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Good practice in wildlife photography and filmmaking
How to make sure you protect wildlife above all else
“There is one hard and fast rule, whose spirit must be observed at all times. The welfare of the subject is more important than the photograph.”
So many people get an enormous amount of pleasure from nature photography – but it’s really important to be mindful of not disturbing or even damaging the wildlife you’re photographing.
There are laws around this – see the links below and at the end.
We also asked a few of the many photographers/filmmakers, who we know to be extremely careful, for their thoughts:
Amy King – ethics in wildlife film making
I think filmmaking is a little different than photography in a few different ways. Mainly, filmmaking is often looking for naturalistic behaviours, which means that there is a greater need to be careful not to disturb a species. There is nowhere to hide in the final edit if you are causing distress.
My two main points when wildlife filmmaking are as as follows:
- Ethics should be at the forefront of planning
- The audience should be in the loop about how stuff is filmed
In the pre-production stage, questions of ethics should be raised early. For example – I would like to fly a drone at a location. But is flying a drone necessary for the story I want to tell? How would flying a drone affect the species I want to film? How would flying a drone affect other species in the area. Is flying a drone in this context legal? Are there other ways I can tell this story without using a drone?
Also – because something is legal, doesn’t mean it’s ethical. (And to some extent, vice versa, but I’m not condoning breaking the law!)
The other thing to think about is more to do with audience deception. In short, we wildlife filmmakers can feel that it is obvious if something has been shot in captivity, (such as in the original Frozen Planet when Polar Bears were filmed giving birth in a zoo). However, the audience doesn’t usually think like a filmmaker, and so can feel deceived when they find out tricks of the trade.
The solution here is to demystify filmmaking techniques by openly talking about it with audiences. This is more of an industry-wide problem, but it’s still important to discuss.
WildBear Entertainment principal and natural history filmmaking pioneer Bettina Dalton passes away
Bettina (Tina) Dalton, an executive producer, filmmaker and principal for Australian factual prodco WildBear Entertainment, has passed away after a short illness.
Dalton, whose production credits over a three-decade career have included such feature docs as the Sundance-premiering Every Little Thing and Playing with Sharks, passed away on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland on Monday (August 24).
Born and raised in the town of Bli Bli, Dalton’s first taste of a life in television came after university, via an on-screen role as ‘Ranger Tina’ in Mark Lewis’ film Cane Toads: An Unnatural History. Her first job as a producer came through the children’s environmental series Bushbeat, which she also presented. From there, she went on to work with legendary naturalist Sir David Attenborough on the 1990 series The Trials of Life, and in 1992, joined the team on Nine’s popular travel show, Getaway, as one of its presenters. She appeared on recent editions of the program as well, for episodes about Antarctica and Greenland.
In 1998, her focus moved to producing and filmmaking, establishing Absolutely Wild Visuals with Gary Steer and establishing a reputation as a pioneer for women in natural history television and film. Beyond creating its own productions, the company, which eventually rebranded as Content Mint, also sold wildlife footage shot by Australian filmmakers and is now one of the largest wildlife footage libraries in operation.
In 2010, she established the prodco Wild Fury and served as co-managing director with fellow filmmaker Veronica Fury. In 2014, Wild Fury and Content Mint merged with Bearcage Productions, run by Michael Tear and Serge Ou, and WildBear Entertainment was born. Dalton took on the dual roles of executive producer and principal, and today, WildBear is known as Australia’s largest independent factual studio, with a staff of more than 100 producing a wide range of content for domestic and international buyers.
Dalton’s many TV credits include such productions as Boss Croc, King Kangaroo and Dolphin Dynasty for National Geographic, Australia’s Hidden Islands for Love Nature and Bushfire Animal Rescue for ADF/Arte, ZDFE, PBS ‘Nature’ and SBS Australia.
Michael Tear, CEO at WildBear Entertainment and a longtime friend and colleague of Dalton’s, paid tribute to the woman he saw as one of the natural history genre’s “brightest stars and strongest advocates.”
“Clever, creative, visionary and great fun, Tina was a supportive and inspirational colleague who played a major part in putting WildBear Entertainment on the map,” he added. “She will be sorely missed by our team, as well as by the extensive international network that she had fostered throughout the industry. But she was also so much more than a colleague and co-principal of the business; she was a dear friend and will leave an unfillable gap in my life.”
Writer, teacher and naturalist who explored the effects of the natural world on neurodivergency
The writer, teacher and naturalist Joe Harkness, who has died aged 39, was an inspiring advocate for the role that wild nature can play in alleviating depression and helping all minds, but especially neurodivergent ones, find joy and peace.
His first book, Bird Therapy (2018), was a notable success from a new generation of authors who found readers online and crowdfunded their publication via the now defunct Unbound. In Bird Therapy, Harkness told the story of his own breakdown, near-suicide and subsequent recovery through watching birds near his home in rural Norfolk.
Readers responded to his honesty and heartfelt practical advice, as well as the obvious pleasure he found in nature. “In that moment, watching the flock of finches, I was allowing myself to become lost and absorbed in the sights in front of me,” he wrote.
“I started to notice that when I was out, on my own, experiencing nature and birds in a personal and intimate way, I was more relaxed than I’d ever been before. My breathing rate slowed and I closed my mind to repetitive thoughts and worries. My only focus was observing birds and learning about them. I was losing myself in birds, in a positive way.”
Following the success of the book, Harkness continued his day job as a teacher of pupils with significant learning disabilities. In 2025, he published Neurodivergent, By Nature, an original and deeply researched exploration of neurodivergency and the natural world sparked by a belated diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
We Love David Attenborough, So Why Don’t We Listen to Him?
The esteemed TV naturalist has been widely celebrated as he reaches his 100th year, but his warnings about climate and biodiversity loss are being ignored.
Sir David Attenborough is beloved. The esteemed natural historian recently topped a list of the U.K.’s favorite “national treasures,” people who are so respected for their contributions to the country that the individual is no longer considered a mere person, and has become a kind of institution. At his recent 100th birthday celebration, tribute was paid to Attenborough by Barack Obama, King Charles III, Leonardo DiCaprio, and even Paddington Bear. His centenary received coverage across international media, with the New York Times noting he is “perhaps the world’s most celebrated naturalist.” (Never mind “perhaps.” What other naturalist comes close?)
Attenborough has earned that love largely by producing a remarkable series of television programs and books which all serve a single purpose: showing how extraordinary the natural world is, and teaching people about how it works. Attenborough has been staggeringly prolific, having served as a writer, presenter, narrator, or producer in over 150 wildlife documentaries, some of which contain dozens of individual episodes.
Of course, Attenborough’s degree of involvement with each film varies—some he only narrated, while others he also wrote and produced. But any way you look at it, it is a stunning filmography, especially considering that all those I mentioned have been released since Life On Earth, which itself came out when Attenborough was 52 years old. The amount of labor that could go into a single series is staggering. Life on Earth was filmed across 100 locations over 3 years, requiring input from 500 scientists.
Ocean with David Attenborough, co-produced by Pristine Seas, Wins Two Creative Arts Emmy® Awards
The celebrated documentary, nominated for six Emmy Awards, received honors for cinematography and sound editing
A full-length documentary film shining light on both the beauty of the sea and the ways in which humans are depleting its riches was honored with two Creative Arts Emmy awards at the September 5, 2026 Los Angeles ceremony. Co-produced by National Geographic Pristine Seas, Ocean with David Attenborough was honored with 2026 trophies for Outstanding Cinematography For A Nonfiction Program and Outstanding Sound Editing For A Nonfiction Or Reality Program.
National Geographic Explorer in Residence and Pristine Seas founder Enric Sala — who served as an Executive Producer and Scientific Advisor for the film — remarked, “This Emmy recognition is a testament to the transformative power of visual storytelling. Ocean with David Attenborough was created to reconnect people with the wonder of our marine world, and to inspire them to turn passion into action. The message of the film couldn’t be more clear: we’re bringing the ocean to the brink of collapse, but we can bring it back to life, if we let it.”
Benedict Cumberbatch-Narrated Doc ‘How to Live on Earth’ Sets September Release
“How to Live on Earth,” a feature documentary from Open Planet Studios and narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, is set to premiere Sept. 20 on YouTube.
Presented from London’s Natural History Museum, the film consists of segments from different contributors focusing on how humans can work with nature to build a safe and thriving future.
Main contributors on the film include climate justice activist Xiye Bastida; field biologist, wildlife filmmaker and explorer Dan O’Neill; and former White House chef and senior policy advisor on nutrition Sam Kass.
“We created ‘How to Live on Earth’ to be a catalyst for a much bigger conversation about our relationship with the natural world,” said Jonnie Hughes, executive producer and co-founder of Open Planet. “We’ve seen a growing appetite for hopeful stories that give people optimism and agency, and the global premiere on YouTube is a chance to turn that momentum into a truly shared moment.”
The film’s premiere on YouTube is accompanied by the debut of “Chapter 4,” an original end credit track written, produced and performed by Imogen Heap.
Open Planet’s globe trotting theatrical feature doc, How to Live on Earth, poses a big question – how can humanity and nature coexist? Jon Creamer reports
The feature documentary, presented by two-time Academy Award nominee Benedict Cumberbatch, is to premiere on YouTube on Sunday 20 September 2026 following its earlier theatrical release.
Open Planet’s theatrical feature documentary, How to Live on Earth, explores humanity’s connection to nature and its role in our future. Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, the film serves as a ‘how-to guide’ framed by powerful natural history cinematography and told through the stories of three individuals – Mexican climate justice activist, Xiye Bastida; future food entrepreneur, Sam Kass and field biologist, wildlife filmmaker, and explorer, Dan O’Neill.
How did you decide on these stories?
Fredi Devas, Director and Producer The brief was to make a film about the importance of biodiversity for planetary health. That’s a huge topic, and we broke that down into three key questions: how do we value nature within our different economic and legal models? How can we feed the world without devouring the planet? And finally, what does nature do for our physical and mental health, and are we fully recognising that in today’s world?
Once we came up with those questions, we needed to follow three key characters that were posing these questions in their lives. And we needed a host to link these threads together.
So, it’s an unusual structure to have Benedict Cumberbatch as the host, Xiye Bastida, Sam Kass and Dan O’Neill asking the three big questions, and then other stories from around the world to ultimately try to convey the importance of biodiversity for planetary health!
Benedict Cumberbatch on his Earth-saving eco film: ‘We are in the last grab of the extraction era’
From Obama’s chef to a big cat obsessive, the actor has gathered experts from all over the world for a film about how to heal our besieged planet. He talks about naysayers, elephant tusks – and the wonders of venison
Benedict Cumberbatch is dreading stepping outside. He’s speaking to me from his air-conditioned hotel room in Soho at the peak of the summer heat. Few doubt that climate breakdown was a major cause of those scorchers, with nature, farming and water supplies all placed under huge strain. By midsummer, according to a report co-authored by the Met Office, there were 2,700 excess deaths in England and Wales due to the searing heat.
But for Cumberbatch, in a bittersweet way, the record-breaking temperatures have come at a good time. The actor has been on a tour to promote his new documentary, How to Live on Earth. “The irony is not lost on anyone,” he says. “We’re living in the results of climate breakdown so stepping outside is – literally – a call to action.”
Benedict Cumberbatch on stepping into "massive shadow" of David Attenborough for new climate documentary
Cumberbatch fronts new documentary How to Live on Earth – which has been made available to watch on YouTube.
Benedict Cumberbatch has had a number of mightily impressive roles in his acting career – from Sherlock Holmes to Hamlet to Doctor Strange – but his latest film How to Live on Earth sees him taking on a very different challenge.
The film – which is produced by the award-winning Open Planet Studios – finds the popular actor stepping into the footsteps of Sir David Attenborough to present and narrate a campaigning environmental documentary.
And speaking to Radio Times ahead of the project's release on YouTube, Cumberbatch admitted he was "obviously worried" about living up to such a broadcasting legend.
How a major wildlife documentary is filmed: cinematographer Stuart Dunn behind the camera
The How to Live on Earth DoP explains his RED Raptor VV, ZEISS prime, 8K RAW and small-crew workflow in demanding locations.
Stuart Dunn breaks down the cinematography of How to Live on Earth: 15–18 months of filming, RED Raptor VV, ZEISS primes, 8K RAW and a detailed style guide that kept the film visually consistent across locations.
Shooting wildlife on an international documentary scale is not only about long lenses and patience: for Director of Photography Stuart Dunn, the crucial element is building a visual system that can remain consistent from the Amazon rainforest to a museum in London.
In a new ZEISS interview, Dunn — whose credits include National Geographic and BBC productions as well as projects with David Attenborough — breaks down the work behind How to Live on Earth, the Open Planet Studios feature documentary presented and narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch. Directed by Fredi Devas, the film travels from Mexico and Singapore to Chad and the Amazon, exploring how humanity can work with nature rather than against it.
For image-makers, the most useful part is how that visual continuity was built: roughly 15–18 months of photography, small crews, a detailed style guide, RED Raptor VV cameras, ZEISS primes, 8K RAW and constant decisions in the field.
'How To Live On Earth' star Dan O’Neill on Benedict Cumberbatch, Priyanka Chopra and Leonardo DiCaprio backing environmental causes: 'We shouldn't be siloing who gets to talk, and whose power is valuable'
Field biologist and wildlife filmmaker Dan O’Neill has had work take him from the Amazon rainforest to tracking wild cats in the Himalayas. For his latest documentary, How to Live on Earth, he was taken into a setting he was less accustomed to — a hyper-urbanised city.
The feature documentary, presented by Benedict Cumberbatch, explores humanity’s relationship with nature through three central stories, with O’Neill examining what nature means to our physical and mental wellbeing. The film takes a deliberately hopeful approach to the environmental crisis, focusing not only on what humanity stands to lose, but on examples of people already finding ways to work with nature for a sustainable future.
In a conversation with ETimes, O’Neill reflects on his experience working with Hollywood star Benedict Cumberbatch, whose commitment to environmental causes extends well beyond the screen. He also shares his thoughts on the growing role of celebrities such as Priyanka Chopra and Leonardo DiCaprio in bringing conservation stories to wider audiences. He also discusses the importance of getting film stars to shine a light on conservation issues while working alongside, rather than overshadowing, the voices of scientists, conservationists and communities living closest to wildlife.
How important was the decision to make How to Live on Earth available on YouTube, rather than following the traditional documentary route? Was reaching as many people as possible always central to the film’s mission?
Dan O’Neill: I think the most important part of this: it's on YouTube. It's a massive, ambitious project, but it's being given to everybody for free at the same time.
That is one of the things I'm most proud of about being part of this documentary, because I just do not think a film titled How to Live on Earth, that's about how our global community is going to live on this planet, should ever be kept to any platform that means that certain people somewhere in the world can watch it and others cannot.
I'm super passionate about making sure that when my projects, anything that I work on that goes on screen, if we film in a location where the animal in question is difficult to conserve, has issues that affect local communities. If that film or that content isn't seen in that location, then what is the point in doing it?
I did a project with snow leopards across Central Asia. But I just didn't want to do it unless in Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan, where we filmed, the project would go out in local languages so that people could watch it. So that's why I'm really proud of this film.
The 32nd edition of the Festival International Nature Namur runs from October 10-18th 2026.
Centred at Le Delta and the Citadelle de Namur in Belgium, the nine-day event showcases a competitive line-up of 34 professional films and 15 amateur films. Alongside the theatrical screenings, the event features specialized nature photography exhibitions, outdoor activities, and the Village Nature public space.
The competitive tracks will culminate with live audience voting to determine the top picks at the annual Amateur Film Gala.
Final screening sessions and event tickets can be secured directly through the official FINN Festival website: festivalnaturenamur.be
WFFR 2026 Launches Full Programme and General Ticket Sales
General ticket sales have officially opened for the 12th edition of the Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam (WFFR), following the conclusion of its early-bird ticket window.
The full festival programme was unveiled on October 4 (World Animal Day), locking in a slate of 60 nature films, professional workshops, and public screening blocks running from November 2 to November 8, 2026.
The festival's primary theatrical screenings return to the Cinerama Filmtheater and LantarenVenster in downtown Rotterdam. Following the main run, WFFR expands to its regional satellite windows at Visum Mundi in Wageningen (November 11–15) and Cinecitta in Tilburg (November 18–22). A geoblocked online streaming portal will also operate within the Netherlands from November 3 to December 5, 2026.
2026 Theme: Living with Wildlife
This year's central programming theme, "Living with Wildlife" (Samenleven met wilde dieren), investigates the increasingly complex cohabitation between humans and non-domesticated species in urban, industrial, and suburban environments. Key features anchoring this theme include the world premiere of the opening night film Wildgemis (directed by Anouk Suntjens), as well as Wild London (featuring Sir David Attenborough and directed by Joe Loncraine), No Shade in the Forest, Derek vs Derek, and Coexistencia. Interactive post-screening Q&As will accompany these selections to debate human-animal relationships. Other notable film highlights locked into the 2026 slate include Penguin Baywatch and Snow Leopard Sisters.
WFFR Lokaal Regional Initiative
Operating from October 1 to November 8, 2026, the third edition of the WFFR Lokaal initiative brings community nature screenings to 26 distinct locations across the broader Rotterdam region. The programme launched on October 1 at Trompenburg Arboretum & Tuinen with the European premiere of The Ancient Forest, paired with a public forest-bathing experience. Additional local pop-up venues include Natuurstad’s urban farm locations, featuring a World Animal Day screening of Wild London at the Botanische Tuin Kralingen.
Industry Days & Flamingo Awards
The professional WFFR Industry Days will take place on Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7, 2026, anchored at the Natural History Museum Rotterdam. The specialised itinerary features masterclasses, panels, and networking events.
• The Pitch Sessions: Scheduled for the afternoon of Friday, November 6, this event allows filmmakers to present in-development projects directly to international broadcasters, distributors, and commissioning editors. The final deadline for project submission is October 15, 2026.
• The Flamingo Competition: The annual festival jury features five industry and media figures: Humberto Tan, Natascha Hokke, Evert van den Bos, Chris Vemer, and Peter van Rodijnen. The winners across 11 competitive award categories will be presented during the official Flamingo Award Ceremony on the evening of Saturday, November 7.
Filmmakers and attendees can explore full programmatic updates and secure industry passes or general tickets directly via the official WFFR Festival Shop: wffr.nl
35th Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital (DCEFF)
Submissions are officially open for the milestone 35th Anniversary Edition of the premier environmental storytelling showcase in Washington, D.C., running from April 8–17, 2027 .
Operating under the creative theme Eyes Open: 35 Years of Witness & Wonder , the festival is seeking features and shorts centering on climate change, conservation, and environmental justice issues.
Key upcoming deadlines and dates to mark in your diaries:
• December 4, 2026: Regular Submissions Deadline (Fees: $75 Features / $55 Shorts)
• February 15, 2027: Official Selection Notification Date
• April 8–17, 2027: 35th Anniversary Festival Event Dates
Abbeville´s Festival de l'Oiseau et de la Nature 2027 is OPEN FOR ENTRIES!
Since 1991, the Bay of Somme has been celebrating the return of spring and birds through the Bird and Nature Festival every year.
Whether you are a professional or an amateur filmmaker, share your latest wildlife documentaries, focusing on birds, of course, but also on any other wildlife species or addressing environmental issues with our audience, revealing both the wonders of the natural world and the threats facing it.
Selected films will be shown in public screenings by the Jury in April 2027 durring the event.
The winners will be revealed on the Awards Night on Saturday, April, 24th, 2027.
All selected filmmakers will be invited to join us in Abbeville.
“I screamed before the rest of it came into the screen.” Deep-sea scientists film rare creature deep in Pacific Ocean
The elusive animal was filmed swimming near an underwater mountain off the coast of California
When deep-sea researchers were surveying the Californian seafloor, approximately two miles underwater, an elusive creature emerged from the gloom.
“I was sitting right next to the screens in the control room when I saw what looked like tentacles coming into the top corner of the video,” says Olívia Soares Pereira, an MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Institute) postdoctoral fellow.
“I thought it might be a cool jelly, but as soon as the little ‘elbows’ appeared, I knew exactly what it was and immediately screamed ‘Magnapinna!’ before the rest of the squid even came into the screen. It was incredibly exciting!”
‘Sharks are my film stars’: how the Jacques Cousteau of the North Sea finally unlocked its beauty
Epic plankton blooms make filming in the North Sea notoriously difficult. But a new documentary gives a rare glimpse of the kaleidoscopic life – seals, sharks, tuna, orcas and shorthorn sculpins – lurking beneath its waves
The North Sea, as even its greatest admirers will concede, often glowers an unappetising grey or brown. And we assume that its dull exterior is matched by sediment-filled waters where little life dwells. For years, the friends and family of Peter van Rodijnen wondered why the Dutch cinematographer and diving fanatic spent so much time exploring “this murky bowl of soup”. But, inspired by a childhood of watching Jacques Cousteau’s adventures in rather more enticingly temperate waters, Van Rodijnen’s dedication to North Sea diving gradually revealed its hidden wonders.
Over 20 years, as camera technology improved, Van Rodijnen obtained more and more amazing footage of marine life near his home on the Netherlands coast. Nearly a decade ago, he teamed up with director Mark Verkerk. “We started with the idea,” says Van Rodijnen, “that if somebody can make a movie about the North Sea, it’s got to be us.”
North Sea, Nature Untamed will startle anyone who has ever set eyes on – or dipped a toe in – the shallow sea shared by the coastal nations of north-west Europe. Despite decades of intensive fishing, oil extraction and multiple other exploitations, parts of the North Sea are still alive with luminous pinks, purples and greens; starfish, lobsters, brittle stars, kelp forests, seals and basking sharks. This hidden wilderness may be almost as spectacular as a tropical reef, even if the Great Barrier Reef, where Van Rodijnen began his diving career, is much more accessible.
Jeff Corwin to Return to Television With Wildlife Conservation Series ‘Jeff Corwin’s Southern Wild’
Jeff Corwin is making his return to national television this fall with the wildlife conservation series, “Jeff Corwin’s Southern Wild.”
Premiering on Oct. 3 on ABC stations nationwide, the series is filmed across North Carolina and explores the wildlife and local cultures spanning from the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic coast. Throughout the journey, the conservationist, television host and executive producer encounters black bears, alligators and native fish while documenting active wildlife rescue and conservation efforts.
“North Carolina is an extraordinary place to tell stories about wildlife,” Corwin said. “But what excites me most about Southern Wild is that we’re not only encountering incredible animals — we’re meeting the people who have dedicated their lives to understanding and conserving them and working alongside students who will carry that mission into the future.”
Super Nature review – crowd-sourced Super 8 film is a triumphant collage of hope for the natural world
Film-maker Ed Sayers’ project gathered footage from collaborators all over the world, cleverly edited to combine human and animal contributions
This delightful, fleet-footed film represents a labour of love both for its writer-director-producer-editor, Briton Ed Sayers, and his many, many collaborators who shot the footage on the old-school analogue format Super 8 all over the world. Between them they’ve used decades-old rigs in newfangled setups with film stock that, like several of the species seen here, would have gone extinct had it not been for the intervention of enthusiasts.
The brief from Sayers was simply to film nature, so we get shots of all manner of flora and fauna, ranging from coral reefs to high deserts, places populated by minute bugs all the way up to whales. As they come in pre-loaded cartridges, Super 8 reels can only capture a few minutes’ worth of film, and so this must have been a fiendishly complex puzzle in the editing room; all credit to Sayers not just for his own lovely footage and clever vision but for his nimble collaging of the whole thing together.
In 2004, Wildlife Filmmaker Matt Paproski and his brother Troy gave the world a behind-the-scenes look at documentary film making, as they raised a first wolf pup for the first season of their new “Wildlife Wranglers” TV series. However, things took a turn. Troy suffered a stroke, putting him in a wheelchair and forcing him to leave the project.
After a four-year hiatus, Matt’s adventure began anew, trying to start over on his own with a second pup named “Aurora”, rescued from a hunt farm. Matt soon added another wolf to the family, a black male pup named “Timber”.
Matt continued his 20-year journey, documenting the search for the best home possible for the wolves. From cross-country educational tours to setting a world record and more, Matt and the wolves grow close, becoming family. The film shows the challenges they faced; from government issues to near bankruptcy and having to say goodbye to the wolves as they age.
All of this is personally shared by Matt, with Troy who has come back for the home stretch, as they interview experts about conservation, culling wolves, and wildlife abuse. What future do these creatures the brothers have come to love face? The Last Howl is not just another documentary. It’s an adventure, an exposé, and an empowering heartfelt message about the bonds of family, by blood or by choice.
Nat Geo launches new natural history franchise from BBC Studios’ NHU
National Geographic will premiere the documentary event series Africa Earth’s Wild Home on October 2, with the series streaming on Disney+ and Hulu on October 3.
The seven-part series, narrated and executive produced by Academy Award nominee Wunmi Mosaku (Sinners, Loki) and produced by BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit, utilizes CGI to tell stories from the continent and explore the history and forces that shaped Africa’s natural worlds. According to a release, the series is part of what will be an ambitious multi-year franchise documenting the planet continent by continent.
Filmed over almost four years across nearly 30 countries and spanning deserts, forests, jungles, mountains and islands, the series chronicles a number of species and behaviors for the first time, including the elusive black rain frog — filmed for TV for the first time — as well as hyenas in the Congo hunting elephants at night, footage of a rare wild African black panther and chimpanzees using tools to fish for algae.
BBC takes new approach to Specialist Factual commissioning
Specialist Factual at the BBC is to be commissioned in three categories: reputation drivers, volume drivers, and multi-platform drivers, says BBC head of Specialist Factual Jack Bootle.
Speaking to Televisual for our upcoming Factual genre report in the Autumn issue of the magazine, Bootle explained why he is changing the approach to commissioning and outlined what he is looking for in each of these three categories, across the Specialist Factual remit which includes science, natural history, history, religion and ethics.
“I’m now thinking differently about commissioning, and what is motivating that change is a desire for greater clarity. One of the mistakes that we sometimes make in TV is we expect every programme to do everything: we want something to get six million viewers and to transform society and to win a BAFTA and to skew under 26 and to cost £200k…Good luck with that.
A healthier commissioning strategy is to be really clear about the job each programme is being asked to do. With my team, I’ve started dividing what we do into three broad categories of content, and at the heart of each category is a question: What is this programme actually for?
The three categories of content are reputation drivers, volume drivers, and multi-platform drivers,
Reputation drivers tend to be singles and short series, and they are there to make a noise. They’re there to win awards. They’re there to grow talent. They’re there to make a statement about what the BBC is. They’re not there primarily to drive volume. If they get lots of lovely viewers, fantastic, I’m delighted. But that isn’t their key job. Their key job is to burnish the BBC’s reputation. Titles like Buried ,with Michael Sheen, a series in which the actor Michael Sheen investigates a hidden toxic waste scandal. It’s a story that Michael has a really deep personal connection to and since it went out questions have been raised in Parliament.
WCSFP to feature keynote interview with Nat Geo’s Tom McDonald
This year’s edition of the annual World Congress of Science and Factual Producers (WCSFP) will feature a fireside chat with National Geographic’s executive vice president of content, Tom McDonald.
According to organizers, the interview, to be conducted by WCSFP editorial director Sara Ramsden, will “explore how unscripted storytelling is expanding beyond any one format or box, and how ideas can evolve as they move across mediums,” with Nat Geo’s approach to the genre serving as a case study.
McDonald, who also serves as chair of the Grierson Trust, joined Nat Geo in 2022, following a decade-long turn at the BBC, which included a stint as MD of factual at BBC Studios. At Nat Geo, his remit covers a range of mediums from streaming to social platforms, podcasts to print magazines — and of course, the Nat Geo and Nat Geo Wild networks. Under his watch, Nat Geo has claimed 54 Emmy Awards, 213 publishing honors and 32 social awards, and has launched unscripted franchises with such talent as Chris Hemsworth, Stanley Tucci and Tom Hiddleston.
Also confirmed for this year’s edition, taking place from November 9-12 in Tailinn, Estonia, are such science experts and communicators as theoretical physicist Jim Al-Kahlili, chemist and science YouTuber Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim, and Canadian law professor and TV presenter Timothy Caulfield. Also appearing will be Estonia’s leading neuroscientist, Jaan Aru, who will be presenting findings on what AI does to the brain.
TV’s Wild Women to celebrate how they bring mother nature to the screen in all-new tour
Think you know what a wildlife filmmaker looks like? Think again!
The fearless female storytellers behind some of the world’s best-loved wildlife documentaries are hitting the road for a new adventure, as Wild Women Live – The Tour heads to venues across the country in 2027.
A cast of acclaimed female presenters, filmmakers, camera operators and storytellers, drawn from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, Netflix and National Geographic, will share their inspiring stories, extraordinary challenges and the secrets of how they bring Mother Nature to life on screen.
The all-new tour will head to 29 venues across the country through the Spring, starting at Redgrave Theatre in Bristol on April 2 and ending at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick on May 14.
Fronting the tour are broadcaster Michaela Strachan (The Really Wild Show, Countryfile, Springwatch), and wildlife camera operator and presenter Anna Dimitriadis (Big Cats 24/7, Tiger Island), who is equally at home filming big cats at close range or diving beneath Antarctic ice.
Tickets are on sale now via wildwomenlive.com or direct from venues.
Joining Anna and Michaela on stage for these inspiring and moving shows as they shine a long-overdue spotlight on the women behind the lens and in front of the camera will be biologist and explorer Lizzie Daly, zoologist and conservationist Megan McCubbin, Scottish filmmaker Libby Penman, environmental journalist and author Sarah Roberts, filmmaker and digital storyteller Hannah Stitfall and broadcaster Naomi Wilkinson.
From sweltering jungles to frozen Arctic landscapes via Britain’s own coastlines and countryside, these pioneering women have captured the beauty, drama and hidden lives of the natural world – bringing their particular female perspectives to some of the world’s most-loved wildlife programmes.
Margot Robbie-Narrated ‘Galapagos: The Last Eden’ Trailer Unveiled Ahead of Venice Immersive Bow
The trailer for “Galapagos: The Last Eden,” an immersive experience narrated by Margot Robbie, has been unveiled ahead of the project’s premiere in the Venice Film Festival‘s Immersive strand.
Produced by Anthony Geffen and from Atlantic Studios, the production hails from the U.K. and is presented in English.
“‘Galapagos: The Last Eden’ brings the audience a new kind of an immersive storytelling,” Geffen said. “We use a new kind of 3-D camera technology and shooting techniques to capture Galapagos in a totally new way.”
The experience lets viewers reach out and interact with what they are seeing, following the volcanic activity that formed the islands as well as the evolution and behavior of its animal life. New technology also allows users to personalize the journey by holding a conversation with Charles Darwin, drawn from his own experiences of the archipelago.
‘RHINO’ Documentary Brings Kenya’s Conservation Frontline To The Big Screen
A new documentary placing Kenyan rangers at the centre of the country’s black rhino conservation efforts has premiered in Africa, highlighting the people and partnerships behind the species’ recovery.
RHINO, directed by Tom Martienssen and narrated by actor Tom Hardy, was screened in Nairobi on 26 September following its earlier London premiere. The screening brought together conservationists, rangers, veterinary experts, diplomats and other stakeholders.
The film follows Kenyan rangers and conservation teams over five years as they protect black rhinos and support efforts to rebuild populations of one of Africa’s most threatened species.
A major focus is the 2024 translocation of 21 black rhinos to Loisaba Conservancy, restoring the species to an area where it had been absent for decades. The operation involved multiple conservation organisations and years of planning.
The documentary shifts the focus from wildlife alone to the people working on the conservation frontline, documenting the risks faced by rangers and the roles played by communities, conservancies, scientists and veterinary teams.
Its African premiere also comes as Kenya’s conservation sector enters a new phase. Kenya Wildlife Service Director General Professor Erustus Kanga said the country’s black rhino population reached 1,147 by the end of 2025, with conservation priorities increasingly shifting towards securing additional habitat for a growing population.
At Loisaba, the 21 rhinos relocated in 2024 have since begun reproducing, with nine calves reported over the following two years, bringing the population there to 30.
For the documentary’s director, the project also highlights the importance of strengthening Kenya’s own capacity to tell conservation stories, particularly through local storytellers who understand the communities and environments at the heart of the work.
The screening was followed by a panel discussion involving Martienssen, rangers, conservation leaders and veterinary experts, examining the evolving challenges of protecting Kenya’s rhino populations.
Penny Lane, Alex Gibney team for doc on “21st century’s most famous elephant”
Director Penny Lane has begun work on a doc on the elephant that garnered headlines worldwide, Happy of the Bronx Zoo, in partnership with Alex Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions and New York City-based Sandbox Films.
Happy (pictured) came to the U.S. from Thailand during the Vietnam War as an infant and joined six other baby elephants at a Florida petting zoo, where each was named after one of the seven dwarfs from Disney’s Snow White. The currently untitled feature, based on an article by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jill Lepore, will explore the lives of all seven elephants, covering a tumultuous 50-year period marked by changing perspectives on elephant care, management, cognition and animal rights. Happy was euthanized on May 26, 2026, at the age of 55.
The elephant first became famous for passing a mirror-based self-recognition test in 2005 and was later a plaintiff in a legal case arguing that her autonomy and intelligence should warrant legal recognition as a person.
The production team is soliciting memories, photos, videos and stories from anyone who encountered Happy or the other elephants via this website.
NatureScot Rejects Guga Hunt Licence in a Historic Ruling Following Campaign
For the first time ever, Scotland's conservation body NatureScot has rejected the annual licence application for the traditional Guga hunt on Sula Sgeir. The decision spared 2,000 young gannet chicks (gugas) from being taken from their nests and clubbed to death.
The regulatory refusal follows an extensive public and legal campaign spearheaded by the conservation organisation Protect the Wild. The group's pressure campaign included submitting numerous Freedom of Information (FOI) requests that exposed critical flaws in NatureScot's historical justifications for the hunt, leading the agency to adopt a strict precautionary approach and mandate more rigorous scientific evaluation this year.
An official public petition against the hunt amassed over 250,000 signatures, making it the largest petition ever submitted to NatureScot . The campaign was further amplified by a viral animation narrated by Chris Packham which received over 15 million views across digital platforms.
Because the licence rejection only blocks the hunt for the 2026 season, Protect the Wild has transitioned to a legislative campaign. Scottish Campaigns Manager Devon recently staged a demonstration at the Scottish Parliament to formally request that the Scottish Government amend Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. The proposed amendment aims to permanently remove the legal exemption that allows the avian hunt to take place.
Documentary maker Eoin Warner: ‘As a child I realised I had been gifted this thing by nature’
Since his breakout TV show Éire Fhiáin in 2017, Warner has presented shows in Irish and English, winning awards and acclaim
Eoin Warner possesses what he calls a “nature lens” – when he is in the natural world, the moment imprints on his brain. He can still hear the snipe’s mating call as he picked wildflowers to romance his wife 25 years ago, and he can still see the sunlight reflected on the scales of a salmon as he watched the fish leap from the river as a 14-year-old boy.
Nearly half a century of details are now “stencilled into his mind”, there for him to recall at will. “As a child I suddenly realised that I had been gifted this thing by nature. I could see things that other people weren’t seeing, and that was because I spent so much time watching and looking,” Warner says, speaking on a video call from his home in Galway. This gift has given him an abundance of patience and a great capacity for observation – both useful skills for a wildlife documentary presenter.
Since his breakout show Éire Fhiáin aired on TG4 in 2017, Warner has presented nature documentaries in Irish and English, winning awards and acclaim along the way. Notably, Ireland’s Wild Islands, where Warner sailed a 140-year-old Galway hooker around the Irish coast, won Best Series at the 2025 International Wildlife Film Festival in the US, praised by the jury for its “enchanting blend of history, folklore, and rare wildlife behaviour”, “delivered with an especially distinctive voice”.
‘Strange Neighbors’ Review: A Pretty but Familiar-Feeling Environmental Doc Portrays Natural Beauty Jostled by Man-Made Ugliness
Mi Steinbach's Oldenburg Fest world premiere examines the disparity between the wildlife on a small island and the factories, ships, and refineries closely adjacent to it.
There are certain words in film descriptions that can produce hives in reviewers. A prime example is “meditative,” an often-used adjective that’s particularly susceptible to abuse.
But there’s no denying it’s the word to describe Mi Steinbach’s nature documentary Strange Neighbors, which chronicles the abundant wildlife on a man-made island in the Elbe River near Hamburg that’s closely adjacent not only to giant container ships passing by but also huge factories and refineries near its shores. Shot on-and-off by the filmmaker over the course of three years, the documentary is receiving its world premiere as the opening night film of the Oldenburg International Film Festival.
With just 38 days of shooting, the team needed reliable gear to capture the footage during nesting periods.
A Filmmaker on What it Takes to Spend Four Years With Lions
In our latest Ask an Expert Anything, wildlife cinematographer Sophie Darlington answered subscriber questions on how she broke into the industry, her creative tips for filming on a safari, and the scariest moment filming Lion.
1. How did you get started filming nature? What got you interested?
“A Gorilla Story,” “Nuisance Bear” among finalists for Jackson Wild Media Awards
Conservation-focused media organization Jackson Wild has revealed the finalists for the 2026 Jackson Wild Media Awards (JWMA), ranging from major wildlife docs and limited series to work from digital creators.
Chosen from over 500 submissions, this year’s crop of finalists were reviewed by a panel of judges from across science and media.
Among the projects to receive multiple nominations is the Netflix doc A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough (pictured), the Sundance award-winnerNuisance Bear and We, The Hated, about the Just Stop Oil protest movement, which opened Sheffield DocFest earlier this year.
The 2026 awards are part of a new joint program with the Hollywood Climate Summit Awards (HCSA), extending recognition to climate storytelling across scripted, comedy, interactive and additional formats. Winners across both programs will be honored together at a joint awards ceremony in L.A. on November 10.
International Wildlife Film Festival (IWFF) Golden Jubilee
The 50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee is locked in for April 17–22, 2027 at The Roxy Theater in Missoula, Montana.
Key updates for your diaries:
• Submissions Open: Submissions officially open on October 15, 2026 , with upcoming cutoffs on November 15, 2026 (Early Bird), December 15, 2026 (Regular), and January 15, 2027 (Extended Final).
• 'Road to 50' Retrospective: Launched on September 15, 2026, showcasing monthly archival screenings at The Roxy.
• Anniversary Safari: Partnering with Rewild Safaris for an exclusive trip to Brazil's Pantanal wetlands from September 19–26, 2027 .
• 'Archive Hunt: The Memory Collection Project is hunting for missing official festival posters from 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1992
WFFR 2026 to Open with World Premiere of Wildgemis
The Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam (WFFR) has announced that its 2026 edition will officially open on 2 November
with the world premiere of Wildgemis
(The Wild Yearning
).
Directed by Anouk Suntjes, the poignant and timely documentary follows Dutch researcher Elke Tukker as she spends years studying the lives of wild horses in the vast American wilderness..
The film transitions from a deep fascination with these free-roaming animals into an intimate exploration of the complex relationship between humanity and nature. Caught in the crossfire between passionate activists, government bodies, and local ranchers, Tukker is forced to confront painful questions about land control, ecosystem dependency, and freedom, reaching an emotional peak during a highly controversial herd round-up.
Filmed entirely solo by Suntjes—who lived out of a car alongside Tukker and her dog to capture the raw, up-close footage—the documentary challenges the modern industrial system where humans no longer view themselves as a connected part of the natural environment.
For more information on the opening selection and the full festival line-up, visit: wffr.nl
Wildscreen Festival Announces 2026 Official Selection
Wildscreen has announced its Official Selection for Wildscreen Festival 2026, comprising of 12 features and 18 shorts originating from 20 countries.
It marks the fourth year of the festival’s Official Selection, launched in 2020, to “platform original stories, authentic voices and vital messages about the natural world”.
The line-up features one world, four European and 11 UK premieres. The 30-strong selection features films with 60% of directors identifying as belonging to an underrepresented group, with almost half (45%) of the countries of filming located in the Global South.
A recurring theme throughout the selection is humanity’s changing relationship with the natural world.
“From melting glaciers and disappearing forests to human-wildlife conflict and the struggle over how land is used, the films explore the pressures that are reshaping landscapes and communities across the globe,” said organisers.
“Many look beyond conservation alone, asking how people and wildlife can coexist, whose knowledge and voices shape decisions about nature, and what can be learned from Indigenous, local and traditional ways of caring for the land.
“Amid stories of loss and environmental change, the selection also finds hope in restoration, resilience, community action, and humanity’s enduring connection to the living world.”
Notable films in the Official Selection include:
Nuisance Bear (1 x 87’): From acclaimed filmmakers Gabriela Osio Vanden and Jack Weisman and backed by A24. Expanding their celebrated short into a feature, Nuisance Bear immerses viewers in the experience of a polar bear forced to navigate tourists, wildlife officers, and hunters as climate change delays the freeze and pushes bears closer to human settlements.
A Day on Earth (1 x 88’, UK Premiere): An ambitious participatory documentary filmed on Earth Day 2025 by 76 Indigenous, Afro-descendant and local community creators across 28 countries, offering a rare and intimate glimpse into those living in harmony with nature.
Wild East (1 x 36’): From National Geographic Explorer Maia Wikler and co-produced by Wildscreen Panda Award-winning presenter Eva Zu Beck.
A Little Story About Forever (1 x 10’): Features Academy Award-nominated actor and environmental activist Mark Ruffalo and is directed by award-winning Alaskan artist and filmmaker Max Romey. It explores environmental anxiety, hope and what it means to protect the future.
I’ll Need to Leave For a Little While (1 x 6’, World Premiere): Directed by Myles Storey, 2024 Wildscreen EDGE of Nature Grantee, combines puppetry with documentary storytelling. The film features as part of the Kindred Shorts Package, a collection of family-friendly films exploring our connections with the more-than-human world and how we might pass that sense of interconnection on to the next generation.
Oscar-Shortlisted Documentary Thriller YANUNI Breaks Streaming Records
The award-winning environmental documentary thriller YANUNI has entered the global spotlight following its official worldwide streaming release.
Directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Richard Ladkani (The Ivory Game , Sea of Shadows ), the feature film is produced by a prominent industry team including Anita Ladkani, Juma Xipaia, Jennifer Davisson, and Leonardo DiCaprio.
The fast-paced 110-minute film tracks Indigenous chief Juma Xipaia, who rises from local grassroots environmental activism to a pivotal leadership position inside Brazil’s newly established Ministry of Indigenous Peoples. Concurrently, the narrative follows her husband Hugo, a specialized federal environmental agent, as he leads high-stakes tactical raids to intercept heavily armed logistics rings and dismantle destructive illegal gold mining camps deep within the Amazon rainforest. The documentary captures the immense personal cost of environmental resistance as Juma navigates political corruption, death threats, and impending motherhood.
YANUNI has achieved critical acclaim on the global festival circuit, winning the prestigious Grand Teton Award at Jackson Wild, the Environmental Media Association (EMA) Award for Best Documentary, and securing a spot on the 98th Academy Awards Shortlist for Best Documentary Feature. While the production did not take home a Panda Award at the Wildscreen Festival, it was heavily featured on the ground during the event as a core case study for indigenous-led conservation storytelling and high-impact international media partnerships.
The full documentary can be streamed globally on YouTube via Malaika Pictures, with campaigns running alongside environmental charity Earth Alliance to support direct territorial protection.
Released worldwide on Amazon Day, 5 September 2026.
Stand with those protecting the Amazon Rainforest: rewild.org/yanuni
Nature Partners with Sesame workshop for Sesame Street and the Great Elephant Adventure special
The broadcast will launch the 45th season of the series on Wednesday, October 14 on PBS and PBS KIDS.
Join Elmo and his Sesame Street friends on a once-in-a-lifetime African safari adventure in a special PBS Nature primetime crossover. Sesame Street and the Great Elephant Adventure premieres on Wednesday, October 14 at 8/7c on PBS and PBS KIDS (check local listings) and will stream on pbs.org/nature, YouTube,pbskids.org, the PBS KIDS Video app, and the PBS app.
After adopting an orphaned elephant online, Elmo, Abby Cadabby, and Nina travel to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya to meet the young elephant and her keepers. In their first-ever safari, the Sesame Street friends embark on a journey that takes them from the caring confines of the elephant sanctuary to the unpredictable African bush, where they come face to face with some of nature’s most iconic wildlife, including lions, zebras, giraffes and hippos.
Children’s classic, The Wombles, and Chronicle Media are partnering on a new YouTube channel management partnership.
Created by Elisabeth Beresford in 1968 as an eco-conscious series of children’s books, The Wombles TV series first debuted on BBC One in 1973 as a stop-motion animated programme, while a contemporary version of the show launched on ITV in 1997.
Chronicle will oversee two new YouTube channels dedicated to “The Wombles,” “The Wombles’” two channels include The Wombles Classics, featuring remastered episodes of the 1970s and 1990s series, and The Wombles, showcasing “all-new purpose-driven animated and live-action content reflecting the brand’s core values.”
The new “Wombles” content showcases creative ways to repurpose everyday objects through arts, crafts, cooking and gardening; as well as outdoor environmental challenges and problem-solving adventures; and gentle, slower-paced content designed for younger children and families “seeking mindful moments away from the pace of modern life.”
“‘The Wombles’ has inspired generations of devoted fans with its enduring message of environmental responsibility and service,” said Aaron Sisto, Co-Founder and CEO of Chronicle Media. “Its core themes of community, sustainability and reuse continue to hit home, and we’re honored to partner with this iconic brand to expand its reach and legacy globally through YouTube, connecting with audiences of all ages across multiple touchpoints.”
The MIP List: Autentic bringing wildlife, science, history titles to MIPCOM
Ecosystems Unraveled: The Keystone Effect
As ecosystems around the world continue to deteriorate, scientists are placing their hopes in a promising yet deceptively simple idea: the targeted reintroduction of keystone species.
From European forests to North American prairies, the film follows ambitious restoration projects. Does the theory hold true, or is nature far more complex and unpredictable than we would like to admit?
Alan Lacy Got the Green Light for a Wildlife Series!
He says ¨A new wildlife documentary series just got the green light, and I’m excited to share a little of what’s been happening behind the scenes¨.
Between becoming a dad and developing this new project, life has been full in the best ways. In this update, I’m sharing where I’ve been, what’s next for Filming the Wild, and how we’re working to connect wildlife storytelling with real conservation impact.
There’s still plenty I can’t reveal about the series, but I’m working on getting permission to bring you along into the field. I hope to share more of the process, from the people behind the cameras to the conservation work these stories support.
REAL EARTH FILMS
Learn about our conservation-focused storytelling:
realearthfilms.org
Who´s a Crabby Daddy?
Get ready to tap your feet and giggles galore with Crabby Daddy from Marshmellow & FleaBite!
This hilarious, high-energy song in the style of an Irish jig tells the story of a very overwhelmed daddy crab who has 50,000 tiny baby crabs running around. He can’t remember a single one of their names, and it’s making him super, super grumpy!
Packed with bouncy rhythm, silly storytelling, and plenty of laughs, it's the ultimate fun-filled track for the whole family—just in time for Father's Day!
How a Documentary Filmmaker Aims to Keep Texas Rivers Flowing
Ben Masters’ sequel to his wildlife film Deep in the Heart focuses on what he calls “the most precious resource in Texas.”
While cinemas were saturated with superheroes and slasher villains, all Ben Masters had to offer were ocelots and bats.
As his 2022 wildlife documentary Deep in the Heart played side-by-side with box-office blockbusters, however, what began as a planned one-week engagement at the Angelika Film Center wound up playing for more than a month. Masters has a simple explanation.
“It turns out that Texans love Texas,” said the Austin-based filmmaker. “It exceeded our wildest imagination. There was so much demand, and people loved it. That kind of proved the model.”
In the end, the independently produced and released film at least tripled ticket-sale expectations. Within weeks, a sequel that wasn’t even under consideration became inevitable.
Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers again uses the state’s diverse habitats as a vast visual canvas, this time concentrating more specifically on the relationship between waterways, humans, plants, and animals. It opens in theaters around the state on September 25.
Nico Baumgärtel – a wildlife filmmaker and camera operator based in Berlin, Germany, with a passion for capturing authentic animal behaviour in remote and challenging environments.
He says ¨My work focuses on wildlife cinematography using long lenses, camera traps, thermal imaging, and drone operations. I enjoy spending extended periods in the field, whether working from hides, remote camps, or isolated wilderness locations, always aiming to document natural behaviour with patience and respect for the subject.
My background includes military training, advanced first aid, survival, and wildlife tracking, providing me with the skills and mindset required for demanding productions in remote areas. I am particularly comfortable in situations that require endurance, self-reliance, careful planning, and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
I have experience working with RED, ARRI, Sony, and DJI systems, as well as remote camera setups designed to capture natural behaviour with minimal disturbance. My approach to wildlife filmmaking has been strongly influenced by my mentor Oliver Goetzl, whose philosophy of patient observation and behavioural anticipation continues to shape my work today. I have also gained valuable experience through productions with GULO FILM.
Above all, I am passionate about telling authentic wildlife stories and collaborating with people who share a deep respect for nature, conservation, and high-quality natural history filmmaking.¨
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Meet Barbie Pig: new documentary reveals the wonders of life on the Pacific seabed
A magical new film captures the secret life of the deep sea in a stretch of the ocean at risk from industrial mining
A magical film that explores the wonders of the deep sea through the eyes of a team of scientists and an underwater robot called Isis will be shown in selected cinemas across the UK next month.
The documentary, How Deep Is Your Love, offers a playful, irreverent and bittersweet look at our anthropocentric view of Earth, as it switches perspective from humans to deep sea animals and back again. It follows a research team from the Natural History Museum (NHM) in London, who sail for 12 days to reach a remote region called the Clarion Clipperton Zone, a biodiversity-rich area of the Pacific between Hawaii and Mexico. It takes Isis five hours to make the 3-mile (5km) descent to the bottom of this harsh world, where sunlight cannot penetrate, and where nodules rich in minerals mark it out as a hotspot for industrial mining.
It is a race against time for the scientists to identify new species before deep sea mining threatens to wipe out fragile ecosystems for ever. Scientists estimate that only 0.001% of the deep sea floor – categorised by some as more than 500 metres below the sea’s surface, where sunlight fades to total darkness – has been observed by humans.
The film is an ode, says director Eleanor Mortimer, to the taxonomists and biologists who spend “hours and hours counting the legs of a minuscule animal you can’t even see with the naked eye” and to the strange creatures of the abyssal plain, of which we know so little. Even when painstakingly identified, and DNA collected, it can take up to 14 years to name a species, Mortimer says.
“It’s the challenge of the deep sea,” says Mortimer, who shares the scientists’ desire to demystify life in the deep. “Most people never go there, and yet it’s a huge part of our planet we need to connect with. That was the motive behind the film. I want people to fall in love with the deep sea, I want people to connect with it.”
Snow way – Wildlife cinematographer Tom Hartwell explains how he captured some of his favourite shots of all time – focused on the elusive snow leopard – for ITV series Force of Nature.
Deep in the frozen Himalayas, an ancient and magnificent beast patrols the peaks: the snow leopard.
Since filming mayflies and kestrels with my old Canon 600D as a kid, it had been my dream to film the ghost of the mountains. This time, though, I had a RED Gemini and CN20 on a rock-steady set of Sachtler Baby Cines.
I was flying into Ladakh to film these incredibly elusive animals for ITV’s brand-new wildlife series, Force of Nature, narrated by Andrew Lincoln.
I knew this shoot would be different from any other. It wasn’t going to be like capturing cheetahs surviving torrential rains in the Maasai Mara or leopards in the heat of Zambia’s dry season. This was going to be unique and require precision and extra finesse in an otherwise barren landscape.
I knew my greatest tool was going to be light. As always with cinematography, it makes or breaks a sequence, especially in an environment as stark as the Himalayas, where attaining any foreground whatsoever is a real challenge, as the snow leopards are always on the other side of the valley, or so I thought...
Watch Gaslit: How factory farming broke the chicken.
So, we´ve been told that British chicken is high welfare, Red Tractor-approved, and responsibly farmed.
Don’t buy it.
Over a billion chickens are slaughtered in the UK every year. Ninety percent of them are Frankenchickens: birds bred to grow so fast their bodies give out before they're six weeks old. Lameness. Heart failure. Broken bones. All before they're old enough to be called adults.
The industry knows. It just doesn't want you to.
The second instalment of our docu-series Gaslit,How factory farming broke the chicken brings together veterinarians, campaigners, industry insiders, and an undercover investigator, alongside naturalist Chris Packham, to show you exactly what's been hidden, and by whom.
And if you want to help Project Slingshot keep blowing the doors off, donate here: projectslingshot.com/donate
Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy review – Mo Gilligan ruffles feathers in battle against ultra-processed foods
The ultra-likable comedian decides to go on a chicken shop diet for 28 days, but like a gen-Z Super Size Me uncovers some dark truths behind this billion-dollar industry
‘I think you’re going to die,” says a teenager bluntly to comedian Mo Gilligan when he tells her about his plan to eat only from chicken shops for one month. Spoiler: he lives. But after 84 fried chicken meals, Gilligan is heavier, unhealthier and starting to feel depressed.
In this funny, slick and accessible Netflix documentary he takes on “Big Chicken”, the industrialised poultry farming industry. Flavouring doc-journalism with his brand of ultra-likable humour, he’s gen Z’s answer to Michael Moore or Morgan Spurlock (who pulled a similar trick 20 years ago, eating nothing but McDonald’s for one month in his 2004 documentary Super Size Me).
At the start of the film, there is no guilt in Gilligan’s pleasure walking into a chicken shop (“Bring on the wings!”). Growing up in a low-income household in London, a bucket of KFC was a family treat. He’s even done voiceover work for a Nando’s advert; “It’s just chickens, right?”. What works so well in the film is that Gilligan’s shock as he digs deeper into the industry doesn’t look manufactured for the camera. The UK rears one billion chickens a year and, in Lincolnshire, Gilligan meets animal welfare activists in balaclavas (“This is like Call of Duty. I’m scared!”). He learns about the environmental harm to rivers that chicken farming causes, and explores racist ideas around black people and fried chicken.
We’ve just released a powerful new animation to launch our campaign against catapult attacks on animals, and to ask you to add your name to our petition.
Across the country, animals including swans, ducks, gulls, pigeons and squirrels are being deliberately targeted with catapults firing stones, ball bearings and other projectiles. Those struck can suffer broken bones, blindness, internal injuries and death.
ITV to launch a new factual wildlife series "World’s Wildest Cities" next year
Coming to ITV, ITVX, STV and STV Player, this six-part series will reveal the extraordinary ways city animals not just survive but thrive in our major cities, produced by Plimsoll Productions, part of ITV Studios.
Brand new factual series "World's Wildest Cities" comes to ITV next year, taking viewers on a highly entertaining adventure across five of the world's most iconic cities to meet the remarkable wildlife that lives alongside us. Coming to ITV, ITVX, STV and STV Player, this groundbreaking six-part series will reveal the extraordinary ways city animals not just survive but thrive in our major cities, produced by BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning Plimsoll Productions, part of ITV Studios..
ITV Factual Controller, Jo Clinton Davis, said:"We're delighted to bring this unique and revolutionary wildlife series, free-to-air, on ITV next year. Working with the top class wildlife programme makers at Plimsoll Productions, the six-part series encapsulates the heart and soul of the wildlife that lives among us in our cities. World's Wildest Cities showcases the constant challenges urban animals face in these hostile environments and the ever-changing wild landscape, as more animals emigrate and make special adaptations to survive."
Mark Brownlow, Executive Producer, Plimsoll Productions, said:"We are really proud of World's Wildest Cities, our latest timely Natural History series, because right now our cities are fast becoming the new wild frontiers. Through this groundbreaking and entertaining series, we introduce the audience to a whole new cast of surprising animal characters that live right under our noses. And if we make our cities more welcoming to nature, it benefits us all."
The epic series features BAFTA- and Emmy Award-winning Mark Brownlow and Alex Rankin as Executive Producers, and award-winning Series Producer Doug Mackay-Hope. Each episode focuses on one city: Rio de Janeiro, New York, Melbourne, Singapore and London, concluding with a Behind the Scenes episode, which reveals how the series was made, and the science behind these one-of-a-kind stories. State-of-the-art cinematography captures the breathtaking dramas, unfolding love stories, and hustles for food as our wild neighbors adapt in fast-forward to life in the concrete jungle. And at a time when wild areas degrade, our cities are becoming a sanctuary for many creatures. This six-part series is produced in association with and distributed internationally by ITV Studios.
Today over half of the human population lives in cities, and we are now joined by a surprising cast of wild animals, from possums to penguins, giant monitor lizards to cheeky monkeys who, through ingenuity, bravery and cunning, are now calling our cities home. These savvy city slickers don't always play by our rules, but that's okay - they've learned how to conquer city life. New York City mice are adapting to break down inedible pizza cheese, London's urban foxes are developing shorter snouts that are better at ripping open bin bags, and are almost appearing dog-like. And in Rio de Janeiro, marmosets are altering their calls to be heard over the roar of the traffic. Animals aren't just adapting to their new, fast-paced homes - they're thriving.
New films highlight sustainable harvesting success stories
Nature's pharmacy often hides in plain sight. From ingredients used in traditional medicines, cosmetics and religious practices to fragrances, teas and health products found on store shelves around the world, medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are woven into everyday life.
These botanical resources support global healthcare, traditional knowledge and cultural heritage, while providing essential income for the rural communities that steward them. Through collaboration among harvesters, local authorities, national authorities, scientists, and other stakeholders, MAPs can be harvested and traded legally, sustainably, and traceably, ensuring their conservation and long-term survival in the wild.
On 20 July, the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) premiered two short films on sustainable trade in medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), filmed and produced by TRAFFIC in partnership with CITES, at an event held at the 28th meeting of the CITES Plants Committee (PC28) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Kevin Bacon Wants You To Swap Meat For Beans One Day Per Week
Award-winning actor Kevin Bacon is backing Humane World for Animals' new meat-free "Beansday"
Kevin Bacon has suggested swapping meat for beans on a Wednesday to improve your health, harm fewer animals, and protect the planet.
In a playful PSA for Humane World for Animals, the actor joked about changing his name to “Kevin Bean” in recognition of “Beansday.”
Humane World for Animals launched Beansday earlier this week as a Meat Free Monday-style way for people to reduce their consumption of animal products.
“You know me as Kevin Bacon, but on Wednesdays I’m Kevin Bean. Because Wednesday is Beansday, the day we swap meat for beans. They’re packed with protein and fibre, they keep you full longer, you save money and animals; they’re just beans until you realise how many animals they spare,” Bacon said in the PSA. “Observing Beans Day is a small step that makes a big difference. Take it from me, Kevin Bean.”
The world’s first octopus farm has been scrapped after animal protection groups, including Plant Based Treaty and Animal Save Movement, formed a coalition to take on multinational company Nueva Pescanova, who wanted to open the first commercial octopus farm at the Port of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, last year.
However, the Port Authority has confirmed that the plans have been dropped.
Demand for octopus meat is increasing globally, with the number of octopuses caught in the wild doubling between 1980 and 2014. To meet the demand, Pescanova tried to open the world’s first octopus factory farm, with plans to ‘produce 3,000 tons of octopus meat a year.'
Octopuses are solitary, highly intelligent animals that suffer significantly in crowded, barren industrial tanks. Farming carnivorous species requires feeding them massive amounts of wild-caught fish, worsening marine ecosystem depletion.
Behind greyhound racing lies a story most people never see — one of suffering, secrecy, and systemic neglect.
The Secret Lives of Greyhounds is an investigative documentary exploring the lives of greyhounds bred and raced, exposing a pipeline of exploitation at the heart of an industry now facing worldwide condemnation.
Featuring exclusive undercover footage and expert testimony, the film challenges the legitimacy of greyhound racing and asks whether its future can be justified at all.
‘The Sheep Detectives’: New Hugh Jackman Film Has An Animal Rights Message
The Sheep Detectives' has been compared to classic family films that center animals like 'Babe' and 'Watership Down'
Hugh Jackman’s new movie, The Sheep Detectives, has an animal rights message.
The family film had its UK cinema release in May. It has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from movie-goers and critics alike, made a significant impact at the box office, and has even prompted some viewers to stop eating meat.
The Sheep Detectives is about a vegetarian farmer (Jackman) who reads detective novels to his flock of sheep every night. When a sudden and mysterious incident interrupts life on the farm, the sheep take on the role of detectives to investigate neighbors, follow clues, and attempt to solve the mystery themselves.
While Jackman’s character is a wool farmer (learn more about the reality of the wool industry here), the film depicts his relationship with his sheep as positive and caring. In fiction, the farmer rescued one of his rams from a carnival where he was made to fight dogs, and one of his neighbors, a butcher, dislikes his meat-free lifestyle..
Most people care about animals. So why do so many of us still eat them?.
After being vegan for over 15 years and having thousands of conversations about veganism, I don’t think the answer is as simple as “people just don’t care.”
There are some very real reasons people hesitate to go vegan: concerns about health and protein, worries about building muscle, liking meat and dairy, convenience, where you live, family traditions, social pressure, and even the weight that comes with calling yourself “vegan.”
In this video, I break down some of the biggest barriers I see, where some of these beliefs come from, and why I think most of them are easier to work around than people realize.
This isn’t about being perfect. You don’t have to call yourself vegan to eat fewer animals, and you don’t have to change everything overnight.
If you’re not vegan, I’d genuinely love to know what the biggest thing holding you back is.
And if you are vegan, what finally made things click for you?
You’ve been deceived about dairy your entire life.
What Do You Really Know About Dairy? is now in production. Viva!’s groundbreaking documentary exposes the cruelty, health myths and industry spin behind one of Britain’s most heavily promoted foods.
The film the dairy industry doesn't want you to see.
Outlining the many benefits of a plant-based diet during climate and ecological breakdown
Earlier this year we attended a screening of the film People’s Emergency Briefing which took place at St Pancras Church, Euston. In the film, members of the public and some celebs are asked to comment (Gogglebox-style) on excerpts they are shown from an Emergency Climate Briefing – a live event which took place last November in Westminster. At that event, leading experts and scientists spoke about aspects of the climate and ecological crisis, addressing hundreds of invited politicians, business leaders, faith leaders, and sports and culture notables.
The film deals with a series of several different aspects of the polycrisis that we face, and one of these is food security.
Several hundred people packed the church at Euston, and following the screening, conservationist Chris Packham introduced a panel which included Dr Paul Behrens, who is a Global Professor at Oxford University researching the intersection of climate, energy and food systems. His contribution outlined the several ways in which moving our diets towards veganism would mitigate several related climate and ecological issues as well as creating a powerful influence on behaviour and policy.
It presents the national implications of climate and nature breakdown - along with credible, positive responses - in a single, accessible account designed for screening in communities across the UK.
In November 2025, the National Emergency Briefing brought together leading experts to present the latest evidence on the climate and nature crisis to politicians and other influential people in Westminster. That evidence is now on the public record.
‘Monsters of God’: New Documentary From ‘Tiger King’ Creator Tackles Illegal Reptile Trade
The documentary includes interviews with notorious traffickers and highlights the links between the illegal wildlife trade and zoos
Monsters of God, a new HBO documentary from Tiger King creator Eric Goode, tackles the illegal reptile trade.
According to HBO, Monsters of God sees Goode follow “his first love,” reptiles, into the “dark and gonzo world of exotic animal smuggling.”
Monsters of God is a five-part series streaming on HBO Max. It follows the evolution of reptile trade over decades, and includes interviews with animal enthusiasts, notorious wildlife traffickers, and some of the federal agents who pursued them.
The documentary series examines links between the international reptile trade and drug trafficking, and, notably, how reptile dealers are known to have supplied illegal animals to major zoos across the US. In the very first episode, Tom Crutchfield, a reptile salesman from Florida, says that he previously sold illegal animals to the Detroit Zoo. During his interview, Crutchfield also names the New York Zoological Society, Fort Worth Zoo, Gladys Porter Zoo, and Los Angeles Zoo.
Goode has been very clear that the “monsters” named in the show’s title are the humans, not exotic reptiles. Speaking to USA Today, Goode said, “We’re monsters, and we do it under the veil of saying we’re godly creatures when we’re really part of the animal kingdom.” He added, “We use the guise of religion as sort of a way of making us special when we’re animals and we’re homosapiens. We evolved out of apes and animals, but yet we like to put ourselves in another category.
“We’re the monsters that are destroying the planet as we see it.”
Bear Grylls Went From Vegan to 'Carnivore'… What Happened?
Bear Grylls went vegan.
Then he went completely the other way.
Bear Grylls went vegan due to his dad's poor health, but now he's advocating that people eat testicles...
The survivalist and TV personality followed a vegan diet for around five years, partly because of his father’s death from cardiovascular disease and because he believed veganism could benefit the environment.
But Grylls now advocates for an animal-based, carnivore-style diet — and says veganism left him “skinny, sick, and weak.”
NatureScot Rejects Guga Hunt Licence in a Historic Ruling Following Campaign
For the first time ever, Scotland's conservation body NatureScot has rejected the annual licence application for the traditional Guga hunt on Sula Sgeir. The decision spared 2,000 young gannet chicks (gugas) from being taken from their nests and clubbed to death.
The regulatory refusal follows an extensive public and legal campaign spearheaded by the conservation organisation Protect the Wild. The group's pressure campaign included submitting numerous Freedom of Information (FOI) requests that exposed critical flaws in NatureScot's historical justifications for the hunt, leading the agency to adopt a strict precautionary approach and mandate more rigorous scientific evaluation this year.
An official public petition against the hunt amassed over 250,000 signatures, making it the largest petition ever submitted to NatureScot . The campaign was further amplified by a viral animation narrated by Chris Packham which received over 15 million views across digital platforms.
Because the licence rejection only blocks the hunt for the 2026 season, Protect the Wild has transitioned to a legislative campaign. Scottish Campaigns Manager Devon recently staged a demonstration at the Scottish Parliament to formally request that the Scottish Government amend Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. The proposed amendment aims to permanently remove the legal exemption that allows the avian hunt to take place.
Pablo Behrens is a London-based film director and producer.
His latest film ¨London´s Last Wilderness¨ is about the ecology of a fantastic region close to London.
London’s Last Wilderness is the visual experience of an explorer landing on an undiscovered planet.
Every shot in the film was captured using truthful documentary techniques—no retakes, no setups. What you see happened once, and only once.
Like the first Europeans in the Amazon or astronauts orbiting the moon, there was no time for rehearsals or scripted reflections. The camera moved with the explorer—fast, focused, in the moment.
A mere 30 miles crow's flight from Piccadilly Circus lies a place London largely ignores: the Greater Thames Estuary. It's an ecological and cosmological force hiding in plain sight.
One of its secrets is scale. The estuary rivals London in size. To truly cover it, you need years — exploring north and south banks. From land, sea and sky.
Beyond the coast lies a maze of creeks and shifting islands, shaped by rivers and tides that change everything, twice a day. Half the terrain vanishes and reappears with the North Sea. No two days are the same. No tide repeats.
To be honest with this place, you have to film it all. Across four seasons, in all weather, under every tidal condition. Nothing could be skipped. Nothing faked.
The film has no presenters. This is not exactly a human story.
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