disciplines include Geology, Paleontology, Oceanography, Astronomy, Meteorology, Evolution and Biology.
Long Form – Sponsored by Terra Mater Studios
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The Last of the Nightingales
Colorfool Films, Blind Films |
Short Form – Sponsored by Marco Polo Film AG
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The Reservoir
Day's Edge Productions for Illumina |
PROGRAM CATEGORIES
Limited Series – Sponsored by Sony
Awarded to the limited series that most effectively advances a natural history theme.
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Chimp Empire
Keo Films and Underdog Films for Netflix |
Global Voices – Sponsored by Santiago Wild
For excellence in wildlife, conservation, science, social or cultural storytelling from less represented geographical and cultural perspectives. Prioritizing productions led by media makers in non-Western regions including but not limited to Asia, Africa, Central and South America, the Middle East, Micronesia and Indigenous communities around the world.
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Goni
Untamed Planet, Drik Picture Library |
On-screen Personality – Sponsored by Fujifilm Fujinon
Awarded to the host, presenter, onscreen investigative journalist or collection of expert onscreen commentators that best engage the viewer while communicating the knowledge, message, mission and spirit of a film related to our natural world.
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Silverback
An Off the Fence Production for BBC In co production with France Télévision in association with Featuristic Films
Featuring Vianet Djenguet |
Micro-Movie – Sponsored by National Geographic
Awarded to the most effective and compelling film, episode or social media video content under three minutes that best advances an understanding or appreciation of the natural world.
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Roots Will Remain
The Allotment Studio |
Feature – Sponsored by ARRI
Awarded to the feature-length film, 75 minutes or longer in runtime, factual or narrative, that best advances an understanding or appreciation of the natural world.
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Orca - Black & White Gold
Terra Mater Studios GmbH |
Student – Sponsored by HHMI Tangled Bank Studios
For outstanding wildlife, environmental or natural science focused film produced by a student currently enrolled or no more than two years out of an academic program.
CRAFT CATEGORIES
Cinematography
Awarded for the cinematography that most enhances the nature related film of which it is a part.
Judged & Sponsored by the American Society of Cinematographers
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Super/Natural: The Mating Game
National Geographic, Earthship Productions and Plimsoll Productions
Cinematography: Chris Watts, Jon Shaw, Jeff Hester, Graham Hatherly, Alfredo Barroso, Matthew Hood, Simon De Glanville, Robert Hollingworth, Matthew Norman, Mark Ó Fearghaíl, Mark Payne-Gill |
Editing – Sponsored by Nature Environment Wildlife Filmmaking
Awarded for the editing that most enhances the nature related film of which it is a part of.
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Frozen Planet II: Frozen Worlds
A BBC Studios Natural History Unit Production for BBC & BBC America co-produced with ZDF and France Televisions. A BBC Open University Partnership
Editors: Matt Meech and David Warner |
Original Music Score – Sponsored by Think Lemonade Productions
Awarded for the original musical score that most enhances the natural history story of which it is a part.
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Nkashi: Race for the Okavango
A National Geographic Society Impact Story Lab production, with support from Okavango Eternal
Original Music: Koolkat Motyiko (Mr. Seronga), Mikael Rosen, NEWF Compose Yourself Lab |
Writing – Sponsored by BBC Studios Natural History Unit
Awarded for the writing that most enhances the natural history story of which it is a part.
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Mollie's Pack
Grizzly Creek Films and IMAX Original Documentaries
Writers: Avela Grenier and Thomas Winston |
Sound – Sponsored by Television Academy Sound Peer Group
Awarded for the combined contribution of sound editing, production mixing and post-production mixing that most enhances the nature related film of which it is a part.
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Big Beasts: The Elephant Seal
Plimsoll Productions production company for Apple TV+
Dubbing Mixer: Chris Domaille
Dubbing Editor: Roy Noy |
Breakthrough Film – Sponsored by National Geographic Society
For outstanding achievement in nature related filmmaking in the face of adversity or limitations. Prioritizing films that are non-commissioned and not currently in commercial distribution, judging will be based on ingenuity, imagination, passion, and overall quality of the work.
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PATROL
Juli Films and Perpetuo Films in collaboration with Re:wild |
SPECIAL JURY RECOGNITIONS
Special Jury Award Winner for Impact Campaign
Jackson Wild recognizes innovative approaches to active impact campaigns that extend conservation beyond the screen to inspire measurable on-the-ground change through education, policy change and engagement and outreach.
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The Territory
National Geographic Documentary Films, Protozoa Pictures, Passion Pictures, Real Lava, Documist and Associação Jupaú. In association with Time Studios, XTR Doc Society Climate Story Fund
Impact Producers: Marianna Olinger, Will Miller, Alex Pritz, Gabriel Uchida, Txai Surui, Sarah Sparkman |
Special Jury Award Winner for Innovation in Green Production Award
For implementation of sustainable best practices to reduce the environmental impact through the entire lifecycle of a production.
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Jane Goodall - Reasons for Hope
Science North, Jane Goodall Institute, Cosmic Picture Distribution, FedNor, NOHFC, Arizona Science Center, City of Sudbury, Greater Grand Sudbury, Rivian |
Honorable Mentions
A special honor for entries that were not selected as category finalists, but stood out to our jury for a unique or important aspect outside the standard category criteria.
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A Note for Nature
Crossing the Line Productions, RTÉ, BAI, Creative Ireland, National Parks and Wildlife Service |
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Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper: Alabama
Nat Geo WILD and Lucky 8 |
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Hellbent
Wild Lens Collective, Running Wild Media
This film's green production strategy has been recognized by Jackson Wild. |
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Mongolia, Valley of the Bears
ARTE France, Lato Sensu Productions, YN Productions - La Cuisine aux Images, DCMP DreamCatcherMotionPictures, ZED |
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Tahlequah the Whale: A Dance of Grief
Meinart Animation Studio, Higher Purpose Productions |
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Wading for Change
Sofia Jaramillo & Jr Rodríguez
El Sol Productions
Orvis, New Belgium Brewing, Ford Bronco Wild Fund, Trout Unlimited |
Congratulations to all of the winners!!
See all the Finalists here: wildlife-film.com/features/Jackson-Wild-Media-Awards-2023-Finalists-Announced.html
About Jackson Wild
For over 30 years, Jackson Wild has been a catalyst for accelerating and elevating impactful storytelling at the nexus of nature, science, and conservation. Through innovative and collaborative community gatherings, skill-building initiatives, and mentorship programs, Jackson Wild creates an inclusive forum for storytellers to more deeply illuminate connections to the natural world and our collective responsibility to the wild.
Jackson Wild’s international board members include: African Wildlife Foundation, ARRI, ARTE France, BBC Studios, Blue Ant Media / Love Nature, Conservation International, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Doclights, GBH, Gorongosa Restoration Project, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, Humane Society International, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Lucky 8 Productions, National Geographic Content, National Geographic Society, Nature/WNET, Netflix, NEWF (Nature, Environment, Wildlife, Filmmaking), Off the Fence Productions, ORF Universum, RED Digital Cinema, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Smithsonian Channel/Paramount, Sony Electronics, The Nature Conservancy, Terra Mater Studios, Wanda Films, Wildstar Films, and World Wildlife Fund US.
Visit/Like facebook.com/jacksonwildorg & follow twitter/jacksonwildorg & instagram.com/jacksonwildorg
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