What could have been even better on Planet Earth II (not eleven by the way) … and more … From Richard Brock/Brock Initiative
24 December 2016
The massive world-famous ecosystem that is the British Broadcasting Corporation was where I worked for 30 years – in the equally famous Natural History Unit, on Life on Earth, The Living Planet and much else. All that time the system remained pretty much the same. Channel controllers, or similar, at the very top of the food chain commissioned more and more “landmark” (=epic) series, with much time, money and particularly David Attenborough (that’s A for alpha). The series were praised particularly for their photography though others on satellite channels had equally dramatic pictures and sometimes better stories, otherwise they are mainly “fang TV” (as seen often in Planet Earth II). Although recently I have seen one-hour films on those channels with not a single human being in sight – apparently untouched wilderness in some of the most heavily human-populated places on the planet, for example – Indonesia. Is that lying?
Planet Earth II could be accused of that too apart from some “token” references to our changing planet. But as we watch the last snow leopards on the planet in the frigid Himalayas from the comfort of the Sunday night at home, perhaps those priceless animals are already extinct. I am not suggesting every wildlife programme has to have the “gloom and doom” that those channel controllers dread, with a fear of a serious loss of ratings. Against the spectrum of wildlife broadcasting, including radio, news and current affairs (ivory, overfishing, climate change), there is certainly room for smash-hits like Planet Earth II. Good for ratings, good for the BBC – value for the licence-payer. But is it yet another example of humans, in this case the BBC system, letting the real world slip by? If so, in the future, questions will be asked of the people behind this deception.
You can see the problem for the broadcasters in Planet Earth – not just the death of baby turtles confused by the lights at the beach in Barbados, but the fact that the viewers don’t like the truth, that’s bad for ratings, and it happens to be our fault.
It’s naïve to think wildlife can benefit much within our cities. The majority are not allowed in, cannot cope anyway. It’s only a few (photogenic?) species that can survive and their days may be numbered – except on the television screen. They need our help.
And perhaps, instead of the traditional “Diaries” last ten minutes, we should see something about the conservation of those plants, animals and places we have been enjoying – albeit vicariously? Rather than self-congratulatory sequences of the adventures of the undoubtedly talented teams.
John Vidal, in a full page article in the Guardian of 19th December 2016. “We are amazed by images of wildlife seen in ever more beautifully filmed natural history documentaries. They raise awareness, entertain, inform and amuse. We weep when we hear there are fewer birds in the sky, or that thousands of species are critically endangered. But there are some metaphorical megafauna that the BBC and we in the media really do not want everyone to see…we avert our eyes and pretend they are not there… We hope they will go away, but they appear to be breeding (a lot). But it is now clear that they are doing so much damage that, unless confronted, there is little chance that the rest of the animals, including us, will survive very long…
…either we can wring our hands and carry on watching ever more gorgeous images of wildlife, and see nature carry on declining… Or we can intervene.”
Beyond Borders Wildlife Film School, situated in the Kruger National Park of South Africa, just had another very successful 25 day day course with two students who produced, directed, filmed and edited two great short documentaries.
This time the course was based at Nyati Safari Lodge, also in Kruger park with a 8500ha property to explore on safaris! We had wonderful sightings and due to the rain the insect life was also amazing! Sometimes even a little bit too overwhelming for Brent Clements coming all the way from the UK and first time in Africa! We also had some amazing storms which gave us the opportunity to play with our cameras and get some creative long exposure shots!
Our camera traps revealed a beautiful female leopard and a brown hyaena (very rare sighting) and Brent Clements, whose quest was to film a leopard in the flesh, managed to get his money shot after a few long all nighters waiting patiently for the leopard to come out!
As a whole it has been an incredible course with a lot of special moments, great fun and long hours of work which paid off with two beautiful short documentaries that they can be proud off! Beyond Borders certainly is!
Brent Clements from United Kingdom produced Spotted
Wildlife filmmaking can be a very difficult and frustrating industry, even for the professionals. This film shows the highs, lows, excitements and frustrations of a young budding filmmaker tackling one of the most challenging missions as a wildlife filmmaker: Filming the African Leopard in flesh in it’s natural habitat!
Brent Clements is a great example of a young, enthusiastic filmmaker who is new to the scene but determined to succeed. Coming to South Africa for the first time from the UK, he is completely out of his comfort zone finding many aspects of life in the bush difficult, in particular the insect life found here! But he finds ways to get over these obstacles to achieve his goal of finding, and filming the secretive leopard.
This film is interesting and unique as it is shot and presented through the eyes of Brent himself. It follows his every move, every hurdle to overcome and every emotion he feels. This allows the viewer to feel his pain when he is frustrated, share his excitement when he has no idea what to expect, and feel elated with him when something amazing happens in his favour. This style will help the viewer join Brent on his journey and feel the emotions with him.
Janet Kleyn from South Africa produced New Beginnings (Basically a Behind The Scenes of "Spotted" - Don't miss the extras after the credits...)
Many people dream of a better life, one in which they pursue a career following their dreams and passion. For most the dream remain just that, a dream, but a few courageous people take that first tentative step towards making them reality. It is not always an easy road and they are faced with many challenges while acquiring the skills required. There are highs and lows including frustration, exhaustion, fear of the unknown, satisfactory moments when it all falls into place, fun while learning and of course the reward at the end.
We will be following Brent Clements’ journey to Africa as he follows his dream of becoming a wildlife filmmaker.
Brent comes from the South London, where things are chaotic and busy. This is in complete contrast to the Wildlife areas of Africa where he’ll be learning the trade. We’ll be with him as he arrives and capturing his first impressions.
We stay with him throughout the course, documenting his progress. The viewers will not only get a glimpse into the skills required for wildlife filmmaking, they will also accompany Brent on his personal journey as he gets out of his comfort zone tries to break the mold to pursue his dreams.
Our next course will take place at the amazing location of Mkuze Falls Tented Camp in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa...an eden for rhinos and cheetahs! You can view our course advert here: facebook.com/beyondbordersfilmschool/posts/716785608473742
Dates are from 09 March to 02 April 2017 and we are very excited about this new location and what it has to offer in terms of photography and videography opportunities!
Beyond Borders Wildlife Film School wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2017 filled with dreams coming true!
This year’s winning films are sending strong messages about these issues, in creative and original forms. Their authors spoke up about the current problems but also offered solutions. Here are the the top five films in each category, starting with the winners – enjoy, watch and share with your friends!
TOO COOL TO BE KILLED by Brigitta Katyina, Hungary.
The winner of the Act Naturally category is an animation film featuring four endangered animals in Europe and showing their beauty, energy and certain timelessness, but also their vulnerability because, in author’s words, the mankind is their main threat: “My origami textures illustrate that they are as weak as paper” – said Brigitta. The end of the film delivers a strong message.
CRADLE TO CRADLE – REMAKING THE WAY WE MAKE THINGS By Martin Pabis, Tammo Trantow, Andreas Foerster, Animal Design Studio, A-Graz, Austria.
The winning film of the Round’n’Round category shows a holistic concept in less than 2 minutes and corresponds perfectly to this category’s subject -circular economy. The authors successfully created a story that shows an alternative reality/future (presented with animated elements) by transforming everyday objects into new ones.
MUDDY FOOTPRINT By Tess Rose Dickinson, United Kingdom.
The winner of the Small is Beautiful category is a short documentary filmed on a small organic farm in the heart of Tuscany: “In our [film] we wanted to reflect not only the environmental benefits of small-scale farming, reinforced by on-screen images and illustrations, but more subtly the personal benefits as well. Where there is a ‘lack’ of music, there is an emphasised ‘silence’ portraying a more peaceful, mindful way of life than most of us are accustomed to.” said Tess Rose Dickinson, the author of the film.tory that shows an alternative reality/future (presented with animated elements) by transforming everyday objects into new ones.
TODAY, TOMORROW By Mustapha Benghernaout, Algeria, was the AUDIENCE AWARD WINNER. Today, we need a lot of energy to satisfy our needs. But unfortunately most of energies that we use is polluting nature and their combustion increases emissions of greenhouse gases responsible for global warming. It is essential to stop pollution and replace these fuels with cleaner sustainable energy. If not, it will be too late tomorrow…
The 32nd International Ménigoute Festival was held from 27th October to 1st November 2016 and during these six days, a large number of the public came to participate in the various activities offered as parts of this event. Some screenings welcomed up to 1200 people!
Le Palmarès movies – The Award-Winning Films 2016
Le Lirou d’or – Grand Prix de Ménigoute (4 000 €)
The Golden Lirou - Ménigoute Grand Prize
Offered by the Parthenay-Gâtine Community of Communes, it rewards the best film. The award is offered by the Ornithological Group of Deux-Sèvres.
1 - Magie der Moor – The Magic Moor
Jan Haft - Nautilusfilm GmbH - Germany - 93 minutes - 2015
2 - Nous, Mammifères – Us, Mammals - Marie Daniel and Fabien Mazzocco - C Nature et Mauvaises Graine - France - 60 mn - 2016
3 - Le Bel Opportuniste - The Beautiful Opportunist - Anne and Erik Lapied - La Salamandre - Switzerland - 33 min - 2015
Prix Paul Géroudet (2 000 €)
Paul Géroudet Award
Offered by the company Our Birds in partnership with Asters - Conservatory of Natural Areas of Haute-Savoie, the Vultures association Baronnies and the Zoological Society of Geneva, the award recognizes the best ornithological film.
Prix Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine de la créativité (2000 €)
Region Aquitaine New Award for Creativity
Offered by New Aquitaine, it rewards the best treatment film, chosen for its originality, innovative and creative aspects.
1 - Nous, Mammifères - Us, Mammals
Marie & Daniel Fabien Mazzocco - C Nature et Mauvaises Graine - France - 60 mn - 2016
2 - Métamorphoses - Sacha Bollet et Benoît Demarle - Le Gobie et La Salamandre - France and Switzerland - 50 mn - 2016
3 - Ex Aequo
Prix de Protection de la Nature (1 830 €)
Protection of Nature Award
Offered by the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO), France Nature Environnement (FNE) and Nicolas Hulot Foundation for Nature and Humanity (FNH)
2 - Ex Aequo La Tour du Valat, un Laboratoire à Ciel Ouvert - Tour of Valat, an Open-air Laboratory - Stephan Rytz - Orca Productions - Switzerland - 34 min - 2016
& Bruxelles Sauvage - Wild Brussels - Bernard Crutzen - Zistoires Productions - Belgium - 52 mn - 2015
Prix du Parc Naturel Régional du Marais Poitevin (1 525 €) Regional Natural Park of the Marais Poitevin Award
It rewards the best movie that enhance the natural resources of wetlands.
1 - Métamorphoses
Sacha Bollet & Benoît Demarle - Le Gobie et La Salamandre - France and Switzerland - 50 mn - 2016
Prix des Clubs Connaître et Protéger la Nature (1 000 €) Understanding and Protecting Nature Club Award
It rewards the best documentary for educational purposes.
1 - Le Bel Opportuniste - The Beautiful Opportunist
Anne and Erik Lapied - La Salamandre - Switzerland - 33 min - 2015
Prix Paysages (1 525 €)
Landscapes Award
Offered by the Conservatory of Natural Spaces of Poitou-Charentes, it rewards the best film about the size and aesthetic roles, cultural and ecological landscape.
Prix Jeunes Regards (1 525 €)
Youth Jury
Award
Offered by Crédit Agricole, it rewards the best film of the youth jury consisting of students from the IFFCAM (Francophone Institute of Animal Training Cinema Menigoute).
2 -Terrils, du Noir au Vert – Slag Heaps, from Black to Green - Nicolas Cailleret - Transparences Productions - France - 52 mn - 2015 3 - The Pray - Alex Jones & Emma Blackwell - Wildlife Film Productions - USA- 12 mn - 2016
Watch this years' Festival Trailer:
I was on the jury at this festival, and it was a real pleasure... Thanks to the other judges for their patience with my limited French.
I was very busy watching the many films selected, but I did manage to take a few iPhone snaps... A bit random, but enjoy!! :) My delightful companion was anthropologist, Dr. Sarah Bologna.
A very friendly festival, I recommend that you all go next year!! NB. Brush up on your French though!! :-D
Congratulations to all 2016 Winners from Wildlife-film.com, in particular our members highlighted!
We'd also like to mention a film that was entered into the competition, by member Hilco Jansma, who joined us there with much travel-hardship and it was a real pleasure to see him... We loved his film... The Noorderplantsoen. :)
NFTS Tutor Wins Science Award at Wildscreen Festival Directing Natural History & Science MA Course Leader Triumphs at Panda Awards By Vicky Hewlett - National Film and Television School
14 October 2016
Paul Reddish who has recently been appointed to lead the National Film and Television School’s (NFTS) new Directing and Producing Natural History and Science MA is part of the team that has won two prestigious Panda Awards forAttenborough’s Life that Glows including the Innovation Award and the Science Award. The Panda Awards took place last night at Colston Hall in Bristol and is part of the Wildscreen festival, which attracts the leading lights of the wildlife film and programme making industry including Sir David Attenborough himself!
Paul came up with the story and wrote the scripts for Attenborough’s Life that Glows, directed by Joe Loncraine, where David Attenborough introduces the perplexing world of glowing fungi and asks, is fungal bioluminescence just a biochemical accident or is there a more important function at play?
The Science Award is given to the production that best furthers human and/or audience knowledge and understanding of the natural world through scientific methodology and discovery.
Paul, who in addition to his new teaching role at the NFTS, has been Producer and Director across a number of high profile natural history films and series including Attenborough in Paradise, The Future is Wild, Hummingbirds Jewelled Messengers, says: “It is an absolute honour to be part of the team that created this engaging new programme; it’s always fantastic to win awards but I am particularly pleased that Life that Glows has won a science award given that I am about to teach directing and producing science documentaries as well as natural history programmes at the NFTS. I love to encourage and mentor new talent and I can’t wait to meet and start working with the students and tutors at such a prestigious institution!”
The Panda Innovation Award is given for outstanding achievement in innovation in natural world storytelling. According to Paul, “Martin Dohrn deserves the most praise for the Innovation Award, as he designed and built the remarkable split-beam low light/IR camera used in the movie.”
Wildscreen Panda Awards 2016 Winners Announced! By Wildscreen
13th October 2016
Ivory trade exposé and Chris Packham earn top honours at Wildscreen
A documentary exposing the brutality and corruption of the global ivory trade, made with backing from Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, was named tonight as the 2016 winner of the international wildlife film and TV’s industry highest accolade - the WWF Golden Panda Award.
THE IVORY GAME - a Netflix Original, produced by Terra Mater Film Studios (Austria) and Paul Allen’s Vulcan Productions (USA), with DiCaprio as executive producer - beat 43 other titles from eleven countries to lift both the best in festival trophy and the Panda Award for best theatrical entry at this year’s Wildscreen – the world’s biggest festival of screen-based nature storytelling.
The same ceremony, held at Bristol’s Colston Hall also saw the British TV presenter, author and photographer CHRIS PACKHAM receive the festival’s Panda Award for Outstanding Achievement and the presentation of 20 other Panda Awards to productions and individuals – among them the US investigative reporter BRYAN CHRISTY and the veteran UK broadcaster SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH, 90 this year, who opened the event.
Welcoming the results, Lucie Muir, CEO of the charity behind the biennial festival, said: “A major talking point at this year’s Wildscreen Festival has been the growing success of independents, not only at finding fresh ways to tell wildlife stories but also new ways to share them. Our Golden Panda winner, The Ivory Game, is one example of this – as gripping as a thriller drama in style and soon to be shown by an on-demand channel with the unique ability to put an urgent conservation story in front of a huge global audience very speedily. Another is the festival’s recognition of Chris Packham, who embodies what Wildscreen stands for - an extremely talented storyteller who shares his personal passion for the natural world via film, television, photography and online networks and, so, ignites the same care and enthusiasm in very many others, especially younger people.”
The Wildscreen Panda Awards ceremony 2016 was hosted by television presenters Steve Backshall and Liz Bonnin and attended by a capacity audience of industry representatives, celebrity guests, media and public.
The full roll of Wildscreen Panda Award winners is:
Terra Mater Factual Studios Animal Behaviour Award:
Jury comment: Each sequence of individual behaviour in this beautifully made film built to a bigger picture revealing the behaviour of the entire species.
Campaign Award:
HAIRY NOSE (USA)
Producer(s): WildAid, McCann Shanghail & Gwantsi
Jury comment: A very creative and funny film about an important issue which makes you smile and think at the same time.
Panasonic Cinematography Award: large crew
THE HUNT - for the episode The Hardest Challenge (UK)
Producer(s): Silverback Films, with the BBC, BBC Worldwide, BBC America, The Open University, CCTV9 & NDR Naturfilm United Kingdom
Camerawork: Jamie McPherson, John Aitchison, Mark Smith, Sophie Darlington, Doug Anderson, Mark & Vicky Deeble-Stone
Jury comment: Outstanding cinematography that has taken wildlife filming to a new level and makes you feel completely in the moment.
Panasonic Cinematography Award: small crew
JAGO: A LIFE UNDERWATER (UK)
Producer(s): James Reed for Underdog Films, with Fantomline Pictures, James Morgan Films & Vistaar Productions
Camerawork: James Morgan, Mark Sharman (underwater) & Ben Sadd (aerial)
Jury comment: This film stands out for the stunning imagery and variety of shooting styles, all brilliantly realised.
Children’s Award
WILD AND WEIRD - for the episode Radical Relationships (UK)
Producer(s): BBC & BBC Worldwide
BBC Earth
Creative Innovation Award
RACING EXTINCTION (USA)
Producer(s): Okeanos Foundation for the Sea & Discovery Channel, with Vulcan Productions, the Li Ka Shing Foundation, Earth Day Texas, JP's Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs & Insurgent Docs
Jury comment: The winning film uses an imaginative range of techniques from stunts, to undercover investigation and beautiful scientific imagery that build to an extraordinary visual climax.
Doghouse Editing Award
MATT MEECH for THE HUNT(UK)
Producer(s): Silverback Films, with the BBC, BBC Worldwide, BBC America, The Open University, CCTV9 & NDR Naturfilm United Kingdom
Jury comment: Beautifully crafted sequences put you on the edge of your seat and force a rethink on whether we really have seen everything before.
Jury comment: This was a hard fought category, but the winner is the person whose next film the jury would most like to see.
Disneynature Impact Award
RACING EXTINCTION (USA)
Producer(s): Okeanos Foundation for the Sea & Discovery Channel, with Vulcan Productions, the Li Ka Shing Foundation, Earth Day Texas, JP's Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs & Insurgent Docs
Jury comment: This important film has had a worldwide impact across all platforms with a powerful call to action that can only build and build.
Jury comment: A category with a wonderful variety of films but the winner was a film in which the warmth and enthusiasm of the presenter was so genuine that it engages an audience far beyond those normally drawn to wildlife or conservation films.
Jury comment: A hugely authoritative presenter with a lifetime’s commitment to the subject, a flair for storytelling and a fearless determination to bring violent people to justice.
Jury comment: A very strong category but the winner is a truly magical film that captures the wonder of science and the natural world in an entrancing new way.
Script Award
WILD WEATHER WITH RICHARD HAMMOND (Austria/UK)
Producer(s): Oxford Scientific Films, Terra Mater Factual Studios, Open University Co-Production with Hamster’s Wheel and PAAN
Jury comment: A seamless blend of narration and pieces to camera that is high on entertainment while packed with fascinating facts.
Nat Geo WILD Series Award
EARTH – A NEW WILD (UK)
Producer(s): Passion Planet (with producer Gaby Bastyra) and National Geographic Studios for PBS
Jury comment: A very high quality category but the winner is a hugely hopeful series with a strong concept running through all the individual programmes which are full of new ideas and positive solutions.
Jury comment: Stunning photography that stirs an emotional response
Films at 59 Sound Award
OLIVER GOERTZ for MAGICAL MOORS (Germany)
Producer(s): nautilusfilm GmbH - Natural History Germany with Bayerischer Rundfunk
Jury comment: The sound design evoked a primeval atmosphere and captured exactly what it feels like to be in the particular landscape.
Technical Innovation Award
DAVID ATTENBOROUGH’S LIGHT ON EARTH (Austria/UK)
Producer(s): Terra Mater Factual Studios and Ammonite Films with CuriosityStream, BBC, UKTV and ABC Australia - Music by Fraser Purdie
Jury comment: Stunning use of specially designed cameras to reveal something genuinely new, without drawing attention to its own cleverness.
Theatrical Award
THE IVORY GAME (Austria/USA)
Producer(s): A Netflix documentary by Terra Mater Film Studios, with Vulcan Productions in association with Malaika Pictures & Appian Way Location Manager: Jean Hartley/ViewFinders
Jury comment: A stunning documentary of global reach and ambition about a vitally important subject that compels you to watch as multiple storylines play out to a dramatic conclusion.
Jury comment: This film was edged out in its extremely competitive category but deserves recognition for its epic scale, compelling storytelling and restrained but excellently judged use of CGI.
WWF Golden Panda Award, for the best in the festival
THE IVORY GAME (Austria/USA)
Producer(s): A Netflix documentary by Terra Mater Film Studios, with Vulcan Productions in association with Malaika Pictures & Appian Way Location Manager: Jean Hartley/ViewFinders
Jury comment: There were many brilliant and inspiring winners in this year’s awards but one film stood out for its ambition and skilful execution. The Golden Panda winner takes a familiar subject and makes you care.
Beyond Borders Wildlife Film School, situated in the Kruger National Park of South Africa just had another very successful 25 day day course with two students who produced, directed, filmed and edited two great short documentaries.
September 2016 : The Kruger area suffers from one of the worst drought since 1991. Musa April takes a deep look at it and brings us this short documentary to open our eyes on the situation.
Khulekani Mlangeni from South Africa produced The Monkey Lodge
Feed or do not feed wild animals? Mopaya Safari Lodge has been feeding a local troop of vervet monkeys to help them survive the drought. Little did they know about the consequences it would have on the lodge...But they take full responsibilities and explain to us their reasons behind it.
Khulekani grabs a camera and shows us who are the real bosses of Mopaya Safari Lodge.
Wildscreen Festival to open with European premiere of “The Ivory Game” from executive producer Leonardo DiCaprio From Pam Beddard - Wildscreen
30 September 2016
Wildscreen Festival will host the European premiere of The Ivory Game, a new Netflix Original documentary thriller about the murderous ivory trade, executive produced by actor, producer and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio on its opening night in Bristol, UK.
The screening and VIP reception will take place at the Everyman cinema, Bristol, on Sunday 9 October before an invited audience packed with the world’s renowned wildlife filmmakers, on- screen talent and industry press. Adam Del Deo, Director, Original Documentary Programming at Netflix and Walter Koehler, CEO of Terra Mater Film Studios and producer of the film, will lead a Q&A after the screening with the some of the film’s contributors.
The Ivory Game is an epic documentary feature that goes undercover into the dark and sinister
underbelly of ivory trafficking. Award-winning director Richard Ladkani and Academy Award®–
nominated director Kief Davidson filmed undercover for 16 months with a crack team of intelligence
operatives, undercover activists, passionate frontline rangers and tough-as-nails conservationists, to
infiltrate the corrupt global network of ivory trafficking. A production from Red Bull’s cinema brand Terra Mater Film Studios and Paul Allen’s Vulcan Productions, the film follows poachers in pursuit of
the 'white gold' of ivory. Time is running out for the African elephants, dangerously nearing closer
and closer to extinction.
Lucie Muir, Wildscreen CEO said, “It is such an honour to have the European premiere of The Ivory Game launching the Wildscreen Festival 2016. The activists, rangers, and conservationists featured in the story and the filmmakers themselves, have taken unimaginable risks in order to document this vitally important global issue and to bring it to the world stage. Telling powerful stories such as this, sharing them with millions of people around the world and inspiring them to do something to help, is what Wildscreen is about.”
Speaking jointly, Walter Koehler, CEO of Terra Mater, and Carole Tomko, General Manager and Creative Director at Vulcan, commented: “Our two companies have been committed to taking action to end the trafficking of illegal ivory. We believe that The Ivory Game is a film capable of influencing change not only with consumers but with policy makers to pressure leaders to close the ivory markets. We’re thrilled to be opening the Wildscreen Festival this year.”
The 12th Annual Fall 2016 Film Series
- An SOC Signature Series Created and Hosted by Chris Palmer - AUCEF
23 September 2016
Free and Open to the Public
No Reservations Required
First come, first seated
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 at 7 pm; 6:30 pm Food and Drink Discovery Learning Alliance – Using the Power of Media for Social Change
Media can be an effective tool for shaping public dialogue while changing individual and group behavior. In order to make a lasting impact in classrooms and communities in the developing world, Discovery Communications established a nonprofit, Discovery Learning Alliance. DLA President, Aric Noboa, will show how this organization is using media to transform education and improve lives in marginalized communities across Africa and beyond. From scripted movies to educational videos to primetime talk shows, he will share clips and describe the process they use to find the right media tools to affect lasting social impact.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11 at 7 pm; 6:30 pm Food and Drink PBS – The Best Things in Life Are Free
In a rapidly changing industry, remaining relevant has become harder than ever and winning over viewers has never been more challenging. Despite this disruption, PBS remains strong. The last few years have seen PBS return to original American drama with Mercy Street, enter a co-production agreement with the BBC, position itself as the home for independent film, and grow from the 12th most watched in primetime to the 5th most watched among all networks. Get a sneak peek of what’s to come from the country’s most prominent provider of public television content, and join Beth Hoppe, Chief Programming Executive and GM of General Audience Programming, as she discusses how taking risks and experimenting, while remaining committed to PBS’ mission, have made it possible.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18 at 7 pm; 6:30 pm Food and Drink Entertainment with a Conservation Mission
Jennifer Shoemaker a science communicator and visual storyteller with twenty years of experience interpreting science and conservation through television shows, digital video, and live event media. She is the Senior Director of the Visual Storytelling Team at Conservation International, where she recently completed a virtual reality film about the Amazon rainforest. Prior to Conservation International, she was a television producer and Director of Science and Exploration Media at National Geographic. She has also worked as an Earth science video producer NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, and created the National Park Service's first video podcasts while working at Yellowstone National Park. Her video work builds upon a previous career as a park ranger at a number of parks across the American West, including Yosemite and Rocky Mountain national parks. Jennifer will talk about her filmmaking career and show many clips of her work.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25 at 7 pm; 6:30 pm Food and Drink Before The Flood Film Screening (2016, 93 minutes) plus Q&A
Pre-premier screenings of Leonardo DiCaprio and National Geographic’s new documentary BEFORE THE FLOOD. The film is a call to action on climate change as it follows DiCaprio around the globe to bear witness to a changing climate and meet with experts on what must be done to save an inhabitable planet. The filmmakers and parties involved believe the film will help to prevent the demise of endangered species, ecosystems and native communities across the globe. Subjects of the film include: Leonardo DiCaprio, President Barack Obama, Former President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State John Kerry, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Pope Francis. The focus is what must be done today to transition our economic and political systems into environmentally friendly institutions. This is a special screening of the film before the film’s official premier on the National Geographic channel October 31, 2016. Bob Dreher, Senior Vice President of Conservation Programs at Defenders of Wildlife will answer questions after the screening.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15 at 7 pm; 6:30 pm Food and Drink Classroom in the Wild – Film Screening Followed by Q&A
Come and hear first-hand accounts from students about their extraordinary experiences during Classroom in the Wild in the Chesapeake Bay. Vanina Harel, who co-led the Chesapeake Bay course, will attend and lead the presentation and Q&As. Through photos and videos by the students themselves, you will learn more about this unique experiential learning course, as well as future opportunities to practice environmental filmmaking in Classroom in the Wild in 2017.
Jackson Hole Science Media Awards Announces 2016 Winners From Kathryn Jeffords - Science Media Awards & Summit
22nd September 2016
September 22, 2016 BOSTON, MA. Jackson Hole WILD is delighted to announce the complete list of winners selected for its third biennial 2016 Jackson Hole Science Media Awards (JHSMA). JHSMA celebrates the world’s most effective science storytellers and stories. This year’s competition saw more than 500 entries competing for 25 special awards. More than 115 international judges screened an aggregated 2100+ hours in order to select the finalist films.
Awardwinners were honored last night September 21 at the Harvard Art Museum in Boston. This film competition anchored the Science Media Awards and Summit at the Hub (SMASH) at WGBH Studios in Boston, a threeday conference gathering 300+ top scientists and science media stakeholders from around the world to share new work, new approaches and new ideas.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2016 GRAND HELIX AWARD WINNER:
David Attenborough’s Light On Earth
Terra Mater Factual Studios/Ammonite Films, CuriosityStream, with: BBC, UKTV, ABC Australia
Director/Producer: Joe Loncraine, Director of Photography: Martin Dohrn, Cinematographers: Jack Hynes, Fraser Johnston, Elliot Lowndes, Jonathan Esling, Ian Stewart Music: Fraser Purdie
Science of Life (sponsored by HHMI Tangled Bank Studios) Sonic Sea
Discovery Channel presents a Natural Resources Defense Council, Imaginary Forces, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and Diamond Docs production
Changing Planet (sponsored by North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences) Racing Extinction
Okeanos – Foundation for the Sea and Discovery Channel present an Oceanic Preservation Society film in association with Vulcan Productions, The Li Ka Shing Foundation, Earth Day Texas, JP's Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs, and Insurgent Docs
Physical Sciences (sponsored by Panasonic) Inside Einstein’s Mind
A NOVA Production by Windfall Films Ltd. (part of the Argonon Group) for WGBH Boston produced in association with the BBC
Technology & Innovation (sponsored by National Geographic Partners) The Origami Code
La Compagnie des TaxiBrousee, Fact + Film, Leonardo Film and ZDF/3Sat
Short Form Series (sponsored by PBS Distribution) Think Like A Scientist
Produced for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute by Day's Edge Productions
Long Form Series (sponsored by The Nature Conservancy) Uranium – Twisting the Dragon’s Tail
Genepool Productions, in association with Screen Australia, Film Victoria, SBS, PBS and ZDF/ARTE
Interactive (sponsored by Brookline Interactive Group) Connected Worlds
NY Hall of Science, Design I/O
Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality (sponsored by Terra Mater Factual Studios) HoloAnatomy
Case Western Reserve University’s Interactive Commons and Cleveland Clinic
MicroMovie (sponsored by AAAS) Mangroves
Natural Numbers
Science Journalism (sponsored by Minnesota Public Television) Vaccines—Calling the Shots
A NOVA Production by Tangled Bank Studios, LLC, in association with Genepool Productions Pty Ltd. for WGBH Boston
Science Ambassador (sponsored by Nature/WNET) E.O. WilsonOf Ants and Men
Shining Red Productions, Inc. for PBS
Host: E.O. Wilson
Engaging Young Scientists (sponsored by Boston Museum of Science) Design Squad Global
WGBH Educational Foundation
Student & Emerging Science Filmmaker (sponsored by National Geographic Society) Red Wolf Revival
Roshan Patel, Nestbox Collective
Audible Science: Radio & Podcast (sponsored by BBC) Invisibilia
National Public Radio
CRAFT CATEGORY WINNERS:
Writing (sponsored by World Wildlife Fund) Return of the River
Elwhafilm LLC
Writer: Jessica Plumb
Editing (sponsored by PBS) Racing Extinction
Okeanos – Foundation for the Sea and Discovery Channel present an Oceanic Preservation Society film in association with Vulcan Productions, The Li Ka Shing Foundation, Earth Day Texas, JP's Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs, Insurgent Docs
Editor: Geoffrey Richman, A.C.E., Lyman Smith, Jason Zeldes
Visualization (sponsored by Sony Electronics) Forces of Nature: Shape
A BBC Production with PBS coproduced by France Televisions
Cinematographers: Simon de Glanville, Tim Cragg, Roger Munns
The legendary Sir David Attenborough is to deliver a masterclass to students enrolled on the NFTS' new Directing Natural History and Science MA, which starts in January 2017.
We met with highly experienced producer of wildlife documentaries and series, Paul Reddish who has recently been appointed to lead the course answer and asked him what students can expect if they are accepted onto the course. Paul has been Producer and Director across a number of high profile natural history films and series including Attenborough in Paradise, The Future is Wild, Hummingbirds Jewelled Messengers, and many more.
It’s great news that Sir David Attenborough is to give a masterclass to NFTS students. What’s it like working with him?
I have had the pleasure and the honour of working with David on several occasions. He is the consummate professional. David brings great authority to his films, based on an in depth knowledge of the natural world along with a deep and life-long passion for nature. He has made more wildlife documentary films, and garnered more awards than anyone in the world. He is a delight to work with and I’m sure the students will enjoy meeting and learning from this remarkable man.
The awards celebrate both the work of amateur and professional photographers and the beauty and diversity of British wildlife.
Winning images are chosen from thousands of entries in fifteen separate categories including a special film category for Wildlife in HD Video and two junior categories to encourage young people to connect with nature through photography.
The Overall Winning Image, ‘Hitchhikers’ of a Lion’s mane jellyfish, is by George Stoyle.
Highly experienced producer of wildlife documentaries and series, Paul Reddish, has been appointed to run the National Film and Television School MA in Directing Natural History and Science. Paul has been Producer and Director across a number of high profile natural history films and series including Attenborough in Paradise, The Future is Wild, Hummingbirds Jewelled Messengers, and many more.
Paul Reddish says: “It is a privilege to run the new Directing Natural History and Science MA at the NFTS, which has an incredible reputation for building careers and industry leaders. I love to encourage and mentor new talent and I can’t wait to meet and start working with the students!”
Richard Brock and film-maker/editor Gareth Trezise have been very busy over the past year or so working on the 'Wildlife Winners and Losers' film series... Sixty+ conservation films that aim to show us all "how to turn losers into winners"!! Please get behind the campaign by watching, liking and sharing the films far and wide!!!
Winners and Losers – How to turn losers into winners
Sir David Attenborough: “Sounds like a very good idea” 19/01/15
A message from Richard Brock:
The intention of this 60+ film series is to draw attention to the realistic, positive side of wildlife conservation, as well as showing the problems that lie ahead and what might be done to avoid them. The series is not in the same league as major “landmark” productions with big budgets, big teams and, sometimes, big television audiences – sometimes global, sometimes not. Rather, Winners and Losers is an attempt to reach as many people around the world with fairly short films which include a wide variety of people, places, wildlife and issues, that, hopefully, will connect with those who see them. This could be via any form of media, especially social media, which is growing rapidly everywhere. A special team will ensure that maximum reach is achieved. The series has been made with my own funding (based mainly on my BBC pension) and produced with a small team of professionals filming, editing, design, management and distribution. It is possible to show, therefore, that a relatively modest effort can result in a potentially very useful product, if it is planned, made and distributed well. For me, that is my contribution to our unique “living planet” a previous BBC Natural History Unit series on which I had the pleasure of working – as well as on Life on Earth. Since that time, 25 years ago, much has changed in the natural world mainly because of us. Winners and Losers shows some of those changes – both bad news and good news, from recent archive to now. It’s an attempt to encourage the audience, especially young people globally, to care about the planet and its remarkable wildlife. I really hope the series will make a difference. No income is expected – you could call it my legacy I suppose!
To achieve maximum reach and appeal we have made a series of versions of all of the 60+ films. There is a 3-minute series promo and a 17-minute series promo. Each film has a 5-minute promo and there is also a “main film” each of about 20 minutes, so it is possible to try out each film in several stages. It is also possible to combine different subjects and lengths – a kind of “mix and match”. To name a few – Kenyan eagles, insect migration, Whales, and at Sea World, bluefin tuna, elephants, ecotourism, Shell in the Arctic, sea turtles, the River Thames, wolves, squirrels, chimps, rhinos, Galapagos, McDonald’s, hippos, a Bond girl in Sardinia, “Is Dubai Doomed?” Quite a choice, you could say, and all brought right up to date in 2016 from over the last 10-15 years. And the future? I hope the series will help and, indeed, turn losers into winners.
The natural world is changing very quickly now. The clock is ticking faster and faster. Some species are winning, some are losing. Many people are trying to help - in some exciting cases wildlife is helping itself. My series "Winners and Losers" looks carefully with well-documented evidence at these changes - past, present and particularly the future. Using previously unseen footage from the recent past we bring the story right up to date and try to look forward as to the winners and losers we might expect - and why. As far as I know, no one has done this so deliberately around the world with so many species and places. In the 60+ shortish films recently finished in 2016 we find many examples of winners, or, at least those trying not to be losers!
The films will be released on Vimeo and YouTube over the coming months in groups of ten entitled "Places”, “Places & Tourists”, “Issues”, “Species” & “Solutions”. The first films, available now, are a mixed bag to whet your appetite!
If you're short on time, watch the promo first and then go on to watch the full film when able! Check out this first:
Richard's films will be released online in the coming months, in the run up to the Wildscreen Festival in Bristol. Keep up-to-date by visiting the film series webpage here: brockinitiative.org/Winners-and-Losers.htm
Wildscreen announces nominations for Panda Film and TV Awards 2016 By Pam Beddard - Wildscreen
30 June 2016
Wildscreen, the charity behind the world’s biggest festival of natural history storytelling, today announced the nominees for the 2016 edition of the wildlife film and TV industry’s highest accolade - the Wildscreen Panda Awards - often described as the ‘Green Oscars’.
The shortlist names productions from 10 countries, each of them gaining their place after a sifting of nearly 900 entries by a judging panel made up of leading international producers and broadcasters, conservation organisations, and top craft professionals.
Many of the best known names in wildlife film and TV are represented – among them Sir David Attenborough, 90 this year, who presents or narrates six of the nominated films, including all three of the documentaries vying for the Science Award.
But Wildscreen’s CEO Lucie Muir points out: “A much higher proportion of small independents have made it on to the shortlist this year, proving that it doesn’t require a big budget or long track record to tell truly inspiring, brave, bold and beautiful stories.”
In all, 43 titles remain in the running for prizes in the festival’s 20 categories with THE HUNT leading the pack with six nominations followed closely by JAGO: A LIFE UNDERWATER, five nominations, and RACING EXTINCTION, four nominations.
THE HUNT’s makers, Silverback Films of Bristol, UK, also tops the list of production companies with the most nominations (eight) – just ahead of the BBC Natural History Unit (seven).
This year’s Panda Award winners will be announced as part of the next Wildscreen Festival, happening in Bristol – the world capital of wildlife film and TV production - from October 10 to 14.
The announcements will be made at a glittering awards ceremony taking place at the city’s 2000-seat Colston Hall on Thursday 13 October.
Early Bird festival passes and Panda Awards ceremony tickets are on sale now via www.wildscreen.org.
The Wildscreen Festival is a not-for-profit initiative by the UK-based charity Wildscreen, which also operates Arkive, a free-to-access online encyclopaedia about the natural world, and Wildscreen Exchange, a global hub giving conservation organisations access to imagery and film, TV and photography expertise which helps them to tell the most pertinent conservation stories of our time.
Principal sponsors of the Wildscreen Festival 2016 are BBC Earth, BBC Worldwide and Disneynature.
Wild and Weird (for the episode Radical Relationships)
BBC & BBC Worldwide
United Kingdom
PANASONIC CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for large crews: Disneynature Bears Disneynature & Silverback Films
United Kingdom
Camerawork by Sophie Darlington, John Shier, Warwick Sloss, Gavin Thurston, Mark Yates, Matthew Aeberhard, John Aitchison, Mark Smith & Jamie McPherson
Life Story (for the episode First Steps)
BBC, BBC Worldwide, Discovery, France TV & the Open University
United Kingdom
Camerawork by John Brown, Rob Drewett, Tom Fitz, Kevin Flay, Alastair MacEwen, Ian McCarthy, Jamie McPherson, Mark Payne-Gill, Paul Stewart, Toby Strong, Gavin Thurston & Mateo Willis The Hunt (for the episode The Hardest Challenge) Silverback Films, co-produced with the BBC, BBC Worldwide, BBC America, The Open University, CCTV9 & NDR Naturfilm
United Kingdom
Camerawork by Jamie McPherson, John Aitcheson, Mark Smith, Sophie Darlington, Doug Anderson, Mark & Vicky Deeble-Stone
Wonders of the Monsoon (for the episode The Drought)
BBC & Discovery
United Kingdom
Camerawork by Rolf Steinmann, Paul Stewart, Barrie Britton, Warwick Sloss, Nick Lyon & Lindsay Cupper
for small crews: In Between Rolf Steinmann
Germany
Camerawork by Rolf Steinmann Jago: A Life Underwater James Reed for Underdog Films in association with Fantomline Pictures, James Morgan Films & Vistaar Productions
United Kingdom
Camerawork by James Morgan, Mark Sharman (underwater) & Ben Sadd (aerial) Vanishing Kings: Lions of the Namib A co-production by ORF, Interspot Film, ARTE, Smithsonian Networks, Into Nature Productions & Boksdocs with ORF-Enterprise
Austria
Camerawork by Lianne Steenkamp
Racing Extinction Okeanos – Foundation for the Sea and Discovery Channel present an Oceanic Preservation Society film. In association with Vulcan Productions, the Li Ka Shing Foundation, Earth Day Texas, JP's Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs & Insurgent Docs
USA Wild Expectations Equilibrio Films, LLC in association with Nedo Producciones Ltda. for Animal Planet
USA
EDITING AWARD Huntwatch IFAW
USA
Editing by Brant Backlund, David Kennedy, Nicholas Rexford, Alexander Mejia-Johnson & Casey Clark
Jago: A Life Underwater James Reed for Underdog Films in association with Fantomline Pictures, James Morgan Films & Vistaar Productions
United Kingdom
Editing by Sam Rogers Moose: A Year in the Life of a Twig Eater Twig Eaters Inc. in association with The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, WNET Thirteen and BBC Bristol
Canada
Editing by Roderick Deogrades & Robert Ruzic The Hunt (for the episode The Hardest Challenge) Silverback Films, co-produced with the BBC, BBC Worldwide, BBC America, The Open University, CCTV9 & NDR Naturfilm
United Kingdom
Editing by Matt Meech
IMPACT AWARD Explorer: Warlords of Ivory National Geographic Studios for National Geographic Channels
USA Racing Extinction Okeanos – Foundation for the Sea and Discovery present an Oceanic Preservation Society film. In association with Vulcan Productions, the Li Ka Shing Foundation, Earth Day Texas, JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs & Insurgent Docs
USA The Islands and the Whales Intrepid Cinema
United Kingdom
MUSIC AWARD Jago: A Life Underwater James Reed for Underdog Films in association with Fantomline Pictures, James Morgan Films & Vistaar Productions
United Kingdom
Music by William Goodchild Magical Moors nautilusfilm GmbH - Natural History Germany in coproduction with Bayerischer Rundfunk
Germany
Music by Joerg Magnus Pfeil & Siggi Mueller The Hunt (for the episode The Hardest Challenge) Silverback Films, co-produced with the BBC, BBC Worldwide, BBC America, The Open University, CCTV9 & NDR Naturfilm
United Kingdom
Music by Steven Price
PEOPLE AND NATURE AWARD Honey Hunters Arkana Studio co-produced with ARTE G.E.I.E.; Telewizja Polska S.A; Studio Produkcyjne ORKA; MX35 Wajda Szlenkier Litwin SP.J
Poland India's Wandering Lions Ammonite Films & Kosmik Global Media
India Jago: A Life Underwater James Reed for Underdog Films in association with Fantomline Pictures, James Morgan Films & Vistaar Productions
United Kingdom Racing Extinction Okeanos – Foundation for the Sea and Discovery Channel present an Oceanic Preservation Society film. In association with Vulcan Productions, the Li Ka Shing Foundation, Earth Day Texas, JP's Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs & Insurgent Docs
USA
POPULAR BROADCAST AWARD John Bishop's Gorilla Adventure Tigress Productions & LOLA Entertainment
United Kingdom Racing Extinction Okeanos – Foundation for the Sea and Discovery present an Oceanic Preservation Society film. In association with Vulcan Productions, the Li Ka Shing Foundation, Earth Day Texas, JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs & Insurgent Docs
USA Wild Expectations Equilibrio Films, LLC in association with Nedo Producciones Ltda. for Animal Planet
USA
SCRIPT AWARD The Hunt (for the episode Hide and Seek) Silverback Films, co-produced with the BBC, BBC Worldwide, BBC America, The Open University, CCTV9 & NDR Naturfilm
United Kingdom
Script by Jonnie Hughes The Memory of Fish Jennifer Galvin, reelblue LLC
USA
Script by Erin Barnett, Fernanda Rossi & Jennifer Galvin Wild Weather with Richard Hammond(for the episode Water: The Shape Shifter)
An Oxford Scientific Films/Terra Mater Factual Studios/Open University Co-Production (in association with Hamster’s Wheel and PAAN)
Austria/UK
Script by Graham Booth
SERIES AWARD Earth - A New Wild
A Passion Planet and National Geographic Studios Production for PBS
United Kingdom Life Story BBC, BBC Worldwide, Discovery, France TV & the Open University
United Kingdom The Hunt Silverback Films, co-produced with the BBC, BBC Wordwide, BBC America, The Open University, CCTV9 & NDR Naturfilm
United Kingdom Wild Weather with Richard Hammond An Oxford Scientific Films/Terra Mater Factual Studios/Open University Co-Production (in association with Hamster’s Wheel and PAAN)
Austria/UK
SHORT AWARD Animated Life: The Living Fossil Fish Flora Lichtman & Sharon Shattuck, Sweet Fern Productions
USA In Between Rolf Steinmann
Germany Pangolin Coral & Oak Studios, co-produced with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development
Philippines
FILMS AT 59 SOUND AWARD Jago: A Life Underwater James Reed for Underdog Films in association with Fantomline Pictures, James Morgan Films & Vistaar Productions
United Kingdom
Sound by Tim Owens & Ben Peace at Wounded Buffalo Magical Moors nautilusfilm GmbH - Natural History Germany in coproduction with Bayerischer Rundfunk
Germany
Sound by Oliver Goertz The Hunt (for the episode The Hardest Challenge) Silverback Films, co-produced with the BBC, BBC Worldwide, BBC America, The Open University, CCTV9 & NDR Naturfilm
United Kingdom
Sound Design by Kate Hopkins
THEATRICAL AWARD Ivory
A Terra Mater Factual Studios production in association with Vulcan Productions & in association with Malaika Pictures
Austria Naledi: A Baby Elephant's Tale Vulcan Productions in association with Off The Fence
USA Unbranded Fin & Fur Films LLC, Implement Productions & Cedar Creek Media LLC
USA
The winners of the 2016 Wildscreen Panda Awards will be presented at the Panda Awards Ceremony on Thursday 13 October 2016 at Colston Hall, Bristol, UK. In addition to the above awards, Wildscreen will also present the Golden Panda Award for overall best production, and the Outstanding Achievement Award which is given to an individual in recognition of their significant contribution to wildlife filmmaking, conservation and the public’s understanding of the environment.
Congratulations to all Wildlife-film.com member nominations listed in bold above! :)
Winners and Losers – 60+ Films Coming Soon! By Richard Brock
20 May 2016
The natural world is changing very quickly now. The clock is ticking faster and faster. Some species are winning, some are losing. Many people are trying to help – in some exciting cases wildlife is helping itself. My series “Winners and Losers” looks carefully with well-documented evidence at these changes – past, present and particularly the future. Using previously unseen footage from the recent past we bring the story right up to date and try to look forward as to the winners and the losers we might expect – and why. As far as I know, no one has done this so deliberately around the world with so many species and places. In the 60+ shortish lms recently nished in 2016 we nd many examples of winners, or, at least those trying not to be losers!
The series of sixty conservation films are coming together... See the downloadable pdf with full details!
Also see: Man with a mission – to help save the planet.
Steve Egginton publishes an article about Richard Brock and the imminent launch of his "Winners and Losers" campaign:
"WILDLIFE cameraman and producer Richard Brock is about to launch a collection of 50 films from around the world showing nature’s “Winners and Losers” in their fight against climate change and other environmental
challenges. “It shows how to turn losers in to winners,” he says.
For 15 years he’s risked the wrath of governments and big corporations to make films showing how man’s activities are harming nature and he’s updated these for thenew series."
39th Annual International Wildlife Film Festival Award Winners Announced by IWFF
23 April 2016
Congratulations to the IWFF 39 award winning films.
We are pleased to announce the Award Winners for the 2016 International Wildlife FIlm Festival. The 2016 IWFF Awards took place on Friday, April 22 at Missoula's Wilma Theater.
Newcomer Award
Islands of Creation – Nathan Dappen - USA - 2015 - 48 minutes
In the jungles of a remote archipelago in the South Pacific, a biologist is attempting to do something Charles Darwin and Ernst Mayr never accomplished: catch evolution in the act of creating new species. Albert Uy is on the verge of an amazing discovery in the Solomon Islands, but there’s a threat looming on the horizon. The islands’ resources are being exploited, putting all local wildlife at risk. It’s a race against time to gather the evidence necessary to prove the existence of a new species before it’s lost forever.
Student Award
Medieval Monsters – Oliver Mueller – United Kingdom – 2015 – 10 Minutes
The New Forest of England has remained unchanged for centuries and while many of the country’s ancient beasts have long since vanished, here the creatures of old can still be found. This film captures their lives using macro, slow-motion and time-lapse techniques to reveal behaviours beyond the capabilities of the human eye. Duelling dragonflies, acid-firing ants and jousting stag beetles take centre stage in this world of medieval monsters.
Independent Award
MOOSE: A Year in the Life of a Twig Eater – Susan Fleming – Canada – 2015 – 60 Minutes
This stunningly intimate nature documentary takes viewers deep inside the world of moose to experience a calf’s first year of life up close and personal.
Theatrical Feature Award
The Messenger – Su Rynard – Canada – 2015 – 90 Minutes
Broadcast Feature Award
Yellowstone– Oliver Goetzl (Gulo Film Productions) – Germany – 2015 – 55 Minutes
Few places are as special and unique as Yellowstone National Park – America’s first national park. A wilderness jewel of vast forests and wide-open valleys, home to large bison herds, wolf packs and grizzly bears. It sits atop one of the world’s largest active super volcanoes, giving rise to such iconic geothermal features as Old Faithful Geyser and Grand Prismatic Spring. As part of the landmark wildlife series AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS, “Yellowstone” was filmed over three years by award-winning filmmakers Oliver Goetzl and Ivo Nörenberg. Using the latest in cinematographic techniques, this film showcases Yellowstone’s extraordinary wildlife and spectacular landscapes like never before!
Broadcast Series Award
Animal Homes – Ann Johnson Prum – USA – 2015 – 55 Minutes
Animals, like humans, need a place they can call home to provide a safe and stable place to raise a family, whether it’s a bird nest, a bear den, a beaver lodge or spider web. This three-part series features a blend of animation and signature “architectural blueprints” that highlight engineering principles inside the structures and demonstrate just how animals around the globe build their remarkable homes. Ecologist Chris Morgan (Siberian Tiger Quest, Bears of the Last Frontier) serves as our guide to the materials, locations, neighborhoods, and aesthetics of these animal homes, as well as the intriguing behaviors and social interactions that take place in and around them.
Human Wildlife Interaction Award
Muerte es Vida (Death is Life) – Ali Alvarez – 2015 – United Kingdom – 70 Minutes
MUERTE ES VIDA is documentary about the connection between death and nature. The film’s central Mexican character, Sabino, believes the millions of Monarch butterflies that arrive every year are the souls of departed family coming back to visit as they arrive in time for Day of the Dead after an epic journey from Canada and the Northern United States. On their migration south they have touched people at their darkest hour of losing a loved one. We meet seven people, from Canada to Mexico, and see how each have dealt with their loss. This film is an honest and human view of loss and shows how Mexican culture deals with death.
The wings of cliff swallows in Nebraska are getting shorter while turtles in Chesapeake Bay are getting larger. On the Galapagos Islands, different species are collapsing back into one. What has happened to evolution? The answer is very simple: us. Humans have transformed the planet beyond recognition – turning grasslands and forests into fields and cities and polluting air and water. And all of these changes have altered the course of evolution, often in surprising ways.
Conservation Award
Red Wolf Revival – Roshan Patel – USA – 2015 – 24 Minutes
Short film about the last remaining wild population of red wolves. Centered on the historic recovery effort in Eastern North Carolina and the state’s declared intent to drive the species to extinction, we document the multifaceted struggle to reintroduce one of the rarest animals on earth in the face of cultural, economic, and biological challenges in North Carolina.
Children & Young Adults Award
A Life in a Day – Colin Scott – 2015 – USA – 5 Minutes
The life of a mayfly is an allegory of our own — you’re born, you struggle, mate, reproduce, and die — except it all happens over the course of a single day. A LIFE IN THE DAY is a four-minute animated short that reminds us that life is brief, beautiful, and meant to be enjoyed.
Best Cinematography Award
Soul of the Elephant – Dereck Joubert, Beverly Joubert – USA – 2015 – 53 Minutes
Ironically, every dead elephant with its ivory intact is a reason to celebrate. It means an elephant died of natural causes, not bullets, snares or poison, and a soul was allowed to be celebrated and mourned by its herd. Award-winning filmmakers, Dereck and Beverly Joubert start with the remains of two bull elephants and through a series of key flashbacks, look at the lives they would have led, the dramas they may have seen, their great migrations for water with their families, and their encounters with lions and hyenas. This film, shot over two years, is an intimate look at elephants through the lens of perhaps the greatest storytellers of natural history.
Best Editing Award
Gardeners of the Forest – Ceylan Carhoglu, Nicole Jordan Webber – USA – 2015 – 15 Minutes
For generations, Laos was known as the Land of a Million Elephants but, as of 2016, there are fewer than 600 elephants left in the wild.
Best Short Film Award
Red Wolf Revival – Roshan Patel – USA – 2015 – 24 Minutes
Best of Fest Award
The Messenger – Su Rynard – Canada – 2015 – 90 Minutes
An artful investigation into the causes of songbird mass depletion and the compassionate people who are working to turn the tide. The film takes viewers on a visually stunning journey revealing how the problems facing birds also pose daunting implications for our planet and ourselves.
A big congratulations to all winners, with special back slaps to our members in bold above!
Wildscreen picks former BBC Worldwide director to be new Chair of Board By Pam Beddard - Wildscreen
22 April 2016
Former BBC Worldwide Director Peter Phippen is to be the new chairman of the Bristol- based charity behind Wildscreen, the world’s biggest festival of natural history film, television and photography, and Arkive, the internet’s best-used online encyclopaedia of endangered species.
He brings with him 30 years of media industry experience, including as a Board Director of BBC Worldwide Ltd, Managing Director of BBC Magazines and President/CEO of BBC Worldwide Americas Inc, for whom he launched a number of TV channels and chaired a joint venture with Discovery Inc.
Peter succeeds TV industry veteran Dick Emery who is stepping down after nearly nine years in post.
Commenting on his appointment, Peter Phippen said: “I’m immensely proud to take over the Chair at Wildscreen, given its fantastic heritage and its vital mission - even more important today than when it was founded 30 years ago. I’ve had a long career in all areas of the media, but my most cherished moments have been those I’ve spent in the company of the talented people who provide us with insights into the natural world and those who work to protect it.”
Two man crews on a budget - Filming BBC 4 Britain’s Treasure Islands By Simon Vacher
22 April 2016
I never imagined quite what a casual conversation could lead to, until I had an e-mail from the naturalist Stewart McPherson asking would I like to travel to around the globe filming a documentary on the fourteen UK Overseas Territories (sixteen if you separate Ascension and St Helena). Such a journey would take us to every corner of the globe, from the far reaches of the icy wilds and rich wildlife havens of the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falklands, to the luxurious climates of the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and the searing heat of the mid-Atlantic, then the ancient island of Pitcairn in the South Pacific and finally the home UK Territories in Europe. The resounding answer was a Yes!
Initially, Stewart has imagined the project to take one year to film. In the end it took us nearly four years spread over six separate filming blocks to complete the film project, and when complete Stewart then began to write to Britain’s Treasure Islands book, the same title as the BBC 4 broadcast series.
In the early stages of the project, we didn't clearly identify that this project could potentially make it to broadcast, but shortly after some discussions between myself and Stewart, we decided it would be worth investing in a camera that would allow us to record 50mbps 4:2:2 broadcast-quality footage, on a budget. In early 2012, I found the
most budget way of acquiring this quality was by purchasing a Sony EX1 along with a nanoFLASH data recorder. In the early stages of the project, we didn't clearly identify that this project could potentially make it to broadcast, but shortly after some discussions between myself and Stewart, we decided it would be worth investing in a camera that would allow us to record 50mbps 4:2:2 broadcast-quality footage, on a budget.
In early 2012, I found the
most budget way of acquiring this quality was by purchasing a Sony EX1 along with a nanoFLASH data recorder. The whole recorder would balance rather badly on top of the camera, and was a real pain to operate with! Every so often, the SDI cable connecting the camera to the nanoFLASH would cause a dropout, so we sometimes missed a take but soon learnt to keep an eye on the nanoFLASH record status. It served us well though, and acquired the footage we needed. By early 2013 for our Antarctic trip, we had brought the Sony PMW-200, a really compact yet broadcast-quality camera that allowed us to be fast on our feet while still recording the quality we wanted. It was a game changer for me! Light, portable and no cables to go wrong. Now, we see cameras like this flooding the market and it’s hard to imagine anything
different.
During the first few filming trips, Stewart was working in between trips to try find a producer to get the series to broadcast. He would tell me “Oh, I’ve spent hours meeting with a production company, or meeting this person or that person”, and a potential lead would suddenly seem very real and solid, until they would tell him they had no money or simply wanted all the rights with giving nothing in return. Finally, coming close to the mid-way in our project, Stewart found producer Steve Nicholls, then part of the Warehouse51 team. Steve understood Stewart’s vision, then took the idea up and proposed it to the Warehouse51 team, and before we knew it there was fuel in the engine!
Wildscreen widens its reach by hosting insider’s guide to wildlife film event in Scotland By Pam Beddard - Wildscreen
5 April 2016
Diary date: 9.30am – 1.30pm Thursday 12 May
Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay, Glasgow G51 1EA
Get insider insight into what it takes to become a wildlife filmmaker from star cameraman and TV presenter Gordon Buchanan and other industry experts when the world’s biggest festival of natural world storytelling WILDSCREEN, brings the first of a new series of outreach events to Scotland.
Wildscreen – the world’s biggest and leading celebration of storytelling about the natural world– will be launching a new series of outreach events on May 12 when it presents an insider’s guide to breaking into the industry at the Glasgow Science Centre, Scotland.
TV presenters Gordon Buchanan and Ben Garrod and the makers of the BBC’s new four-part documentary HIGHLANDS will be among the industry experts leading discussions about the many steps involved in making nature films and the entry opportunities for new and emerging talentThe event is the first to be hosted in Scotland by Wildscreen in its 30+ year history and marks the start of a new approach to outreach.
Wildscreen CEO Lucie Muir explains: “As part Wildscreen’s new strategy, we plan to curate a series of year-round events in and beyond our home base in Bristol, to celebrate, showcase and inspire natural world storytelling talent in different cities and countries. One aim of this will be to encourage and nurture fresh talent. The reason for starting in Scotland is partly that contains a rich treasury of spectacularly film-worthy wildernesses, wildlife and scenery but also that it already has the beginnings of a bright and bubbling natural history film and TV sector that is keen to engage with and develop home-grown talent.”
Scottish cameraman and presenter Gordon Buchanan best known to viewers for his work on BIG CAT DIARY, AUTUMNWATCH, SPRINGWATCH, the LOST LAND series and his ‘...AND ME’ documentaries about wildlife families , added: “When I was trying to get my foot in the door of wildlife filmmaking, attending Wildscreen was essential. Not only did I make contacts that lead to me getting both feet in the door but the whole atmosphere of the festival encouraged me to work as hard as I could be part of this incredible industry. Some of the very best wildlife in the UK can be found in Scotland so it is wonderful that Wildscreen is coming to Glasgow. I am certain the event will inspire all those who attend.”
Winners announced at UN Headquarters on World Wildlife Day!
International Elephant Film Festival Celebrates World’s Best Elephant Films
The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival and the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) teamed up in organizing an International Elephant Film Festival to raise global awareness of the various challenges facing the African and Asian elephants, as a highlight of UN World Wildlife Day on 3 March. The Festival received more than 250 entries into the film competition, which were reviewed by over 75 preliminary judges over six weeks before the short list was passed on to the final judging panel.
"These films connect us in a very personal way to wildlife, observed John E. Scanlon, Secretary General of CITES.” They inspire us all to make sure these magnificent animals survive in the wild. Congratulations to all of the finalists and category winners, and thank you for making this such a memorable World Wildlife Day."
The high-level celebration at UN Headquarters attracted international diplomats and policy-makers as well as conservation, NGO & business partners and filmmakers and included UNEP Goodwill Ambassador/model Gisele Bündchen and Actress/Producer Kristin Davis, whose film Gardeners of Eden won the Elephant Hero category.
The International Elephant Film Festival Winners are:
African Voices Recognizing excellence in elephant films produced by citizens of African nations.
Elephants Without Borders, Afriscreen Films for BBC and Animal Planet
Asian Elephants Awarded to the film that most effectively communicates the unique challenges facing Asian Elephants.
Manas: Return of the Giants, Ammonite Ltd. and Kosmik Global
Issues & Solutions Awarded to the film that most effectively reveals current issues and challenges--most notably the ivory poaching
crisis--and communicates solutions to the environmental, social-economic and sustainability
issues facing elephant conservation including reducing the demand for illegal
ivory in the destination countries.
Explorer: Warlords of Ivory, National Geographic Studios for National Geographic Channels
Elephant Hero Awarded to the film that most effectively celebrates noteworthy achievements including the work of individuals or groups committed to elephant protection & conservation.
Gardeners of Eden, Village Beat
Elephant Micro-Movie (under 5 minutes) Awarded to the PSA, music video, media artwork or advocacy film that most effectively communicates an appreciation or understanding of elephants or elephant conservation. Limited to media 5 minutes in length or less.
War of Space, Mays Entertainment
People & Elephants Awarded to the film that most effectively conveys the complex relationship between elephants and humans.
Naledi: Every Elephant Counts, Vulcan Productions in association with Off the Fence
Science & Elephants Awarded to the film that most effectively demonstrates the impact of science and technology on understanding elephants and advancing elephant conservation.
Minds of Giants, Vulcan Productions & Off the Fence
Special Consideration to: Mike Birkhead Associates
IEFF would also like to acknowledge Echo, the Elephants of Amboseli - the researchers who studied her family and the filmmakers who told their story forever changed how the world would see these remarkable animals.
Wildlife-film.com says very well done to all winners, with special congratulations to members Afriscreen Films & Ammonite for their very well-deserved wins! When congratulated on Twitter, Afriscreen said "The elephants deserve it!" - We say, so true.
CALL FOR ENTRY NOW OPEN! AWARDS FOR VISIONARY SCIENCE STORYTELLING!!
From the infinitesimal to the infinite, science plays a profound role in our daily lives in ways we can scarcely imagine! In the fall of 2016, we will celebrate outstanding media that best conveys the wonders of science to public audiences, at the Science Media Awards & Symposium (SMASH16), presented in partnership with WGBH in Boston, September 20-22, 2016.
The Grand Helix Award
This award goes to the single film or media project that best exemplifies excellence in the art of inspired scientific storytelling. Each film entered into competition will be considered for this prestigious recognition.
Call for Entry Opened March 1 | Call for Entry Closes June 1 | Extended Deadline June 15 | Finalists Announced August 1 | Winners announced September 21
International Elephant Film Festival
Finalists announced!
International Elephant Film Festival Celebrates World’s Best Elephant Films
- Finalists announced 26th February. Winners to be announced at UN Headquarters on UN World Wildlife Day - 3 March 2016
The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival and the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) teamed up in organizing an International Elephant Film Festival to raise global awareness of the various challenges facing the African and Asian elephants, as a highlight of UN World Wildlife Day on March 3. The Festival received more than 250 entries into the film competition, which were reviewed by over 75 preliminary judges over six weeks before the short list was passed on to the final judging panel.
The distinguished panel of international judges who will select the winners include:
Inger Anderson, Director General of International Union for Conservation of Nature
Ian Craig, Director of Conservation, Northern Rangelands Trust, Kenya
BingBing Li, Actress, Singer and Conservationist, China
Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs, South Africa
Catherine Novelli, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, United States
John E. Scanlon, Secretary General of CITES
In judging the films the international panel is assessing the overall impact, cinematography and videography of the films. The views expressed in each film should not be seen as necessarily reflecting the personal views of the judges.
International Elephant Film Finalists
African Voices All the Presidents Elephants, Triosphere for NHU Africa Elephants Without Borders, Afriscreen Films, BBC NATURE: Soul of the Elephant, Wildlife Films and THIRTEEN Productions LLC in co-production with Terra Mater Factual Studios
Paseka The Easter Elephant, Afriscreen Films White Gold, Pace Productions
Asian Elephants Elephant Island, Mike Birkhead Associates Gods in Shackles, Sangita Iyer Manas: Return of the Giants, Ammonite, Ltd. and Kosmik Global The Eyes of Thailand, DVA Productions in association with Indiewood Pictures
Issues & Solutions Elephants Without Borders, Afriscreen Films, BBC Naledi: Every Elephant Counts, Vulcan Productions in association with Off the Fence Warlords of Ivory, National Geographic Studios for National Geographic Channels
Elephant Hero Echo and the Elephants of Amboseli: Episode Two, Mike Birkhead Associates in association with Off The Fence for Animal Planet International Echo, an Unforgettable Elephant, Mike Birkhead Associates for BBC and Thirteen/WNET.ORG in association with PBS
Gardeners of Eden, Village Beat, RYOT
Elephant Micro-Movie (under 5 minutes) An Elephant’s Tale: The Matriarch, Wildlife Conservation Society I Will Always Remember You, Hugo Guinness Elephants are Wildlife. Not Entertainers, World Animal Protection Let Them Live, Filmontage Productions #SeriousAboutWildlifeCrime, International Consortium on Combatting Wildlife Crime War of Space, Mays Entertainment Wild, Village Beat
People & Elephants For the Love of Elephants, Make Believe Media Gardeners of Eden, Village Beat, RYOT Naledi: Every Elephant Counts, Vulcan Productions in association with Off the Fence Tyke: Elephant Outlaw, Jumping Dog Productions
Science & Elephants Elephants Without Borders, Afriscreen Films, BBC Living with Elephants, Evanescence Studios Minds of Giants, Vulcan Productions in association with Off the Fence The Secret Life of Elephants- Episode One: Elephant Funeral, BBC Bristol NHU
Winners will be announced at a high level event and 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, through local screening events and broadcasts.
The 11th Annual Spring 2016 Film Series
- An SOC Signature Series Created and Hosted by Chris Palmer - AUCEF
1 February 2016
Free and Open to the Public - No Reservations Required
Tuesday, February 9 at 7 pm Reception at 6:30 pm with food and drink.
Highlights from the 2016 Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital (EFF), March 15-26
Tuesday, February 23 at 7 pm—Part of SOC Week Reception at 6:30 pm with food and drink.
Reality TV, Garbage Juice and Me - Michael Cascio
Note: The March 19-25 events below are all part of Washington D.C.’s Environmental Film Festival. www.dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org
Saturday, March 19 at 4 pm When Mickey Came to Town
(USA, 2016, 30 min.) World Premiere.
Saturday, March 19 at 7 pm Reception at 6:00 p.m. with food provided by Chaia, a local “farm to taco” vegetarian restaurant. Farming for the Future - Enduring Traditions, Innovative Practices
Tuesday, March 22 at 7 pm Reception at 6:30 pm with food and drink.
An Evening with Chris Palmer - The Most Important Environmental/Conservation Films of All Time
Wednesday, March 23 at 7 pm Student Short Environmental Film Festival
Thursday, March 24 at 7 pm Ok, I’ve Watched the Film, Now What?
Friday, March 25 at 7 pm Containment
(USA, 2015, 82 min.) Washington, D.C. Premiere.
Your chance to win a prestigious award, with a cash first 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 £20,000 prize fund includes products from lead sponsor 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 fifteen 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 - to encourage young people to connect with nature through photography.
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 2015. www.bwpawards.org/categories/wildlife-in-hd-video
Chris Packham, Naturalist and TV Presenter said "Each year the British Wildlife Photography Awards generates an incredible catalogue of splendid, exciting, imaginative and artistic images, proving beyond doubt that we have the richest palette of life to celebrate in our own backyard. Anyone passionate about protecting and preserving wildlife will be inspired by the British Wildlife Photography Awards, which in its sixth year has done more than any other award to raise the profile of British wildlife.
1. Overall Winner, British Wildlife Photographer: £5,000
2. Wildlife in HD Video Winner: Canon XA30 Professional Camcorder
3. The category winners will receive:
A Canon PowerShot G5 X Camera
4. Portfolio Winner ‘British Seasons’: A £600 voucher for Páramo clothing
5. The Young People’s Awards WildPix / BWPA:
Young British Wildlife Photographer (12 - 18) £500
Young British Wildlife Photographer (Up to 11) £300
The Sponsors
Canon, RSPB Wildlife Explorers, WWF, The Wildlife Trusts, BBC Wildlife Magazine, CVP.Com, Countryside Jobs Service, Buglife, Paramo and Outdoor Photography Magazine.
Supporters
Natural England, Wildeye, Wildlife-film.com, Kristal Digital Imaging Centre and AA Publishing.
Awards Ceremony
All winners, commended entrants and photographers who feature in the book will be invited to an Awards ceremony and launch of the traveling exhibition.
2015 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
Wildscreen offers wildlife film
and TV makers new ways to win
one of its coveted Panda awards By Wildscreen
28 January 2016
Wildscreen will be giving fresh talent, lower budget productions, and innovators more chances to win one of its coveted Panda Awards when the world’s biggest festival of natural history film and TV storytelling returns to Bristol, UK, from 10 – 14 October 2016.
Launching the Festival’s latest call for entries, Lucie Muir, CEO of the charity which runs the biennial event, said: “Approaches to natural world storytelling are constantly evolving and Wildscreen seeks to reflect this when celebrating and honouring the best. So our 2016 Panda Awards competition will offer two Cinematography prizes, distinguishing between lower budget shoots involving three camera operators or fewer and those employing bigger camera teams, while our Innovation Award will expand to introduce separate prizes for creative and technological innovation.
We will also do more to encourage and celebrate industry newcomers by offering an Emerging Talent Award – open to individuals doing exceptional new work in any area of natural history production, be it for a single project or a series.”
The following report provides an overview of the Center for Environmental Filmmaking’s activities and events taking place during the 2015/2016 period. The Center’s programs are made possible by the generosity of the foundations and donors listed at the end.
With Dean Emeritus Larry Kirkman’s support, I founded the Center eleven years ago at the School of Communication to address the world’s unprecedented environmental challenges, from climate disruption to species extinction.
Powerful films, images, and stories can play a key role in fostering conservation and bringing about change. We are committed to raising awareness and empowering action through the innovative use of media.
Our campaign mantra is: Changing lives. Fostering creativity. Conserving our environment through the power of media.
Our mission is to inspire a new generation of filmmakers and media experts whose commitment to environmental stewardship drives them to produce creative work that is informative, ethically sound, and entertaining—and that makes a positive difference. Our signature initiatives include:
Creating partnerships with established organizations—Maryland Public Television, the National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, and others—that give students the opportunity to produce professional films.
Bringing world-class filmmakers to American University to talk, teach, and mentor.
· Developing innovative, interdisciplinary, and experiential classes and programs.
Promoting the ethical treatment of wildlife and the environment.
Awarding student scholarships and fellowships.
Supporting and mentoring environmental and wildlife filmmakers in a variety of other ways.
Since the late 1990s Wildlife-film.com has been the leading source of information for the wildlife filmmaking industry worldwide. For over nineteen years the site has been Google's number one ranking site for 'wildlife film' and related searches. Our site is viewed in over 195 countries. Our newsletter, Wildlife Film News, is read every month by thousands of people involved in wildlife filmmaking - from broadcasters and producers, to cameramen - we encourage readers to submit their news. We also serve as an online resource for industry professionals and services. Find producers, editors, presenters and more in our Freelancer section, and find out about festivals, training and conservation in Organisations. We encourage amateur and professional freelancers to join our network and welcome all wildlife-film related organisations to join our team.
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