World’s Top Nature Media Competition Announces Finalists for 2020
Jackson Wild™ is announcing the 2020 finalists for its prestigious film competition, the Jackson Wild Media Awards™, a media competition that is considered to be the highest bar of achievement in the natural history filmmaking industry.
For the first time this year, the competition shifts from a biennial to an annual cycle, reflecting the growing importance of the role of media to combat the global issues that confront our planet. This year’s submissions include over 620 category entries from over 30 different countries competing for 30 awards, including the Best of Festival Grand Teton Award. Finalists were selected by more than 150 international judges who together screened over 1,200 hours of media.
This year, Jackson Wild is committed to elevating short form entries across all content award categories, recognizing the growing impact of short form programming across digital and social media platforms. The “Impact Campaign” category is another new addition to the competition, highlighting projects that directly motivate people, organizations and policy makers to take tangible action for change.
“The judges selected an incredible slate of inspiring finalists with powerful messaging and stunning imaging. These richly woven stories from around the planet are deeply personal and purpose-driven," said Lisa Samford, Executive Director of Jackson Wild. "But, more importantly, they reflect an inherent connection to the species, places and
issues that are critical to our survival on this beautiful planet and amplify the importance of what we as individuals can do to make a difference - while the opportunity still exists."
A distinguished panel of final judges from around the globe will select the 2020 Jackson Wild Media Award Winners over the coming weeks. Winners will be announced during the Jackson Wild Media Awards held virtually for the first time in its history on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. The awards are just one element of the Jackson Wild Virtual Summit that will be hosted online from September 28-October 1. Event speakers and delegates will include innovative filmmakers, conservationists, photographers, scientists and thought-leaders from across the globe, all engaged in conservation, nature, wildlife and media.
See below for a full list of finalists:
CONTENT CATEGORIES
Best Animal Behavior Film, Long Form
(Sponsored by Love Nature)
Awarded to the program that most effectively explores animal behavior in a new, fresh, imaginative or illuminating way.
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Pumas - Legends of the Ice Mountains: Rebirth
A Terra Mater Factual Studios/Wildlife Films production in co-production with THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC, Doclights/NDR Naturfilm, in association with PBS, CPB, Vision Hawk Films, National Geographic |
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The Elephant Queen
A Deeble, Stone & Oliff Production. Apple Original |
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The Octopus in My House
A Passion Planet Ltd. production for THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC and BBC in association with WNET |
Best Animal Behavior Film, Short Form
Awarded to the program (under 15 minutes) that most effectively explores animal behavior in a new, fresh, imaginative or illuminating way.
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Kidnapper Ants Steal Other Ants' Babies - And Brainwash Them | Deep Look
KQED, PBS Digital Studios |
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Super Sea Slugs
Diatom Studios for CuriosityStream |
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The Honey Bee Brain
Rebel Media Productions in association with Long Story Short Media, supported by a generous grant from the Templeton World Charity Foundation |
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This Killer Fungus Turns Flies into Zombies | Deep Look
KQED, PBS Digital Studios |
Best Ecosystem Film, Long Form
(Sponsored by Wanda Natura)
Awarded to the program that most effectively explores a unique habitat and its wildlife.
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Life and Death in Paradise - After the Flood
Blue Paw Artists for ZDF Enterprises and Bayerisches Fernsehen, Germany |
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My Octopus Teacher
Sea Change Project & Off the Fence - A ZDFE company, A Netflix Original Production |
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Okavango - River of Dreams: Divine Journey
A Terra Mater Factual Studios/Wildlife Films production in co-production with THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC, Doclights/NDR Naturfilm, in association with PBS, CPB, ARTE France, National Geographic and SVT |
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Santa’s Wild Home
A Terra Mater Factual Studios production |
Best Ecosystem Film, Short Form
Awarded to the program (under 15 minutes) that most effectively explores a unique habitat and its wildlife.
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Chasing Ghosts
Grizzly Creek Films, bioGraphic |
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Last Wild Places: Iberá
National Geographic Society |
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Last Wild Places: Majete
National Geographic Society |
Best Earth & Sky Film
(Sponsored by ARTE France)
Awarded to the film that best explores the science of planet earth and the cosmos beyond. Relevant disciplines include Geology, Paleontology, Oceanography, Astronomy and Meteorology.
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Black Hole Hunters
Windfall Films Ltd, Smithsonian Channel |
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The Edge of All We Know s
Collapsar films, with support from John Templeton Foundation, Sandbox Films, and Sundance Institute |
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Rise of the Mammals
HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, NOVA for WGBH Boston |
Best Conservation Film, Long Form
(Sponsored by Doclights)
Awarded to the program that most effectively relates conservation issues and/or solutions and the individuals, groups or projects dedicated to the protection of a species, ecosystem or some other aspect of the natural world.
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Corona - The Pandemic and the Pangolin
A Terra Mater Factual Studios production |
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Jane Goodall: The Hope
Lucky 8 TV for National Geographic |
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The Story of Plastic
Discovery Channel presents THE STORY OF PLASTIC, produced by Pale Blue Dot Media presented by The Story Of Stuff Project in association with React To Film |
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Reef Rescue
Merit Motion Pictures, Capa Presse/Films à Cinq, ARTE France and in association with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Vulcan Productions |
Best Conservation Film, Short Form
(Sponsored by Humane Society International)
Awarded to the program (under 15 minutes) that most effectively relates conservation issues and/or solutions and the individuals, groups or projects dedicated to the protection of a species, ecosystem or some other aspect of the natural world.
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Akashinga: The Braves Ones
Produced by Avatar Alliance Foundation for National Geographic Documentary Films |
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Last Call for the Bayou: On a Wing and a Prayer
Encompass Films, Smithsonian Channel |
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Last Wild Places: Iberá
National Geographic Society |
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Plastic Warriors
Conchboy Films |
Best People & Nature Film, Long Form
(Sponsored by: Vulcan Productions)
Awarded to the program that most effectively explores the interdependent relationship between humans and animals or the environment.
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Jane Goodall: The Hope
Lucky 8 TV for National Geographic |
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My Octopus Teacher
Sea Change Project & Off the Fence - A ZDFE company, A Netflix Original Productio |
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The Last Ice
National Geographic Documentary Films, Blancpain |
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The Octopus in My House
A Passion Planet Ltd. production for THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC and BBC in association with WNET |
Best People & Nature Film, Short Form
(Sponsored by World Wildlife Fund)
Awarded to the program (under 15 minutes) that most effectively explores the interdependent relationship between humans and animals or the environment.
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ADAPTATION: Kentucky
Alizé Carrère, The Redford Center in association with The Front |
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Akashinga: The Braves Ones
Produced by Avatar Alliance Foundation for National Geographic Documentary Films |
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The Church Forests of Ethiopia
Emergence Magazine |
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The Hunt for Medals, Not Lions
Black Bean Productions |
Best Changing Planet Film, Long Form
(Sponsored by PBS)
Awarded for the best examination of our changing planet, including human impact, the environment, sustainability and climate change.
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Great Green Wall
SEVILLE INTERNATIONAL presents a MAKE WAVES production in association with United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification |
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On Thin Ice
An Altayfilm Production in association with MDR / ARTE France |
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The Story of Plastic
Discovery Channel presents THE STORY OF PLASTIC, produced by Pale Blue Dot Media presented by The Story Of Stuff Project in association with React To Film |
Best Changing Planet Film, Short Form
(Sponsored by International Fund for Animal Welfare)
Awarded for the best examination (under 15 minutes) of our changing planet, including human impact, the environment, sustainability and climate change.
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ADAPTATION: Kentucky
Alizé Carrère, The Redford Center in association with The Front |
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Last Call for the Bayou: On a Wing and a Prayer
Encompass Films, Smithsonian Channel |
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Mermaids Against Plastic: TAMARA
Free Roaming Studios, National Geographic Society, Conservation Media Group, Stuyvesant-Bard Films |
Best Science in Nature Film, Long Form
(Sponsored by Marco Polo Film AG)
Awarded to the program that most effectively incorporates science, the scientific method and scientific discovery into an understanding of some aspect of the natural world.
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My Octopus Teacher
Sea Change Project & Off the Fence - A ZDFE company, A Netflix Original Production |
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Reef Rescue
Merit Motion Pictures, Capa Presse/Films à Cinq, ARTE France and in association with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Vulcan Productions |
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The Age of AI: Saving the World One Algorithm at a Time
Team Downey, Network Entertainment, Sonar Entertainment, Youtube Originals |
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The Deep Med
Les Gens Bien Productions, ARTE France |
Best Science in Nature Film, Short Form
Awarded to the program (under 15 minutes) that most effectively incorporates science, the scientific method and scientific discovery into an understanding of some aspect of the natural world.
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Chasing Ghosts
Grizzly Creek Films, bioGraphic |
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Feathers In Flight: The Bird Genoscape Project
Day's Edge Productions |
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Lens of Time: Jaw Jumpers
Spine Films, bioGraphic |
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The Honey Bee Brain
Rebel Media Productions in association with Long Story Short Media, supported by a generous grant from the Templeton World Charity Foundation |
PROGRAM CATEGORIES
Best Impact Campaign
(Sponsored by HHMI Tangled Bank Studios)
An impact campaign extends beyond the screen, to inspire measurable on-the-ground change. Entrants must submit an essay and other support materials to outline the impact campaign. Effects of the impact campaign must be demonstrated after June 1st, 2019 but media may have been completed and released previously.
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Peng Yu Sai
Malaika Vaz and Nitye Sood, Untamed Planet Films |
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Sea of Shadows
Terra Mater Factual Studios in association with Appian Way, Malaika Pictures, The Wild Lens Collective for National Geographic Documentary Films |
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The Elephant Queen
A Deeble, Stone & Oliff Production. Apple Original |
Best Non-Broadcast
Film (Sponsored by Saint Thomas Productions)
Awarded to the film not broadcast and not commercially distributed that most successfully educates its audience on some aspect of the natural world. This includes projects created by government agencies, NGOs, universities and other institutions.
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African Parks: Protected Area Management
Esri |
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Entangled
A film by David Abel and Andy Laub, made with the support of the Pulitzer Center, the LEF Foundation, and The Boston Globe |
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Tribes on the Edge
CauseCentric Productions |
Best Limited Series, Long Form
Awarded to the mini-series with episodes longer than 15 minutes in length, that most effectively advances a natural history theme.
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H2O The Molecule That Made Us
A WGBH and Passion Pictures production, in association with ARTE France, with funding from Draper, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, Lynn Bay Dayton and Bruce C. Dayton, Anne Ray Foundation, and PBS |
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Pumas - Legends of the Ice Mountains
A Terra Mater Factual Studios/Wildlife Films production in co-production with THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC, Doclights/NDR Naturfilm, in association with PBS, CPB, Vision Hawk Films, National Geographic |
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The Hidden Kingdoms of China
Brian Leith Productions Ltd in association with China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) and Bilibili for National Geographic |
Best Limited Series, Short Form
Awarded to the mini-series with episodes shorter than 15 minutes in length, that most effectively advances a natural history theme.
Best Engaging Youth & Family
Film (Sponsored by San Diego Zoo)
Awarded to the program that most effectively inspires an appreciation of the natural world to young people and families.
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Feathered Friends - The Secret Life Of Garden Birds
PKM FilmproduktionsgmbH, ORF, ARTE France, ORF-Enterprise |
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Jane Goodall: The Hope
Lucky 8 TV for National Geographic |
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The Elephant Queen
A Deeble, Stone & Oliff Production. Apple Original |
Best Presenter-Led Film
Awarded to the program that makes the most effective use of a host or presenter in communicating an appreciation and understanding of the natural world.
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Peng Yu Sai
Malaika Vaz and Nitye Sood, Untamed Planet Films
Presenter: Malaika Vaz |
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Wild Cuba: A Caribbean Journey
Crossing the Line Productions for ORF, BBC, RTÉ, France Télévisions, THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC, PBS, ORF Enterprises
Presenter: Colin Stafford-Johnson |
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Wild_Life: The Big Freeze: Wolf vs. Bear
National Geographic
Presenter: Bertie Gregory |
Best Micro-Movie
(Sponsored by Seeker)
Awarded to the most effective and compelling project under five minutes in length (including PSAs, music videos, and campaigns), that best advances an appreciation or understanding of the natural world.
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African Parks: Protected Area Management
Esri |
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Breathe - Save the Tongass
Wild Agency, Salmon State |
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#NatureNow
A @tommustill Film for Gripping Films, Greta Thunberg and writer/climate activist George Monbiot with support from Conservation International, Nature4Climate, The Food and Land Use Coalition and Gower Street |
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The Genetics of Tusklessness in Elephants
Day's Edge Productions for HHMI BioInteractive |
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The Tawaki Project
Braydon Moloney |
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Women on a Mission, Poachers to Peacekeepers
Katie Bryden, Conservation International + SONY Storytelling Alliance |
Best Feature Film
(Sponsored by Terra Mater Factual Studios)
Awarded to the film created for commercial distribution that best advances an appreciation or understanding of the natural world. This category includes films distributed in theaters and feature length films.
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My Octopus Teacher
Sea Change Project & Off the Fence - A ZDFE company, A Netflix Original Production |
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The Elephant Queen
A Deeble, Stone & Oliff Production. Apple Original |
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The Tiger Mafia
Karl Ammann & Laurin Merz, HOOK Film |
Best Emerging Filmmaker
Presented in recognition of the best program produced by either a first-time filmmaker in the field of natural history production, or a student currently enrolled or no more than 2 years out of an academic program.
Best 360° Storytelling
Awarded to the best natural history program created for the immersive platform of 360° Video and Virtual Reality.
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ecosphere: Kenya
PHORIA, Oculus, WWF, Silverback Films |
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Into the Himalayas
A Riverbank Studios Production with United Nations Development Programme India and The Ministry of Environment & Forests Govt. of India |
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The Amazing World of Bees: Inside and Outside the Hive
Atlantic Productions |
Best Global Voices Film
In an effort to recognize local stories told by local voices, this category will accept films produced by individuals or production teams based Asia, Africa, Latin America, South America, Oceania and indigenous communities around the world.
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Bahari Yetu (Our Ocean)
An Africa Underwater and East African Ocean Explorers Production, made with the support of the National Geographic Society |
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Flying Elephants - A Mother's Hope
Prakash Matada, Center for Wildlife Studies, Saving Nature |
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The Stork Saviours
PSBT, Vijay Bedi & Ajay Bedi |
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Yaktal
Taitao Producciones, Picafilms |
CRAFT CATEGORIES
Best Cinematography
(Sponsored by Fujifilm and Fujinon Lenses)
Awarded for the cinematography that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part.
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H2O The Molecule That Made Us: Pulse
A WGBH and Passion Pictures production, in association with ARTE France, with funding from Draper, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, Lynn Bay Dayton and Bruce C. Dayton, Anne Ray Foundation, PBS
Cinematographers: Ryan Atkinson, Paul Atkins, ASC, Simon de Glanville, Cristian Dimitrius, Mike Downie, Sugandhi Gadadhar, David Herasimtschuk, Jeremy Monroe, Christiaan Munoz Salas, Moris Alberto Munoz Salas, Ross Pimlott, Tim Shepherd, Rolf Steinmann |
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My Octopus Teacher
Sea Change Project & Off the Fence - A ZDFE company, A Netflix Original Production
Cinematography: Roger Horrocks and Craig Foster
Additional Filming: Tom Foster, Pippa Ehrlich, Warren Smart |
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The Elephant Queen
A Deeble, Stone & Oliff Production. Apple Original
Cinematographer: Mark Deeble |
Best Editing
Awarded for the editing that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part.
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H2O The Molecule That Made Us: Pulse
A WGBH and Passion Pictures production, in association with ARTE France, with funding from Draper, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, Lynn Bay Dayton and Bruce C. Dayton, Anne Ray Foundation, and PBS
Editor: Jacob Thomson |
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My Octopus Teacher
Sea Change Project & Off the Fence - A ZDFE company, A Netflix Original Production
Editors: Pippa Ehrlich, Dan Schwalm
Edit Consultant: Jinx Godfrey |
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Pumas - Legends of the Ice Mountains: Birth
A Terra Mater Factual Studios/Wildlife Films production in co-production with THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC, Doclights/NDR Naturfilm, in association with PBS, CPB, Vision Hawk Films, National Geographic.
Editor: Candice Odgers S.A.G.E. |
Best Original Music Score
Awarded for the original musical score that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part.
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A Song for Love - An Ape with an App
A co-production of Terra Mater Factual Studios, Mark Fletcher Productions, Colorful Nature Films
Original Music by: Barnaby Taylor |
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Great Green Wall
SEVILLE INTERNATIONAL presents a MAKE WAVES production in association with United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
Original Music by: Charlie Mole, Inna Modja |
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My Octopus Teacher
Sea Change Project & Off the Fence - A ZDFE company, A Netflix Original Production
Original Score: Kevin Smuts
Additional Music: Tom Foster and Matt Dennis |
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Seven Worlds One Planet: Australia
Natural History & Factual Productions Ltd o/b/o BBC Studios Production Ltd and BBC Studios Distribution Ltd, British Broadcasting Corporation
Theme Music: Hans Zimmer and Jacob Shea for Bleeding Fingers Music
Original Music: Jacob Shea for Bleeding Fingers Music
Score Producers: Hans Zimmer & Russell Emanuel
Score Recording Engineer: John W. Chapman |
Best Writing
Awarded for the writing that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part through the union of imagery, storyline, dialog and narration.
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The Octopus in My House
A Passion Planet Ltd production for THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC and BBC in association with WNET
Writers: David Allen, Anna Fitch |
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Corona - The Pandemic and the Pangolin
A Terra Mater Factual Studios production
Writer: Ruth Berry |
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Wild Cuba: A Caribbean Journey
Crossing the Line Productions for ORF, BBC, RTÉ, France Télévisions, THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC, PBS, ORF Enterprises
Writer: John Murray |
Best Audioscape
(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 natural history program of which it is a part.
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My Octopus Teacher
Sea Change Project & Off the Fence - A ZDFE company, A Netflix Original Production
Sound Design: Barry Donnelly |
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Okavango - River of Dreams
A Terra Mater Factual Studios and Wildlife Films production in co-production with THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC, Doclights/NDR Naturfilm in association with PBS, CPB, ARTE France, National Geographic
Sound Production & Design: Beverly Joubert |
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The Elephant Queen
A Deeble, Stone & Oliff Production. Apple Original
Supervisor and Sound Editor: Tim Owens, Wounded Buffalo
Sound Editor: Kate Hopkins, Wounded Buffalo
Field Sound Recordists: Norbert Rottcher, Pete Cayless
Re-recording Mixer: Ben Peace, Wounded Buffalo |
Honorable Mentions
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Acasa, My Home
Manifest Film, HBO Europe, Corso Film, Kinocompany |
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Bird Boy
Toolbox Film, Pedersen & Co., Relation04Media |
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Cephalopods: Aliens of The Deep
Saint Thomas Productions |
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Cries of Our Ancestors
Arcus Foundation, National Geographic Society, Global Wildlife Conservation, Migrant Films and Guinée-Ecologie |
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DEHESA, Forest of the Iberian Lynx
A Wanda Natura film in co-production with Ukbar Films and Terra Mater Factual Studios |
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Felicia: The Life of an Octopus Fisherwoman
José Carlos Pons |
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Green Forests and Red Carpet
MC4 production, Blue hour films with support from Region Bretagne, Fondation Iris |
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Guardians of Ua Huka
Wild Cherry Media Ltd, BirdLife International, SOP Manu and Association Vaiku'a, special thanks to Scientific Exploration Society, Rivers Foundation, University of Oxford, Christ Church, Zoo Berlin, Zoo Heidelberg, ZGAP |
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Kokoly
Blue Ventures with support from the Sundance Institute Stories of Change grant |
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Oil on Their Hands
If Not Us Then Who? |
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Run Wild
adidas Runtastic, Internet of Elephants, The Snow Leopard Trust, United Nations Environment Programme |
About Jackson Wild:
For almost 30 years, the Jackson Wild Summit has grown a reputation for hosting an extraordinary convening of scientists, conservationists, innovators and media. The Summit fosters an environment where collaboration and innovation thrive, ideas are launched, and strategic partnerships are forged as participants work together to address critical conservation and environmental challenges facing our planet.
The 2020 Jackson Wild Summit will be hosted virtually, September 28 - October 1, 2020.
Registration opens mid-August. The Jackson Wild Media Awards are slated to stream live on October 1.
Jackson Wild’s international board members include: ARTE France, BBC Studios, Blue Ant Media / Love Nature, Bonne Pioche, Borealés, Discovery, Doclights, FujiFilm Optical Devices - Fujinon Lenses, Gorongosa Restoration Project, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, Humane Society International, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Media Alliance, National Geographic Partners, National Geographic Society, Nature/WNET, Netflix, Off the Fence Productions, PBS, Saint Thomas Productions, San Diego Zoo, Seeker, Smithsonian Channel, Sony Electronics, SVT - Swedish Television, The Nature Conservancy, Terra Mater Factual Studios, ORF Universum, Vulcan Productions, Wanda Films, WGBH, and World Wildlife Fund US.
Visit/Like facebook.com/jacksonwildorg & follow twitter/jacksonwildorg & instagram.com/jacksonwildorg
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