Jackson Wild™ Announces it's Media Award Finalists for 2021 – This year’s submissions included over 750 category entries from nearly 30 different countries competing for 24 awards.

Congratulations to the 2021 Jackson Wild Media Awards, our annual international competition considered to be the highest bar of achievement in natural history filmmaking.
Reflecting the growing importance of media to combat the global climate change crisis, this year’s submissions included over 750 category entries from nearly 30 different countries competing for 24 content, craft and program awards, as well as the Best of Festival Grand Teton Award. Finalists were selected by more than 150 international judges who together screened over 3,000 hours of media.
2021 Jackson Wild Media Awards Finalists:
CONTENT CATEGORIES
Animal Behavior Film, Long Form
Awarded to the program that most effectively explores animal behavior in a new, fresh, imaginative or illuminating way.
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Soul of the Ocean
Howard Hall Productions in association with Mark Fletcher Productions |
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The Year Earth Changed
BBC Studios NHU, Apple TV+ |
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Tiny World - Jungle
Plimsoll Productions for Apple TV |
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Tiny World - Outback
Plimsoll Productions for Apple TV |
Animal Behavior Film, Short Form
Awarded to the program (17 minutes in runtime or less) that most effectively explores animal behavior in an innovative and illuminating way.
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Born Pregnant: Aphids Invade with an Onslaught of Clones | Deep Look
KQED, PBS Digital Studios |
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Searching for Language in Dolphins
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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Tadpoles: The Big Little Migration
A Maxwel Hohn Production with Seaproof.TV |
Ecosystem Film, Long Form
Awarded to the program that most effectively explores a habitat and its unique web of life.
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Antarctica
BBC Studios Natural History Unit, SK Films |
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Day Zero
Keo Films |
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Tiny World: Reef
Plimsoll Productions for Apple TV + |
Ecosystem Film, Short Form
Awarded to the program (17 minutes in runtime or less) that most effectively explores a habitat and its unique web of life.
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Bayou City
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Fin & Fur Films, Explore Ranches |
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Izembek
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology |
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Memories of the Future
a Mares Mexicanos production |
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Tadpoles: The Big Little Migration
A Maxwel Hohn production with Seaproof.TV |
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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After The Wildfires
Northern Pictures, Love Nature, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
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David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
Silverback Films production for Netflix |
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The Last Horns of Africa
Cross Border Productions, Banovich Studios |
Conservation Film, Short Form
(Sponsored by: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)
Awarded to the program (17 minutes in runtime or less) 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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Beyond The Boma
Wild Elements Studios |
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Living With Lions
Wild Elements Studios |
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Shaba
An Ami Vitale and Passion Planet production, Conservation International |
People & Nature Film, Long Form
Awarded to the program that most effectively explores the interdependent relationship between humans and animals or the environment.
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After Antarctica
A Moniker production, in association with The Lozen Foundation |
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Kiss The Ground
Big Picture Ranch |
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Playing With Sharks: The Valerie Taylor Story
A Wildbear Entertainment Production with the assistance of Screen NSW in association with Dogwoof and TDOG for National Geographic |
People & Nature Film, Short Form
Awarded to the program (17 minutes in runtime or less) that most effectively explores the interdependent relationship between humans and animals or the environment.
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Mother of the Sea
Waterbear Network |
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Save Ralph
Alldayeveryday, Arch Film Studios and Blue Tongue Films in association with Humane Society International |
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Shaba
An Ami Vitale and Passion Planet production, Conservation International |
Our Human Planet - Long Form (Sponsored by: Smithsonian Channel)
Awarded to the program that most effectively Illuminates the human forces affecting both our planet and society in relation to nature, including social and environmental issues, equity and justice, public policy, community conservation and sustainability in the face of climate change.
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Coextinction
Coexistence Films |
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David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
Silverback Films production for Netflix |
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Fukushima Monologue
NHK, NHK Educational Corporation |
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YOUTH v GOV
Barrelmaker Productions and Vulcan Productions |
Our Human Planet - Short Form
Awarded to the program (17 minutes in runtime or less) that most effectively Illuminates the human forces affecting both our planet and society in relation to nature, including social and environmental issues, equity and justice, public policy, community conservation and sustainability in the face of climate change.
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Greens For Good
Wild Elements Studios |
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Living With Lions
Wild Elements Studios |
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Shaba
An Ami Vitale and Passion Planet production, Conservation International |
Science in Nature Film, Long Form (Sponsored by Marco Polo Film AG)
Awarded to the program that most effectively reveals science and scientific discovery into an understanding of any aspect of the natural world.
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David Attenborough's Life in Colour: Hiding in Colour
Humble Bee Films, SeaLight Pictures |
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Looking For Life on Mars
A NOVA production by Terri Randall Productions for WGBH Boston in association with Arte France and NHK. |
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Nature's Fear Factor
A NOVA production by HHMI Tangled Bank Studios for WGBH Boston |
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The Witness Is A Whale
A co-production of Spindrift Images, Terra Mater Factual Studios and Mark Fletcher Productions |
Science in Nature Film, Short Form
Awarded to the program (17 minutes in runtime or less) that most effectively reveals science and scientific discovery into an understanding of any aspect of the natural world.
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Breakthrough: The Slime Minder
Science Friday, HHMI/Tangled Bank Studios |
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Memories of The Future
a Mares Mexicanos production |
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Searching for Language in Dolphins
Rebel Media Productions in association with Long Story Short Media. Supported by a generous grant from the Templeton World Charity Foundation. |
PROGRAM CATEGORIES
Educational/Informational
Awarded to the film that most successfully educates its audience on some aspect of the natural world. This includes projects created by independent filmmakers as well as government agencies, NGOs, universities and other institutions.
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Antarctica
BBC Studios Natural History Unit |
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Lions, Bones, and Bullets
Jagged Peak Films |
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The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness
A Terra Mater Factual Studios Production in Co-Production with Campion Advocacy Fund and in association with Florian Schulz Productions, presented by Cosmic Picture |
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YOUTH v GOV
Barrelmaker Productions and Vulcan Productions |
Limited Series
Awarded to the mini-series that most effectively advances a natural history theme.
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A Perfect Planet
Silverback Films, discovery+ |
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Secrets of The Whales
Red Rock Films for National Geographic & Disney+ |
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Tiny World
Plimsoll Productions for Apple TV + |
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Voices of Earth
Gariza Films, Off The Fence |
Presenter-Led (Sponsored by: Terra Mater Factual Studios)
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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David Attenborough: A Life on our Planet
Silverback Films production for Netflix
Presenter: David Attenborough |
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David Attenborough's Life in Colour: Seeing In Colour
Humble Bee Films, SeaLight Pictures
Presenter: David Attenborough |
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Lions, Bones & Bullets
Jagged Peak Films
Presenter: Richard Peirce |
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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Magali
Nick Werber |
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Save Ralph
Alldayeveryday, Arch Film Studios and Blue Tongue Films in association with Humane Society International |
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Wake Up and Smell the Flowers
Yaz Ellis |
Feature
Awarded to the film, 75 min. in runtime or longer, that best advances an appreciation or understanding of the natural world.
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David Attenborough: A Life on our Planet
Silverback Films production for Netflix |
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Playing With Sharks: The Valerie Taylor Story
A Wildbear Entertainment Production with the assistance of Screen NSW in association with Dogwoof and TDOG for National Geographic |
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Soul of the Ocean
Howard Hall Productions in association with Mark Fletcher Productions |
Student
Presented in recognition of the program that best communicates an appreciation or understanding of the natural world, produced by a student currently enrolled or no more than 2 years out of an academic program
Podcast
Awarded to the best Podcast series that conveys a message of conservation or environmental importance and encourages listeners to explore and appreciate the natural world in a new way.
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Guardians of the River
Produced by House of Pod and the NGOWP with support from the Wildbird Trust |
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Jane Goodall Hopecast
Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, founder, Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace, Jane Goodall Institute USA, FRQNCY Media |
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Saltgrass Podcast
Hosted and produced by Alison Hanly, A project of MAINfm 94.9, Supported by the Community Broadcasting Foundation |
CRAFT CATEGORIES
Cinematography
(Sponsored by: ARRI)
Awarded for the cinematography that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part.
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Antarctica
BBC Studios Natural History Unit, SK Films
Cinematographers: Alexander Vail, Hugh Miller, John Aitchison, Rolf Steinmann, Mark MacEwen, John Brown, Bertie Gregory, Pete McCowen, Ted Giffords, Dan Beecham, Espen Rekdal, Justin Hofman |
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Earth at Night in Color: Puma Mountain
Offspring Films, Apple TV +
Cinematographers: John Shier, Dawson Dunning |
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Soul of The Ocean
Howard Hall Productions in association with Mark Fletcher Productions
Cinematographer: Howard Hall |
Editing (Sponsored by: ORF Universum)
Awarded for the editing that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part.
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A Perfect Planet: Volcano
Silverback Films, discovery+
Editor: Sam Rogers |
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David Attenborough: A Life on our Planet
Silverback Films production for Netflix
Editor: Martin Elsbury |
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Fathom
Apple Original Films presents A Sandbox Films Production in association with Impact Partners; A Walking Upstream Pictures, BackAllieEntertainment, Hidden Candy Production
Editor: Robin Schwartz |
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YOUTH v GOV
Barrelmaker Productions and Vulcan Productions
Editors: Lyman Smith, Tony Hale |
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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Antarctica
BBC Studios Natural History Unit, SK Films
Original Music: Jacob Shea |
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Coextinction
Coexistence Films
Original Music: Julien Verschooris |
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David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
Silverback Films production for Netflix
Original Music: Steven Price |
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The Bastard King
A Terra Mater Factual Studios & Bonne Pioche Télévision & Shibumi Films Coproduction
Original Music: Laurent Garnier Pierre LeFeuvre (Saycet) |
Writing (Sponsored by: Nautilus)
Awarded for the writing that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part.
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Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet
Silverback Films & Indikate Productions for Netflix
Writer: Jonathan Clay |
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David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
Silverback Films production for Netflix
Writer: David Attenborough with Jonnie Hughes |
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The Bastard King
A Terra Mater Factual Studios & Bonne Pioche Télévision & Shibumi Films Coproduction,
Writer: Owen Pruemm
Narration Script by Andy Briggs & Antoine Le Bos |
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Tiny World: Woodland
Plimsoll Productions for Apple TV +
Writers: Tom Hugh-Jones, David Fowler, Ed Watkins |
Stay tuned for finalists in the Sound category, as well as Special Jury recognitions!
A distinguished panel of final judges from around the globe will select the 2021 Jackson Wild Media Award Winners over the coming weeks.
Winners will be announced during the Jackson Wild Media Awards gala on Thursday, September 30 slated as the culminating event of the 30th Anniversary Jackson Wild Summit.
Celebrating 30 years in the Tetons
The Jackson Wild™ Summit is an extraordinary annual convening where collaboration and innovation thrive and new ideas are launched. Cross-disciplinary conversations on the critical issues facing our planet set the stage for strategic partnerships that happen nowhere else, as industry executives, commissioners, conservationists, and scientists work together to address critical conservation and environmental challenges.
Slated for September 27 - October 1, at the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts, the 30th Anniversary Jackson Wild Summit will be one of the first in-person events in the industry. The Summit will be live-streamed alongside additional on-demand virtual programming to make the Summit globally inclusive and accessible.
The world has changed dramatically and we are all eager to gather to reconnect at the Summit, so mark your calendar! We are looking forward to seeing you there.
Visit/Like facebook.com/jacksonwildorg & follow twitter/jacksonwildorg & instagram.com/jacksonwildorg

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