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Call for entry announced for the International Elephant Film Festival
Winners will be announced on World Wildlife Day 2016
Geneva/Jackson, WY, 18 November 2015 - The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival and the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) have teamed up in organizing an International Elephant Film Festival to raise global awareness of the various challenges facing the African and Asian elephants, and to mark next year’s UN World Wildlife Day (3 March 2016).
As the largest and most magnificent terrestrial animal on our planet, the elephant once roamed through much of Africa and Asia. Over the past decade, devastating poaching of African elephants for their ivory is reducing their overall numbers, and has decimated some African elephant populations. Over the period 2010-2012, an estimated 100,000 elephants were poached for their ivory, which is a devastating figure. Industrial-scale poaching to feed the illicit ivory trade is among the most noticeable and destructive forms of wildlife crime. In response, there has been increasing high level political support to combat these crimes as was recently demonstrated through the adoption of the historic United Nations General Assembly Resolution on tackling illicit wildlife trade.
“At a time when the elephant crisis can still be averted, it is essential to take action that empowers local engagement and personal commitment,” explained Lisa Samford, Executive Director of the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. “Our aim is to galvanize the power of media to inspire wonder, catalyze change and move the dial on elephant conservation.”
In welcoming this unique initiative with the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, CITES Secretary-General, John E. Scanlon, said: “We are delighted to support this global Elephant Film Festival to amplify the global calls to stop the poaching of elephants and the illicit trafficking of elephant ivory. The Festival will also capture the voices of local people from communities who are living with elephants, and seek to support them in securing a sustainable livelihood.”
“The great political momentum that has been generated over the past few years to combat illicit wildlife trafficking is translating into deeper and stronger efforts to fight these highly destructive crimes on the front lines, where is it most needed. It is through collective action that we will win this fight, which will be a feature of The Festival”, added Scanlon.
The CITES Secretariat is designated by the United Nations General Assembly as the global facilitator for the celebration of the World Wildlife Day each year in collaboration with organizations in the United Nations system. The CITES Secretariat will continue to work with UNDP, UNODC, UNEP and others as active partners to mobilize the worldwide celebration of the day in 2016.
The call for entries will close on 15 January, 2016 and finalists will be announced in early February. Winners will be presented at a high level event to coincide with the global celebration of UN World Wildlife Day at UN Headquarters in New York on 3 March 2016.
Winning and finalist films will be subsequently showcased extensively throughout the world, with specifically targeted countries and regions including African countries, China, Philippines, Thailand, the United States of America and Viet Nam, through screening events and local broadcast stations.
Subtitled DVDs will be distributed free to schools and libraries, and free screenings will be organized with local NGOs and elephant stakeholders wishing to incorporate Elephant Film Festival finalists and winners into their own programming.
Competition categories
Participants are asked to submit media in one or more of the following categories:
Issues and Solutions
Elephant Hero
People and Elephants
Asian Elephants
Science and conservation
African Voices and
MicroMovie/Short Programme (under 5 minutes).
Programmes created since 1 January, 2007 are eligible for consideration.
Submission Guidelines
There is no entry fee for submission.
Entries must have been completed after 1 January, 2007 but need not have been broadcast/exhibited prior to submission.
Entries for competition are invited from media producers from around the world.
Media submitted may be of any length, may originate in any format (including animation, web page, etc.) and be fictional or non-fictional. Motion picture programmes must have mixed (mono/stereo) audio track on both channels, must be an English version (dubbed or subtitled), and programmes with visible time-code will not be accepted.
Submissions in all official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish) and Swahili, are welcomed. Programmes in a language other than English must be subtitled in English for Festival presentation.
Eligible entries are required to complete submission form via www.JHFestival.org.
Entries will be uploaded to a private and secure Vimeo channel for judging.
The winner of the Eden Shorts Competition 2015, judged by Michaela Strachan and Nigel Marven, is member Mat Larkin for his film Return of the Nightingale! Well done Mat!
The Power of Film in the Fight for Conservation... IT'S TIME TO FOCUS!
If we can raise the funds, the Wildeye Conservation Film Festival will be holding it's inaugural event at the University of East Anglia from 28-31 July 2016.
The vision for the annual Wildeye Conservation Film Festival is to not only provide an empowering forum for film-makers, web/broadcasters and conservation organisations to discuss better practices for conservation-related productions, but also to celebrate, and bring larger audiences to, those films which make a difference. Explore the site here: wildeyefestival.org
The Festival Directors are Piers Warren, founder of Wildeye and Wildlife-film.com & Jason Peters, editor of this newsletter! See what we have to say in our video below:
We really hope that past students, members and subscribers/followers and all will get behind us and the festival aims. We really need your support. Please.
We have some great perks too, including some Wildlife Watching Supplies camo scrim, exclusive ringtones from patron Chris Watson and Jez riley French and some sound equipment from Telinga and Rycote... We are also offering discounted membership of Wildlife-film.com and lots and lots of THANK YOUS!! :)
Our Patrons are: Stephen Fry, Michaela Strachan, Joanna Lumley OBE, Steve Backshall, Bill Bailey, Mark Carwardine, Virginia McKenna OBE, Lee Durrell MBE, Chris Watson, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Ian Redmond OBE and Richard Brock – Click here to read more about them.
Michael Rosenberg R.I.P. By Alan Miller
25 October 2015
Sometimes, you are blessed to meet extraordinary people whose force of personality and creative talent have the effect of changing the course of your own life. Michael Rosenberg, who founded Partridge Films in 1974, was certainly one of those people. A true maverick with a creative independence that inspired a great many in the business, Michael blazed a trail with astounding natural history films that won award after award. I believe Michael is still the record holder when it comes to Wildscreen Golden Panda wins.
I was lucky enough to be taken under Michael’s wing during Partridge’s golden age and became one of many recipients of his willingness to support and encourage. I joined Partridge as an assistant sound editor and left nine years later, a writer/director/editor. And that career trajectory is all down to Michael’s talent, support and friendship. Michael was also fiercely independent and showed enormous indifference to those who sought to creatively control him. I remember a FAX machine spewing out pages and pages of notes from American executives, changes to be made to a film still in the edit. Michael’s response to this long, intrusive document was to slide a wastebasket to catch the pages as they chugged out of the machine. I was also lucky enough to spend a lot of time with Michael outside work as we shared a flat in London and Bristol. The oft-quoted cliché about this arrangement was that I once said that he was the perfect flat-mate as he was either absent or unconscious. This glib but diverting line was not strictly true as we had many conversations over the finest wines known to humanity.
When Partridge outgrew its London base, Michael the maverick became Michael the mogul. He was the figurehead of a much larger ship sailing in much more expansive waters. In the early 90s based at HTV TV Centre in Bristol, a Queen’s Award for Export followed and both once competitive companies Partridge and Survival combined and became United Media. Michael’s retirement party in 2001 was a fine affair and it was striking to see just how many people there had been inspired and supported by this giant of the wildlife world. Unique is a word often overused. It’s a perfect word for Michael.
Michael Rosenberg died on the 21st October 2015 after developing cancer and suffering complications from pain relief surgery. Sincere condolences to Jenny and Cathy, his immediate family.
The ecological state of Ukraine is getting worse every year. Accordingly, health of the nation worsens too. What will happen if no action is taken? If we leave such a trace on our planet, there will be nobody to leave traces soon.
A little boy goes fishing and a beautiful day becomes a nightmare. I tried to use two themes to bring the topic to light. In one of them was a fishing boy symbolizing hope and the future, and the other was the hopeless surface of arid earth. I tried to imagine a sea consisting of mere lifeless images. So emerged “The Barb”.
Shuklaphanta - Wildlife and People film By Fabien Lemaire
12 October 2015
Participate in the production of our film and finance the long search of the Tiger of Nepal... Shuklaphanta, Wildlife and People is a wildlife documentary of Fabien Lemaire. The shooting will begin in January 2016 in Nepal...
We leave to the discovery of a small paradise in the west of the country, despite human pressure, managed to resist. Over the seasons, we will discover the territory of tigers, leopards and rhinos. But our aim is also to meet the people of the region, understand the cohabitation between these saved wildlife and local people!
This area is exceptional on account of its many landscapes and its 600 species of animals, 22 of which are critically endangered (like the Asian elephant and the marsh crocodile). It may look like Africa and yet we are well and truly in Asia!
The Shuklaphanta Reserve is symbolic because it was the first national park created in Nepal in 1973... Without this decree, the forest would have simply disappeared along with its amazing wealth! Today, surrounded by villages and rice crops, it is protected by the army which is established inside the park itself to combat all kinds of trafficking! Human pressure is colossal and anything can still switch...
October 2, JACKSON, WY. The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, (JHWFF) the premier event of its genre, has announced the 2015 winners for its 13th biennial Festival. Winners were unveiled in Jackson, Wy at the Grand Teton Awards Gala on Thursday, October 1st, 2015. The awards are one part of a five-day industry conference hosted at the Jackson Lake Lodge in the Grand Teton National Park, September 28-October 2, 2015, that attracts the leading filmmakers, organizations, scientists, broadcasters, and visionaries engaged in conservation and wildlife media.
This year’s submissions in the prestigious competition included nearly 1,000 category entries, a record number, competing for 23 special awards. This year’s winners were selected by a distinguished panel of international judges.
Congratulations to the 2015 Winners!
Grand Teton Award Winner (sponsored by BBC Earth & Sony Electronics)
Jago: A Life Underwater
Underdog Films Production in association with James Morgan Films, Fantomline Pictures and Vistaar Productions.
Best Animal Behavior Program (sponsored by Vulcan Productions)
Life Story – First Steps
BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery, France TV and The Open University
Best Wildlife Habitat Program (sponsored by NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation)
Congo- Deep and Dangerous (Ep. 1) Doclights GmbH/NDR Naturfilm; Blue Planet Film, NDR, ARTE, ORF, WDR and National Geographic WILD
Best Conservation Program (sponsored by HHMI/Tangled bank Studios)
The Messenger Songbirdsos Productions Inc. and Films À Cinq/ARTE France
Best People & Nature Program (sponsored by The Nature Conservancy)
Natural World: The Bat Man of Mexico Windfall Films / Directed by Tom Mustill
Best Science and Nature Program (Sponsored by Marco Polo Films)
License to Krill DOX Productions Ltd, Films á Cinq, Arte France in association with NOVA/WGBH
Conservation Hero (Sponsored by World Wildlife Fund)
E.O. Wilson—Of Ants and Men Shining Red Productions, Inc. for PBS
PROGRAM CATEGORIES:
Best Educational/Institutional Program (Sponsored by North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences)
Great Transitions: The Origin of Tetrapods Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Best Limited Series—Long Form (Sponsored by Universum/ORF)
Life Story BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery, France TV and The Open University
Best Limited Series—Short Form (Sponsored by Discovery)
Deep Look KQED, PBS Digital Studios
Best Children’s Program (Sponsored by Boréales)
Secrets of Bumblebees A co-production by ORF and Power of Earth Productions in association with ORF- Enterprise, bm:ukk and Kultur NÖ
Best Hosted or Presenter-led Program (Sponsored by National Geographic Studios)
David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive 3D
Colossus Productions, Sky and Atlantic Productions
Host: David Attenborough
Best Short Program (Sponsored by MFA in Science & Natural History Filmmaking, Montana State University) Return of the Cicadas Samuel Orr
Best
Short Short (Sponsored by Conservation Media Group)
Power of Nature: Elephants
BBC Earth Productions
Best Theatrical Program (Sponsored by Terra Mater Factual Studios)
Racing Extinction Oceanic Preservation Society, Presented by Okeanos - Foundation for the Sea and the Discovery Channel. In association with Vulcan Productions, Earth Day Texas, JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs, and Insurgent Media
David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive 3D App
Atlantic Productions
CRAFT CATEGORIES:
Best Sound (Sponsored by Dolby Laboratories)
Disneynature Monkey Kingdom Sound Recordist: Andrew Yarme, Sound Editor: Kate Hopkins, AMPS. Tim Owens
Sound Mixers: Andrew Wilson, AMPS. David E. Fluhr, CAS, Johnathan Rush
Produced by Silverback Films
Best Cinematography (Sponsored by Sony Electronics)
Wild Yellowstone—Frozen Frontier Brain Farm Digital Cinema for Nat Geo Wild and Terra Mater Factual Studios
Cinematography: John Shier, Dawson Dunning, Curt Morgan. Aerial Cinematography: Nel Boshoff, Richard Burton, Greg Wheeler, Nick Wolcott; Additional Cinematography: Howard Bourne, Jeff Hogan, Theo Jebb
Best Editing (Sponsored by Panasonic)
Wild Yellowstone—Frozen Frontier Brain Farm Digital Cinema for Nat Geo WILD and Terra Mater Factual Studios
Editor: James Taggart
Best Original Musical Score (Sponsored by PBS)
David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive 3D Colossus Productions, Sky and Atlantic Productions
Composer: Ilan Eshkeri
Best Writing (Sponsored by Nat Geo WILD)
E.O. Wilson—Of Ants and Men Shining Red Productions, Inc. for PBS
Writer: Graham Townsley
Special Consideration/Special Jury Awards:
Shark Girl Kaufmann Productions Pty Ltd. In association with ABC Australia, Screen Australia, Smithsonian Channel & Terra Mater Factual Studios
The Secret Life of Your House The Garden Productions
/ Produced by Tony Lee
The Secret Garden: Spring Awakening Doclights GmbH/NDR Naturfilm, nautilusfilm GMbH, NDR, NDR/ARTE, ORF
Conservation Film-making: How to make films that make a difference A new book by Madelaine Westwood and Piers Warren with a Foreword by Jane Goodall
Never has the time been more critical for film-making
to help make a difference to the natural world
From Wildeye
23 September 2015
‘For all of us who care about the environment and wildlife – and want to make a difference – this is an important book.’ Jane Goodall PhD, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace
A complete ‘how to’ guide, aimed at both film-makers and conservationists who want to use film as a tool for conservation
Covers all pre-production activities including how to raise funds
How to choose and use the filming equipment you need, plus a guide to post-production
Explores reaching audiences, organising screenings, using social media, monitoring effectiveness and ethical considerations
Features case studies from leading conservation film-makers including Mike Pandey, Rob Stewart (Sharkwater and Revolution), Will Anderson (Hugh’s Fish Fight) and Shekar Dattatri
Describes how organisations use film effectively in conservation; including Greenpeace, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Great Apes Film Initiative (GAFI)
‘This book is of enormous value to everyone involved in conservation’ Lee Durrell MBE, PhD, Honorary Director, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
‘Conservation Film-making is a richly nourishing book, a professional tour de force, and a compelling argument that films, when made according to the best practices contained in this book, can make a huge and positive difference to the world in which we live.’ Professor Chris Palmer, Director of the Center for Environmental Filmmaking
‘This terrific book will become the bible for everyone determined to fly in the face of everything-is-wonderful-and-happy natural history programmes and show, instead, that conservation can be awe-inspiring and watchable, too.’ Mark Carwardine, Conservationist
‘Conservation Film-making is a detailed and well-researched 'how to' guide, but it is more than that – it's a good read! It should be read by everyone involved in conservation, to understand better how film could – indeed should – be used.’ Ian Redmond OBE, Chairman of Ape Alliance
To celebrate the launch of the book, for a limited time, we are offering FREE UK postage and reduced postage rates overseas.
Winning images are chosen from thousands of entries in sixteen separate categories including a special film category for Wildlife in HD Video and three junior categories to encourage young people to connect with nature through photography.
“The British Wildlife Photography Awards has become one of the most anticipated events in the wildlife photography calendar. The bar in wildlife photography has already been raised to unimaginably high levels of sophistication, innovation and artistic vision, yet the standard somehow continues to get better and better. This latest collection of images is testament to the sheer level of interest in wildlife in Britain and, above all, the remarkable abilities of our wildlife photographers”. Mark Carwardine, zoologist, writer, photographer and broadcaster.
British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015 is Barrie Williams, for his overall winning picture of gannets on a cliff, ‘On the Edge’ See the feature here...
WILDLIFE IN HD VIDEO WINNER – 'The Last Seahorse in Studland'
Camera, Edit & Production by member Andy Jackson, Written & Narrated by Jacky Daley (SubSeaTV
Scarborough,
North Yorkshire,
England)
"We’re thrilled to share that our film The Last Seahorse in Studland? has won the Wildlife in HD Video category of the British Wildlife Photography Awards 2015.
Every year, we’re inspired by the beautiful photographs and films that tell dynamic, breathtaking, and intimate stories of Britain’s wildlife across all categories of the BWPAwards. It’s a great honour to have our work recognised amongst such talented company. Big congratulations to all the other category winners and commended entries.
We’re hopeful that winning the competition will bring more attention to the plight of British seahorses and help to protect one of our most iconic marine animals." www.subseatv.net
Beyond Borders Wildlife Film School, situated on the Garden Route and in the Kruger National Park of South Africa just had another very successful 21 day and 30 day course with six students. From different origins such as United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, India and South Africa, all six of them produced, filmed and edited 6 great short documentaries, one of them being in 3D!
"A designers perspective of colour, pattern and texture in the African Bush"
As an interior designers Helen Eisenstadt, in this beautiful music video, used Mother Nature to compare colour, pattern and texture with her own creative work.
Filmed and edited at Manhingi Lodge - Balule Game Reserve - Kruger National Park.
A beautiful biography about Mr Van Reenen whose passion for Wild Africa shaped his life.
From his childhood in Rhodesia to his game ranging roles in the Kruger in the late 1950s Van Reenen never stopped fighting for a better Africa and Mark Eisenstadt captured his message in his own words and in a very original way.
Filmed and Edited at Manhingi Lodge in Balule Game Reserve.
DO NOT MISS THE BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE END OF THE MOVIE
A short documentary showcasing the pros and cons of elephants impact on the african bush. They can be very destructive but they also help the eco-system as well as the humans in many different ways. Watch this video to find out more.
Filmed and edited at Manhingi Lodge - Balule Game Reserve - Kruger National Park
A short documentary about what some people do to help some animals in the african bush.
Cornell and Jeanneli are two ecologists based in the Balule Game Reserve, South Africa and they are busy rehabilitating a baby wildebeest, some impalas, a bush pig and some very cute meerkats!
Follow their adventures in this video made in 2D and 3D.
Filmed and edited at Manhingi Lodge - Balule Game Reserve - South Africa.
DO NOT MISS THE BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE END OF THE DOCUMENTARY!
A short documentary about the medicinal uses of some plants in the african bushveld. A very informative video filmed and edited at Manhingi Lodge - Balule Game Reserve - South Africa.
Borneo from Below - Discover the rumble beneath the jungle! The first ever ongoing series dedicated to Borneo’s marine world... From Vinay Dalta of Scubazoo
August 2015
Borneo From Below is a new online series by Scubazoo's roving reporter, Aaron “Bertie” Gekoski, showcasing Borneo’s incredible marine environment.
Discover the rumble beneath the jungle!
Discover the rumble beneath the jungle with this new web series! Borneo From Below will showcase the region's world-class diving and fascinating characters: freediving 'sea gypsies', huge schools of sharks, flamboyant cuttlefish and more! Plus, we will tackle key environmental issue such as dynamite fishing, shark finning and the trade in endangered animals. Each episode will be posted to Facebook. Please like us to receive regular updates and also watch the trailer below.With thanks to Scuba Junkie#Borneo #Diving #Trailer
Borneo’s not just about orangutans, pygmy elephants and sun bears. The dive sites around this exotic island are regularly voted the world’s best. And Scubazoo want to show you why. Here you can find weird and wonderful critters such as flamboyant cuttlefish and blue-ringed octopus, along with schools of hammerheads, sperm whales and manta rays.
What is it about Borneo? asks Aaron (aka Bertie) Gekoski
Few places carry such exotic connotations. Jungles filled tree-to-tree with pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys, sun bears and orangutans. Head Hunters, crazy-looking bugs, rainforests, mountains. And that’s just above the water.
Borneo From Below does little to dampen the romance. This massive coastline – Borneo is the 3rd largest island in the world – is home to world-class coral reefs that are visited by pods of pilot and sperm whales, mantas, whale sharks, gigantic schools of devil ray and more.
Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival recognizes 80+ of the best wildlife and nature films.
The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival,
(JHWFF) the
premier event of its genre,
has announced the
2015
finalists for its 13th
biennial
Festival.
Winners will be unveiled in Jackson,
Wyoming
at the Grand Teton Awards Gala on Thursday,
October 1st,2015. The awards are one part of a five-day industry conference hosted at
the Jackson Lake Lodge in the Grand Teton National Park, September 28-October 2,
2015, that attracts the leading filmmakers, organizations, scientists, broadcasters, and
visionaries engaged in conservation and wildlife media.
This year’s
submissions
in
the
prestigious
competition
included
nearly
1,000
category
entries, a record number,
competing
for
23 special awards.
This year’s
finalists were
selected by over 150 international judges who
viewing 3200 hours of media.
A
distinguished panel of international judges immediately preceding the Festival will select
the 2015 award winners.
Finalists in
Best Sound and Special Consideration will be
announced shortly.
Congratulations to the 2015 Finalists!
CONTENT CATEGORIES:
Best Animal Behavior Program
Brothers in Blood: The Lions of Sabi Sand - Aquavision Television Productions Disneynature Monkey Kingdom - Disneynature/Silverback Films Life Story – First Steps - BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery, France TV and The Open University
Best Wildlife Habitat Program
Africa’s Giant Killers - Icon Films in association with Natural History Film Unit Botswana, BBC and Animal Planet Congo - Deep and Dangerous (Ep.1)
- Doclights GmbH/NDR Naturfilm; Blue Planet Film, NDR, ARTE, ORF, WDR and National Geographic WILD Vanishing Kings - A co-production by ORF, Interspot Film, ARTE, Smithsonian Networks, into nature productions and Boksdocs
Best Conservation Program (sponsored by Tangled Bank Studios)
I Bought a Rainforest - KEO Films/The Open University for BBC Two Racing Extinction - Oceanic Preservation Society, Presented by Okeanos - Foundation for the Sea and the Discovery Channel. In association with Vulcan Productions, Earth Day Texas, JP’s
Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs, and Insurgent Media The Messenger - Songbirdsos Productions Inc. and Films À Cinq/ARTE France
Best People & Nature Program (sponsored by The Nature Conservancy)
India’s Wandering Lions - Ammonite Ltd., Kosmik Global Pvt. Ltd., Earth Touch and Discovery Communications India I Bought a Rainforest - KEO Films/The Open University for BBC Two Natural World: The Bat Man of Mexico - Tom Mustill/Windfall Films Racing Extinction - Oceanic Preservation Society, Presented by Okeanos - Foundation for the Sea and the Discovery Channel. In association with Vulcan Productions, Earth Day Texas, JP’s
Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs, and Insurgent Media
We are proud to announce the Wildeye Conservation Film Festival, which will be an annual symposium in the United Kingdom where film-makers, conservation experts and web/broadcasters can explore and innovate production techniques for reaching the broadest possible audiences, and celebrate those films that make a difference.
For the continued survival of life on Earth it is our mission to improve wildlife conservation and environmental protection through the education of the public and those with political power. We are in a period of man-made mass extinction, with rates already many thousands of times the base-extinction-rate, and greenhouse gas emissions continuing to increase despite decades of warnings about climate change. Film-making whether it be for cinema, television or the web is a powerful tool for education and can inspire change. The Wildeye Conservation Film Festival aims to seek ways to utilise this inspirational tool for maximum power in effectively educating and motivating audiences.
The vision for the annual Wildeye Conservation Film Festival is to not only provide an empowering forum for film-makers, web/broadcasters and conservation organisations to discuss better practices for conservation-related productions, but also to celebrate, and bring larger audiences to, those films which make a difference.
The inaugural festival will take place at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK from 28-31 July 2016.
The Festival Directors are Piers Warren, founder of Wildeye and Wildlife-film.com & Jason Peters, editor of this newsletter! We really hope that past students, members and subscribers/followers etc will get behind us and the festival aims. It's Time To Focus!!
Our Patrons are: Stephen Fry, Michaela Strachan, Joanna Lumley OBE, Steve Backshall, Bill Bailey, Mark Carwardine, Virginia McKenna OBE, Lee Durrell MBE, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Ian Redmond OBE and Richard Brock – Click here to read more about them.
Winners and Losers – How to turn losers into winners. By Richard Brock
9 July 2015
A series of fifty short or fairly short conservation films which are really different, and positive. They’re about change and will all be completed by the end of this year, 2015. Twenty five are ready now, including wolves, whales, chimps, white storks, River Thames, squirrels, Dubai, sea turtles, butterflies etc.
Being filmed this summer is “PLASTIC PERIL”.
A wet-wipes story and a beautiful seabird, the fulmar, also known as “the Flying Dustbin”. It’s been a great winner but now may becoming a loser. Filming locations include Yorkshire, Cornwall (see photos of Richard Brock and Mark Grantham) and the Antarctic. But also less exciting locations!
“Just imagine this. You are a wet-wipe (or other small piece of plastic domestic debris). Yes, a wet-wipe – bane of the hidden world of sewage disposal. From your typical domestic habitat – a kitchen or more personal bathroom, you are flushed away down a plumbed pipe (of course from a wet-wipes point of view using the standard wildlife film perspective) into another pipe, this time a living one, and then on to a baby living one. Yes you’ve passed from an ‘innocent’ human home and behaviour into the living insides of two birds many miles away on a sea cliff somewhere, to an adult fulmar petrel and it’s chick. It’s a species with an amazing story which feeds its’ chick by regurgitation (lovely word)...
If you told us a year ago that we would drive more than five thousand kilometers up and down the east coast of Australia and also fly to Tasmania and Western Australia to film documentaries on the ocean, we would have pinched ourselves with disbelief.
What started as a conversation in a pub over beers, turned into a life-fulfilling journey. It was James Sherwood’s childhood dream to film underwater, and he just so happened to share that dream with the right person.
Before he could blink an eye, he was sitting on the marlin board at the back of a manta ray research vessel, twisting his head over his shoulders waiting for researcher, Frazer McGregor, to call out ‘Go’.
And, off James went with a big smile on his face, lunging into the water, and filming his first ever manta ray.
At the end of June 2015 the prestigious Northern Film School at Leeds Beckett University will begin its first two-week Wildlife Filmmaking Workshop. Course Leader Nick Wright has this to say:
I can teach you to play the piano in less than a minute. Lift the lid, press the notes – deep notes to the left, higher notes to the right, and a loud and a soft peddle below. The rest, as they say, is practice.
The importance of practice is the basic concept we have adopted for the Wildlife Filmmaking Course. Practice and experience are particular opportunities we aim to build here which can never be accessed by theoretical means alone.
Inevitably, theory and background and knowledge have an important role to play, and these areas are well covered by the Course. Integral sessions cover wildlife law, fieldcraft, macro and long-lens work, specialized techniques, sound production and design, wildlife identification, ethics, screenings, storytelling, editing, history, commentary writing, logistics, navigation, personal safety – all the preparations necessary for wildlife film production.
Wildscreen celebrates the launch of latest initiative – Wildscreen Exchange - by curating a free conservation photography exhibition, FRAGILE, showcasing the work of some of the world’s best wildlife conservation photographers.
To celebrate the launch of their newest initiative, the Wildscreen Exchange, Bristol-based charity Wildscreen are curating a free conservation photography exhibition from 9-30th May 2015 at the Grant Bradley Gallery, Bedminster Parade, Bristol. The Wildscreen Exchange is a unique online photo and video library which will empower the world’s conservation organisations with free and affordable digital media to enable the most inspiring and impactful campaigning, educating and storytelling about our fragile natural world.
Wildscreen’s conservation photography exhibition, FRAGILE, will showcase a selection of the imagery that has been donated to Wildscreen by some of the world’s best wildlife photographers. This exhibition will be the first opportunity for the public to see these amazing images and discover the incredible stories that they tell, as well as finding out how they can make a difference. Visitors will also be offered the opportunity to purchase any of the images in the exhibition, with proceeds going towards the further development of this dynamic conservation project.
For more information on FRAGILE, Wildscreen Exchange, or how to get involved, contact the Wildscreen Exchange team at exchange.info@wildscreen.org.uk or on Twitter @WildscreenEx.
Beyond Borders Wildlife Film School, situated on the Garden Route and in the Kruger National Park of South Africa just had another very successful 30 day course with four students. From different origins such as Belgium, Germany, Nigeria and UK, all four of them produced, filmed and edited 4 great short documentaries, two of them being in 3D!
Love and understanding between a matriarch elephant and her handler.
Sally, a matriarch elephant, has been with her handler Jeffrey for the past 20 years since Sally was rescued from a culling at Kruger National Park. Their relationship is one that has developed into love.
Ina from Germany concentrated on Rock Monitors and produced "African Dragon"
Carine from Belgium concentrated on snakes in 3D and produced "Bridging The Gap"
Shola from Nigeria concentrated on a guesthouse in Plettenberg Bay and produced a 3D promo video called "La Vista Lodge".
Beyond Borders is very proud of what their students have achieved after learning script writing, camera technology, camera techniques (in 2D and 3D) and video editing (2D and 3).
Winners and Losers - A series of 20 minute films for 2015/2016 By Richard Brock
1 March 2015
Richard Brock talking about his new series, which was described as a "great idea" by Sir David Attenborough.
Despite my great age, and after 35 years with BBC Natural History Unit (David Attenborough - Life on Earth, The Living Planet etc ), this is not a trawl through my wildlife/human conservation footage since. Rather, I believe it provides unusual well-documented stories of change leading to new material and suggesting solutions for the future of wildlife, people and the planet. Updates reveal some encouraging efforts and results across a wide range of species, habitats, and issues. Many of the issues are also challenges which the younger generation may face and even overcome.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital, March 17- 29, is the largest and longest-running environmental film festival in the country and the largest film festival in Washington, D.C.
The 23rd annual Festival presents over 160 films selected to provide fresh perspectives on a wide variety of environmental issues facing our planet. A special focus on “Climate Connections” explores the impact of climate change on our world. The 2015 Festival features cinematic work from 31 countries and 96 Washington, D.C., U.S. and World premieres.
Most screenings include discussion with filmmakers, environmental experts and cultural leaders. In addition to over 60 filmmakers who will present their film at the 2015 Festival, speakers will include environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau, climate scientist Joe Romm, actress Kristin Davis and Tommy Wells, the new Director of the District Department of the Environment.
Your chance to win a prestigious award, with a cash prize of £5,000 and reach millions through national exposure. Help raise awareness about British wildlife and celebrate our natural heritage. Winners and commended entrants will have their work showcased in a touring exhibition and stunning book, and will be invited to an exclusive Awards ceremony in London.
The overall prize fund worth up to £20,000 includes prizes from lead sponsors Sky and Canon.
The awards recognise the talents of photographers practising in Britain whilst also highlighting the great wealth and diversity of British natural history. A celebration of British wildlife as well as a showcase for photographers and videographers, both amateur and professional.
There are sixteen separate categories including animal behaviour, urban wildlife, habitat, animal portraits, marine life, the hidden secret world that lies in the undergrowth and a special award for wildlife in HD Video. Also two junior categories and a school award - to encourage young people to connect with nature through photography.
Wildlife in HD Video sponsored by Sky
In addition to still photography there is a great opportunity to capture wildlife in action and win an amazing prize. Be inspired by the video winner and commended entries in 2014. www.bwpawards.org/categories/wildlife-in-hd-video
Tide from BWPAwards. WILDLIFE IN HD VIDEO WINNER 2014 – 'Tide' by Rebecca Payne (Bristol,
England)
The 10th Annual Spring 2015 Film Series
- An SOC Signature Series Created and Hosted by Chris Palmer - AUCEF
30 January 2015
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 at 7 pm -
Highlights from the March 17-29, 2015 Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 at 7 pm -
Animal Planet’s Saving Africa’s Giants with Yao Ming
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 at 7 pm – PART OF SOC WEEK
Call of the Lion: Wildlife Films Told Through the Eyes of Local People
Note: The March 20-28 events below are all part of Washington D.C.’s Environmental Film Festival. www.dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org
FRIDAY, MARCH 20 at 7 pm –
World Premiere Screening of Doeville DOEVILLE (USA, 2015, 92 min.)
TUESDAY, MARCH 24 at 7 pm –
Reception at 6:30 pm.
An Evening with Chris Palmer
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 at 7 pm -
Student Short Environmental Film Festival
THURSDAY, MARCH 26 at 7 pm -
OK, I’ve Watched the Film, Now What? Impact Filmmaking Panel
FRIDAY, MARCH 27 at 7 pm -
The Leopard in the Land
(USA/Mongolia, 2014, 58 min.)
SATURDAY, MARCH 28 at 5 pm -
Of Oysters and Watermen: A Chesapeake Bay Program CHESAPEAKE VILLAGES (USA, 2015, 30 min.) ADD ONE BACK (USA, 2014, 17 min.)
SATURDAY, MARCH 28 at 7 pm -
Reception at 6:00 p.m.
Farming for the Future – Enduring Traditions, Innovative Practices FARMING FOR THE FUTURE (USA, 2013, 7 min.) 50 YEARS OF FARMING: FOR LOVE & VEGETABLES (USA, 2014, 10 min.) GROWING LEGACY (USA, 2014, 6 min.) SOIL CARBON COWBOY (USA, 2013, 12 min.)
TUESDAY, MARCH 31 at 7 pm -
Chesapeake Villages
Malsi Doyle & Michael Forman Theater, McKinley Building, American University
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016-8017
Directions: www.american.edu/maps
Metro: Tenleytown/AU, shuttle bus service to AU
Safety In Numbers explains a unique natural phenomenon happening above a Utrecht neighborhood.
I'm proud to present to you my new short about Starlings in the city Utrecht. This is where I lived until recently and last april every evening these birds choose my neighborhood and even my backyard as their place to roost.
The place where I lived is called Eiland8. Its a project where 8 flats were on the list to be demolished. In preparation for this all current inhabitants where moved to somewhere else and temporary the apartments where given to creative people; filmmakers, photographers, fashion designers, painters, etc. After four years of living here I've seen the neighborhood change dramatically and the reputation of being a ghetto changed to a popular place to live.
The Story Hi all, my name is Brolly, and this is my first ever solo project which has been five months in the making.
I live in Wales with my fab wife and crazy boys Josh & Sam {Team Tiger}. When I'm not writing music you can find me fishing or out and about on family adventures, probably hunting dinosaurs.
My day job is that of a TV composer. I write music for wildlife programmes and children’s animation. I’m about as far removed from being a pop star or rock musician as you could possibly imagine... for more on Brolly and his day job please visit the website.
Back in 2013 I wrote the music for a wildlife programme about an African animal called the honey badger. As is often the case with these projects finding the right music for the show can be a lengthy process. On this occasion we started with African Kwaito music and ended up with something much more dramatic and filmic. Once the job was done and dusted I listened back to the unused tracks and felt something good about them. I didn’t just want to archive them off to be forgotten so I set to work on a fun little project and here I am five months later with twelve finished tracks and some great performances. Using google I found musicians and sent them tracks and grooves to work on, I then experimented with what came back.
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