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Mangrove Photography Awards 2026 - Open for Entries!
An initiative of Mangrove Action Project — a non-profit restoring and
protecting the world’s mangrove forests — the annual Mangrove
Photography Awards sparks conversation and inspires conservation and
restoration efforts for one of the world’s most vital and most threatened
ecosystems.
Through authentic imagery and storytelling, we bring the beauty and
plight of mangroves and coastal communities to life, creating a human
connection that reshapes how we value these ecosystems and the global
efforts to protect them.
The Mangrove Photography Awards is judged by experts in the field, from
professional wildlife photographers to conservation photojournalists, who
are passionate about unique perspectives on visual storytelling. Photographs
and photo essays will be judged on originality, composition, overall impact,
artistic merit, and technical excellence.
We invite a panel of esteemed nature photographers and industry
professionals to judge and select from the competition's entries.
Past judges
include Cristina Mittermeier, Steve Winter, Beverly Joubert, Bertie
Gregory, Morgan Heim, Dhritiman Mukherjee, and Chien Lee.
Keep an eye
out for this year’s exciting judging panel.
The judges will select overall winners for each category as well as a shortlist
for the People’s Choice Awards, to be voted for on social media.
Key dates:
April 1st – Applications open
June 1st
– Applications close
July 24th
– Winners announcements ahead of
World Mangrove Day / Exhibitions
August
– People’s Choice Awards
FREE
Entry!
The competition is free to enter.
There’s $7,000 in cash prizes and excellent opportunities for showcasing
photographers and their work, as well as mangroves to global audiences.
Easy to enter and open to everyone of all abilities. Entrants can submit up to 12
photos by following the submission form on our website.
Choose between categories:
Wildlife
Underwater
Threats
People
Landscape
Portfolio
We can’t wait to see what people have photographed in the mangroves.
The Matsalu Nature Film Festival (MAFF) is now accepting film submissions for the festival taking place September 23–October 4, 2026
We’d love to see your documentary exploring the natural world or the human–nature connection!
Filmmakers from all over the world are invited to apply in two categories: “Nature” and “Man and Nature”.
Films completed between 2024 and 2026 are welcome.
The Matsalu Nature Film Festival is an annual wildlife film event held in Estonia. Named after the nearby Matsalu National Park, one of Europe’s largest bird sanctuaries, MAFF is organized by the Matsalu Nature Film Festival non-profit organization in cooperation with the Lääneranna municipal government.
The festival promotes nature-focused and sustainable ways of life, along with respect for the traditions of indigenous peoples connected to nature. It showcases a diverse range of new international documentaries on wildlife, biodiversity, conservation, the environment, urban nature, and more.
Traditionally, the program includes film screenings, workshops and activities for schoolchildren, roundtable discussions on various nature topics, and other cultural events. MAFF also features nature photography exhibitions, presentations, and gatherings of both professional and amateur photographers.
The festival takes place in the small town of Lihula in western Estonia, with select films screened across the country.
Call for Entry - European Wildlife Film Awards 2027
Dear filmmakers, producers, and nature film enthusiasts,
the European Wildlife Film Awards look forward to seeing your best nature films!
Starting April 15, we will be accepting submissions for films explore Europe’s fascinating
nature and wildlife. All films must have been produced within the last two years.
Prizes will be awarded in six categories with a total value of €47,500. All films selected
for the Official Selection are automatically nominated for the Audience Award.
There will be five awards for feature-length films and one for short films.
Whenever possible, please submit a German-language version of your film. If your film
is not in German, please provide a separate subtitle file in German or English.
Please feel free to spread the word and contact us if you have any questions.
We look forward to receiving many exciting entries and hope to welcome you to beautiful Hamburg for the awards ceremony in February 2027!
All the best, Your EWFA Team
The Best Field Recordings on Bandcamp ...
Bandcamp hosts an amazing array of field recordings from around the world, made by musicians and sound artists as well as professional field recordists.
In this column, we highlight the best sounds recorded outside the studio and released in the last month. This installment features an immense variety of location recordings from oceans, islands, ports, coal mines, wildfires, rainforests, cities, hospitals, and more.
Chris Watson can hear the difference between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
When his friend and colleague David Attenborough challenged him on this fact, he proved his point by making Attenborough a mix CD to compare recordings of them both. “I could certainly hear the difference between these two places,” Watson once told me, “and not necessarily just the Pacific or just the Atlantic.” There is perhaps no one more qualified, then, to record and remix the Earth’s oceans. Planet Ocean combines recordings that Watson made from Antarctica to Iceland and England to Borneo. Much more than waves lapping the shore, it features every permutation of aquatic habitat: kelp forests, coral reefs, icebergs, lava beaches. As seen from space, Watson reminds us, we live on an ocean planet, and Planet Ocean reveals the great variety of its soundscapes. Follow along with its tracklist and you, too, will be able to distinguish between the sounds of the Atlantic, the Pacific, and many more.
Sir David Attenborough's 100th Birthday celebrated across the BBC with special programming
A slate of new shows will feature alongside beloved landmark series in a week-long celebration of Sir David's work and legacy
The BBC has commissioned a slate of new shows to mark Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday, on Friday 8 May, and will be showcasing some of the finest programmes from his extraordinary seven-decade career in a week-long celebration of his work and legacy.
New programmes
Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure - featuring new interviews with David and the original production team (including Richard Brock) as they reflect on the making of the ground-breaking series Life on Earth for BBC One and iPlayer
Secret Garden - a new primetime series for BBC One and iPlayer, in which Attenborough reveals the hidden worlds and remarkable wildlife thriving within Britain’s gardens
David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth - a celebratory live event for BBC One and iPlayer from the Royal Albert Hall, featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra and special guests.
From the archive
Special episodes from some of Attenborough’s most beloved landmark series, airing on BBC One in the week leading up to his birthday
A dedicated BBC iPlayer collection showcasing more than 40 series presented by David, celebrating one of the most remarkable bodies of work in broadcasting history.
Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual, says: “It’s impossible to overstate what Sir David Attenborough has given us. His programmes have not only defined Science and Natural History broadcasting, but they have also changed how we see our planet and our place within it. This special week is a celebration of an extraordinary milestone, and of a body of work that continues to inspire awe, curiosity and care for the natural world. It’s also a moment for all of us at the BBC to say thank you to David — for his generosity, for his brilliance, and for a lifetime spent bringing the wonders of nature into our homes.”
Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure
In 1976, production began on David Attenborough's Life on Earth. No-one had ever attempted a natural history series on this scale before. This is the remarkable story behind one of the BBC’s most famous wildlife blockbusters. A three-year, hair-raising odyssey around the world, travelling to 40 countries, across a million miles, and filming over 600 species.
Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure goes behind-the-scenes on this ground-breaking landmark series, featuring exclusive interviews with David Attenborough and other members of the original crew. With fascinating insights, they reveal the highs and lows of filming the series during a truly exciting moment in television history, when global jet travel and colour filming were still in their infancy. Along the way, the crew encountered multiple challenges, including a coup in the Comoros, being shot at in Rwanda and threats from Saddam Hussein’s army in Iraq. Broadcast in 1979 and watched by 500 million people worldwide, it confirmed David’s reputation as the most successful and influential wildlife filmmaker of our time. His astonishing encounter with gorillas in the mountains of Rwanda for this series is frequently voted one of the top TV moments of all time.
Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure, a 1x60’, for BBC One and iPlayer, is made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit and co-produced by PBS. It was commissioned by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual and the Commissioning Editor was Sreya Biswas, former Head of Commissioning, Natural History. The Executive Producer is Mike Davis, Production Executive is Sue Aartse-Tuyn and Producer Director is Victoria Bobin. Diana El-Osta is the Executive in Charge for PBS. BBC Studios is handling global sales.
Secret Garden
In Wild Isles and Wild London, David showed us the remarkable wildlife dramas playing out in the British countryside and on the streets of our capital city. Now, in Secret Garden, he’s turning his attention to Britain’s backyards.
Over five episodes - set in five very different gardens across the UK - David reveals the lives of the often charming, occasionally daring, always secretive animals that inhabit the hidden world right on our doorsteps. Theirs is no cosy existence - even in these beautiful and seemingly genteel surroundings the rules of the wild still operate.
From pine martens in the Western Highlands to dormice in South Wales, swallows in the Lake District to otters in Oxfordshire and blue tits in Bristol, the series reveals not just a rich and surprising diversity of life but also how each species finds its own way to live alongside us.
Through meeting the gardeners that have created these wild oases, we discover how our nation of animal lovers and gardeners can do their bit to save struggling species. Eighty per cent of Britons have access to a garden, and together they cover an area greater than all of our national nature reserves combined - so what we do in our own backyards has an impact not only on the animals that live there, but also on whole populations.
You’ll never look at your garden in the same way again. Secret Garden, a 5x60’ series for BBC One and iPlayer, is made by Plimsoll Productions, part of ITV Studios, co-produced by The Open University and The National Trust in association with ARTE France. It was commissioned by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual. The Executive Producers are Grant Mansfield, Martha Holmes and Mark Brownlow and the Series Producer is Bill Markham. The Commissioning Editor is Tom Watt-Smith. Global distribution will be handled by ITV Studios.
David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth
In celebration of David’s 100th birthday on Friday 8 May, BBC One will bring the nation together for a live event honouring his ground-breaking career at the forefront of natural history storytelling.
Held on his birthday at London’s Royal Albert Hall, the event will take audiences on a journey through a century of exploration and discovery in the natural world, seen through the prism of David’s extraordinary life. It will feature dramatic wildlife stories, accompanied by live music from his programmes, alongside spoken reflections from public figures and leading advocates for the natural world.
Accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra, it will feature original compositions from some of David’s best-known landmark series. Alongside the music, guests will include some of those he has collaborated with from the world of conservation and wildlife filmmaking.
David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth, for BBC One and iPlayer, is jointly staged and produced by BBC Studios Music Productions, and its Natural History Unit. It was commissioned by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual. The Executive Producers are Alison Howe for Music and Mike Davis and Jonny Keeling for the NHU. The Commissioning Editor is Tom Watt-Smith.
BBC One will also pay tribute to David’s phenomenal body of work by screening episodes of some of the viewers’ favourite series, including Planet Earth II; Seven Worlds, One Planet; Blue Planet II; Planet Earth III; Frozen Planet II; and his most recent film Wild London.
BBC iPlayer will add a special rail to the homepage where viewers can choose to stream from over 40 of David’s best loved programmes, from Zoo Quest to his most recent series including Kingdom, Parenthood and Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster.
BBC Radio will also be marking David’s birthday with special content across its networks. More details will be announced in due course.
WEBINAR: Putting Nature in the Picture – From development to the final edit
In a time of rapid environmental change, storytelling can help us rethink our relationship with the natural world. Research from Climate Outreach shows audiences already care: 74% of Britons say climate change is important, and 81% say being in nature makes them very happy.
On 5 March, BAFTA albert’s free Deep Dive, “Putting Nature in the Picture – From Development to the Final Edit”, will explore how we can move from taking from nature to working in partnership with it – and build a healthier, more balanced relationship with the world around us.
This online session will feature guest speakers, including: Vicky Hoy, Senior Producer, Clarkson’s Farm, and Bill Righton, Executive Producer, Rob and Romesh vs. The Jungle.
Featuring Vicki Hoy (Senior Producer, Clarkson’s Farm), Laura McCutcheon (Producer, Dirty Business), and Bill Wrighton (Executive Producer, Rob and Romesh Vs), the session explored how authentic storytelling, human narratives and natural environments can bring humour, jeopardy and hope to screen stories.
Speakers shared insights from their work creating compelling content that connects audiences with the natural world - from the realities of modern farming to the unpredictability of filming in nature.
The discussion highlighted how even small moments and everyday connections with nature can inspire audiences and create powerful, engaging television.
BAFTA albert's Putting Nature in the Picture seeks to spark new ideas for the inclusion of our natural world on screen, across genres, to help restore audience's connectedness with nature.
The initiative includes Putting Nature in the Picture: A Creative’s Guide – A free resource, developed in collaboration with ImpactWild, built for every creative voice shaping the industry today. The guide features a 6-point review process to include the natural world authentically in creative development, without constraining vision or editorial freedom.
The European Wildlife Film Awards (EWFA), an annual celebration of outstanding documentary films that focus on nature, animal and conservation stories from the European continent!
Presented and powered by a non profit organisation, the German Wildlife Foundation the EWFA competition hopes to attract the most exciting, touching, informative and crafty films, capable of inspiring audiences to love and protect European wildlife. This competition honors the work of wildlife filmmakers and brings Europe's nature to the big screen.
Home of the EWFA is Germanys first nature film theatre at the Wildlife Embassy in Hamburgs HafenCity, located in Germanys highest sustainably designed wooden tower, the ¨roots“.
CALL FOR ENTRIES: 6th Children's, Science, Nature & Wildlife Film Festival (2027)
Submissions are now open for the 6th CSNWFF, taking place 07 March 2027 in Hyderabad, India. Filmmakers worldwide are invited to submit features, shorts, and documentaries focused on nature, science, and youth-oriented storytelling.
Children's, Science, Nature & Wildlife Film Festival is an India’s independent film festival promoted by Miniboxoffice India. The Children's, Science, Nature & Wildlife Film Festival aim is to showcase & promote professionally made entertaining, enlightening & encouraging feature films, short films, animation & documentaries among target audience. The festival accept all genres of children’s, Science, Nature, Climate & Wildlife films be it a fantasy, motivational, drama, disability, educational, science fiction, adventurous, parenting etc. shops and activities for schoolchildren, roundtable discussions on various nature topics, and other cultural events. MAFF also features nature photography exhibitions, presentations, and gatherings of both professional and amateur photographers.
Submissions are open for the 27th Planet in Focus Film Festival
Submit your film to the
27th Planet in Focus International Environmental Film Festival!
The 27th annual Planet in Focus International Environmental Film Festival will take place October 20-25, 2026 at the historic Paradise Theatre on Bloor, our festival hub in Toronto. The festival includes the Industry Conference, our Eco-Hero Awards, receptions, panels & filmmaker Q&As and our Closing Night Awards ceremony. With Gold Member pricing options, you can submit your film via FilmFreeway.com to Canada’s largest environmental film festival now until May 29, 2026.
The wait is over! After a rigorous review by our esteemed jury, we are thrilled to unveil the official finalists for the PWFF 2025-2026 submission season. Out of the numerous submissions we received from across the globe, these extraordinary stories rose to the top, showcasing the power, beauty, and urgent narratives of our natural world.
BEST IN MICRO-DOC FILM:
Home
The Leap Beneath
Nashipai’s Legacy
BEST SHORT FILM:
Chameleon Corridors
Guardians of the Earth
Peixinho (Little Fish)
Notre Paradis De Plastique | Our Plastic Paradise
Thank You Bees
BEST EMERGING FILMMAKER:
Peixinho (Little Fish)
Leopard Dynasty: The Rise of Rana
Nyoka Mpenzi (Snakes My Love)
Even So (Phir Bhi)
Tides of Life
BEST FEATURE-LENGTH FILM:
Leopard Dynasty: The Rise of Rana
Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness
Blue Burning
Wild Coast Warriors
Phantom of the Village Dogs
BEST AFRICAN FILM:
AFROTOPIA
Chameleon Corridors
A Fine Balance
BEST INNOVATIVE WILDLIFE STORYTELLING:
A Fine Balance
Chameleon Corridors
Congratulations to every filmmaker and team whose work made the cut!
Mark Your Calendar: The Countdown to Mombasa Begins!
The winners will be revealed live during the festival awards ceremony. Join us in celebrating these stories and the natural world and continent that inspires them. Festival Dates: May 27th - 31st, 2026
Location: Mombasa, Kenya
What better way to celebrate Africa Month (May) than by immersing yourself in the continent's premier wildlife film event? We’re putting the finishing touches on an unforgettable program of screenings, masterclasses, and networking events.
UN World Wildlife Day 2026 VIRTUAL Celebration - 3 March 2026
The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Geneva Environment Network (GEN), Jackson Wild, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (ifaw), TRAFFIC and the IUCN Species Survival Commission Medicinal Plant Specialist Group, invited us to attend the World Wildlife Day 2026 United Nations Virtual Celebration, which took place online on Tuesday, 3 March 2026.
The #WWD2026 virtual celebration will shine a spotlight the vital contributions of medicinal and aromatic plants to human health, cultural heritage, livelihoods and ecosystems, while celebrating those who steward them and reflecting on our shared responsibility to conserve these species and the benefits they provide for future generations. This event will feature stories and presentations about the sustainable use and conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants by Member States, scientific experts, high-level officials from international organisations, industry stakeholders, local community leaders and youth network members.
The 49th annual International Wildlife Film Festival is coming!
Founded in 1977, IWFF is the oldest ongoing festival devoted to wildlife films.
The festival returns in 2026 for its 49th year in Missoula, Montana.
The mission of the International Wildlife Film Festival is to promote awareness, knowledge, and understanding of wildlife, habitat, people, and nature through excellence in film.
The long-standing festival champions wildlife filmmakers and challenges conventional expectations about how we conserve wildlife and habitat.
The 49th edition of the festival is coming: April 18-23, 2026
The Disney-controlled brand is launching what it calls a "Creator Cohort," providing access and opportunities for creators that focus on nature, science, travel and other topics in Nat Geo's wheelhouse.
Nat Geo, the Disney-controlled nature, science and factual entertainment brand, is turning to creators as it seeks to carve out a digital presence that will span the platforms that increasingly dominate consumer attention.
The company is launching what it calls the “Creator Cohort,” an initiative that will see the company work with eight creators on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube who create content spanning nature, science, history, travel, wildlife photography and other areas. The creators will gain access to brand events and activations around Nat Geo’s signature Earth Month initiative; the next installment of James Cameron’s Secrets Of franchise, Secrets of the Bees; and Lion, among other programming, and will also be able to travel with National Geographic Expeditions and National Geographic Journeys.
Nat Geo, meanwhile, will gain exposure to its brand and programming through the creators, with consumers increasingly turning to these platforms for their shortform factual entertainment. The inaugural program will run for six months, after which the participating creators will be considered for ongoing opportunities with Nat Geo, including marketing and programming activations.
“The way audiences discover and connect with nonfiction storytelling continues to evolve,” said Tom McDonald, executive vp content for Nat Geo. “National Geographic has always believed in not only the power of storytelling but also backing the storytellers behind them. Supporting the next generation of voices in science, exploration and adventure keeps the genre ambitious and relevant, bringing a new generation of audiences into the Nat Geo ecosystem.”
The inaugural Nat Geo Creator Cohort will include nature and wildlife creators Maya Higa and Macaila Wagner; science creators Ethan Penner and Maynard Okereke; travel and adventure creators Jordan Kahana, Tanya Badillo and Paige Tingey; and history creator Dr. Tenninger Kellenbarger.
The program is being led by Aiman Ahmed, vp social media at National Geographic.
“For more than a century, National Geographic has been a leader in powerful, fact-based storytelling that transcends platforms and inspires curiosity around the world,” Ahmed said. “That legacy has helped build one of the most engaged and widely followed communities in social media today. Working alongside these eight exceptional creators is an exciting opportunity to extend the reach of Nat Geo storytelling, connect with new audiences, and invest in the next generation of influential nonfiction storytellers.”
Netflix to explore plastics consumption with “The Plastic Detox”
Netflix has slated a new feature documentary focused on the scientific and human consequences of our plastic-filled lives for a March 16 premiere.
The Plastic Detox focusses on six families looking to embark on a plastic detox, and features interviews with environmental and health experts as they investigate how plastics are reshaping human health across generations, ranging from fertility issues and hormone disruption to growing rates of cancer, early heart attacks and strokes.
The film also follows community organizers fighting against a proposed petrochemical plant and fashion designers working to strip toxic dyes and plastic-based fibers from supply chains.
The Plastic Detox is produced by OPS Productions, L&T Productions, Minderoo Pictures, Concordia Studio, City Hill Arts, Bay Bridge Productions and Diamond Docs. The directors are Louie Psihoyos (The Cove, You Are What You Eat: A TwinExperiment) and Josh Murphy (Artifishal), with Murphy also producing alongside Laura Wagner.
Netflix gets prehistoric with “Dinosaurs” series from EP Steven Spielberg
Netflix is set to roll out a high-profile natural history series from executive producer Steven Spielberg and the creators of Our Planet focusing on the rise and fall of the dinosaurs.
Simply titled The Dinosaurs, the four-episode series (pictured) hits the streamer on March 6 and comes from Amblin Documentaries and Silverback Films and features visual effects and animation from Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) as well as narration from Academy Award winner and Hollywood legend Morgan Freeman.
The series boasts a deep roster of prehistoric creatures and many lesser-known species drawn from the latest in fossil research, illustrating how dinosaurs evolved across millennia in response to a dangerous world. From armored icons such as the stegosaurus and ankylosaurus to apex predators like the allosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex and early feathered fliers like the anchiornis and longipteryx that point toward the dinosaurs still with us today — birds — the series looks at where the dinosaurs came from, why they mattered, how they evolved and how they met their ultimate fate.
Executive producers besides Spielberg include Keith Scholey, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey. The showrunners are Dan Tapster, Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill, and the series director is Nick Shoolingin-Jordan.
Wildscreen, the charity behind the Wildscreen Festival, has announced the launch of a new Environmental Storytellers Programme.
The programme is a one-year employability initiative designed to support UK-based young people aged 18–30 from underrepresented backgrounds into careers within the wildlife film, conservation, and environmental communications sectors.
Supported by the John Lewis Partnership Foundation Employability Fund, the programme will provide 10 young people with traineeships, paid at the Real Living Wage.
From April 2026, trainees will be hosted by a range of environmental organisations and film and TV production companies, gaining practical workplace experience spanning roles such as research, production, editing and digital content creation. Alongside hands-on placements, participants will benefit from tailored one-to-one mentorship, professional development and training opportunities along with a pass to the Wildscreen Festival 2026.
Lucie Muir, Wildscreen’s CEO, said: “Wildscreen is committed to widening access to nature’s stories and nurturing a more representative community of storytellers. Through these traineeships, we will open doors and create accessible pathways into natural world storytelling careers for young people across the UK.”
Nat Geo’s Tom McDonald Named Wildscreen Festival Chair 2026
Wildscreen has announced Tom McDonald as the Wildscreen Festival Advisory Board Chair for the 2026 edition.
Executive Vice President, National Geographic Content, McDonald will work with Wildscreen to guide the programme and editorial direction of the 2026 edition of the Wildscreen Festival, taking place from 19-22 October.
Tom McDonald said: “It is an honour to be Chair of the Wildscreen Festival 2026 – the role of Wildscreen and the storytelling community it supports has never been more valuable and more essential. For over 40 years, Wildscreen has been a nurturing ecosystem for talent, ideas and connections, and a place where so many of our community started their careers – that ecosystem is more essential than ever during a period of such upheaval in the world of global content and, of course, the planet itself. Wildscreen is constantly pushing for a more equitable global genre both on and off screen, securing a future for the genre where all voices, regardless of background, get to tell the most important stories of our world.
Lucie Muir, Wildscreen CEO, said: “We’re thrilled to have Tom joining as Chair for 2026. He’s a passionate advocate for the natural world storytelling industry, championing its universal appeal and exceptional craft. We have deep admiration for his pioneering spirit – he’s been behind some of the most ambitious, innovative and impactful natural history content of recent times. As a figurehead in the genre, who is deeply committed to diversifying the stories being told, the people telling them and the audiences being reached, he understands our charitable mission implicitly.”
For 44 years, Wildscreen has been the largest and most influential gathering of the global wildlife film, TV and content industry. The Festival Programme spans industry panels, masterclasses, workshops and 1-1 decision maker meetings alongside screenings and networking. The hybrid event attracts over 2,000 delegates from over 60 countries spanning broadcasters, streamers, production companies, filmmakers and conversation organisations.
Entries to the Festival’s world renowned film competitions – the Wildscreen Panda Awards and Official Selection – are currently open for entries, with the regular deadline closing on 16 April.
Tom McDonald is Executive Vice President, National Geographic Content, overseeing television, streaming, editorial, digital and social across all platforms, including Disney+ and Hulu. He leads global content teams in Washington D.C., New York, Los Angeles and London. Since joining in 2023, he has helped drive a bold content strategy that has received recognition from the Emmys, BAFTA, RTS, Critics’ Choice, Peabody and Wildscreen. Since 2025, he has been the chairperson of the Grierson Trust, the charity elevating documentary making and documentary makers.
Before Nat Geo, McDonald spent a decade at the BBC in senior commissioning and production roles latterly as MD of Factual Production for BBC Studios and has deep experience in the independent sector, having worked as a producer, series producer and executive producer for some of the world’s leading independent producers.
CALL FOR ENTRIES: Wildscreen Panda Awards
& Official Selection 2026
Enter your film into the Wildscreen Panda Awards and Official Selection
We announce that submissions for the 2026 Panda Awards and Official Selection are now open.
Panda Awards
The 2026 Panda Awards competition comprises of 18 categories and 3 special awards including the Golden Panda, Outstanding Achievement Award and Field Craft Recognition.
Brand new for 2026, we’re excited to introduce the brand-new Digital-First Panda Award category, recognising the importance of digital-first storytelling in diversifying the stories of nature being told, the storytellers and the audiences being reached.
You can submit your film for the Panda Awards exclusively via FilmFreeway
Official Selection
The Official Selection is separate from the Panda Awards, and showcases creative and bold stories that spark positive and restorative action for our natural world, acting as a global launchpad for new and diverse voices.
Our Official Selection is split into two categories: short films, where we accept any film under 20 minutes or under including credits, including immersive technologies (VR / AR), and Mid-length & Feature films, where we encourage any submitters who’s work clocks in over the 20 minute mark.
You can submit your film for Official Selection exclusively via FilmFreeway
Submission Deadlines (for both Panda Awards & Official Selection)
Josh Gad Narrates Disneynature’s ‘Orangutan’ On Disney+
Disneynature is going back to the wild. With Josh Gad narrating the all-new Orangutan documentary heading to Disney+ this Earth Day, honestly? We are so here for it. And to celebrate Earth Day, Josh Gad narrates this new orangutan story with so much heart.
Southeast Asia’s rainforest canopy is basically its own universe. Indeed, this Disneynature rainforest film proves that. Creatures everywhere, sweeping cinematography, and wildlife encounters that hit different in this orangutan nature film. In fact, there are moments in here that will genuinely stop you in your tracks. It’s the April 22 Disney+ release your Earth Day needs, the kind of Earth Day wildlife feature worth clearing your schedule for. Throughout it all, Josh Gad narrates the whole journey and makes every second count.
First-look images for the Orangutan Disney+ film just dropped and honestly, they hit. This animal coming-of-age documentary lands exclusively on Disney+ on April 22 for its Earth Day documentary debut. Already, Josh Gad provides narration throughout this Disneynature wildlife film, and even from these early glimpses you can already feel it. Moreover, this orangutan family story has heart written all over it. Ultimately, Josh Gad narrates with a balance of wit and warmth that feels just right for a story like this one.
Josh Gad Narrates a Story Worth Telling
Josh Gad lends his voice to the Orangutan documentary film, bringing his instantly warm and expressive storytelling to this Disneynature wildlife feature. The journey follows Indah, a curious young orangutan at one of life’s biggest crossroads in this Southeast Asia wildlife documentary: leaving everything she’s ever known and striking out on her own for the very first time. This Josh Gad voiceover gives the orangutan family story a grounded, deeply human feel, the kind of Josh Gad leads narration moment that pulls you in before you even realize it’s happened. And if that sounds like the kind of rainforest canopy film that sneaks up on you emotionally, well, welcome to Disneynature. This Orangutan Disney+ premiere is an Earth Day documentary release that has been a long time coming, and honestly? They’ve been doing exactly this to us for years.
The Man Behind the Camera Has Waited a Lifetime for This
Mark Linfield knows the rainforest better than most. Thirty-plus years of wildlife filmmaking will do that. But orangutans? He says they’ve always had his heart. Gentle, funny, sharp, and full of surprises — that’s how he describes them. He’s convinced Josh Gad‘s voiceover on this Orangutan nature documentary nails their spirit completely. For the director of this Southeast Asia wildlife documentary to say that, it carries real weight. And the way Josh Gad narrates shapes the emotional tone of every single scene.
Even more exciting? Linfield has teased that his camera crew documented an entirely new side of orangutan life for this Disneynature wildlife film, moments and behaviors that audiences of this rainforest documentary simply haven’t seen before on film. For anyone who’s followed the Disneynature Earth Day movie tradition since the beginning, that’s not a small claim. An essential feature of this project is that Josh Gad narrates every element of the orangutan experience for viewers.
This Orangutan conservation documentary is co-directed by the acclaimed Vanessa Berlowitz and produced by Linfield, Berlowitz, and Roy Conli. Original music comes courtesy of composer Nitin Sawhney, whose score promises to match the grandeur of this jungle documentary feature unfolding on screen. Viewers will be drawn in as Josh Gad narrates this impressive story, perfectly complementing the music and visuals.
The Orangutan Disney+ documentary premieres exclusively on Disney+ on April 22. Mark your calendars.
Watch GREEN by Patrick Rouxel, winner of the prestigious WWF Golden Panda Award at the Wildscreen Festival in 2010
Her name is Green, she is alone in a world that doesn’t belong to her. She is a female orang-utan, victim of deforestation and resource exploitation.
This film is an emotional journey with Green’s final days. It is a visual ride presenting the treasures of rainforest biodiversity and the devastating impacts of logging and land clearing for palm oil plantations.
A poetical film on the deforestation in Indonesia and the extinction of the orangutans. The film tells the story of a female orangutan named Green who has lost her home, her child and her will to live. The story is told from Green’s point of view, without a word. This is a self produced film which brakes free from the conventional documentary to find itself halfway between fiction and documentary.
Green is by far the greatest film ever made about orangutans, palm oil and deforestation. It was directed by Patrick Rouxel and was filmed in Borneo and Sumatra and on location at the BOS Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue Center. Learn more about the rescue center.
Please make a donation to support the hundreds of orangutans being cared for at the center.
‘Nuisance Bear’ Review: While Remarkable Footage of a Rare Bear Is Sure to Awe, the Sundance Winner’s Themes Prove a Bit More Muddled
Co-directors Gabriela Osio Vanden and Jack Weisman return to the subject of their 2021 doc short, focusing on a polar bear forced out of its natural habitat and the dangers that poses to all involved.
Polar bears are growing increasingly comfortable around people, and that’s a problem. One can see the tension that arises between these natural hunters and those who hunt them — either with telephoto lenses or high-powered rifles — in Churchill, Manitoba, self-proclaimed “polar bear capital of the world,” where tourists flock in order to catch a glimpse of the threatened (but still quite lethal) species on their migration route north to Arviat and the Arctic expanse beyond.
In their Sundance-winning feature doc “Nuisance Bear,” filmmakers Gabriela Osio Vanden and Jack Weisman spend nearly as much time observing the observers as they do the magnificent white creature described in their title — a mama polar bear who walks right up to human-populated buildings in its search for food — zooming out to contextualize the phenomenon of the avinnaarjuk (the Inuit word for such a predator). As Indigenous narrator Mike Tunalaaq Gibbons lays out in minimal words, the situation is infinitely more complex than it looks, touching on everything from colonialism to climate change, wildlife management to race relations.
Environmental Film Festival Returns to DC with Against the Current
DCEFF will amplify voices from the environmental frontlines March 19-28.
The DC Environmental Film Festival (DCEFF), the world’s premier showcase of environmental cinema, proudly announces its 2026 lineup of programs. With the theme Against the Current, this year’s Festival will be a ten-day (March 19-28) showcase of the bold storytellers, visionary leaders, and grassroots changemakers who are confronting urgent environmental crises and inspiring action in the face of powerful headwinds
Headlining this year’s DCEFF are exciting premieres of critically-acclaimed titles, such as: A Life Illuminated, profiling legendary oceanographer Dr. Edie Widder, which will open the Festival; the World Premiere of The [Conserv]atives, a new film exploring the deep political divide on the climate crisis and the brave individuals who dare to cross it — including DC’s own Rev. Dr. Jessica Moerman; and the DC Premiere of A24’s Nuisance Bear, which won this year’s Sundance Grand Jury Prize for Documentary and will be honored with DCEFF’s William W. Warner Award.
“Being in the nation’s capital where policy, power, and culture intersect, the theme Against the Current feels especially resonant,” said Monica Schorn, DCEFF Executive Director. “We’ve curated our programs to spark dialogue, inspire discovery, and foster meaningful connections across diverse communities. Together, these films invite us to imagine what’s possible when we choose to protect what we love and strive for a more just and sustainable future — even when the tide pushes back.”
The 2026 Festival lineup features over 50 programs (many free) at venues across the DC Metropolitan Area. In addition to Nuisance Bear, this year’s awards slate also includes: Sallie’s Ashes, a short following three “Alabama Grannies” as they take on the powerful corporation polluting their community; the globe-trotting documentary Observer; and the Leonardo DiCaprio-produced Amazon defenders thriller Yanuni, which will close the Festival.
The Festival schedule and tickets are available now at dceff.org.
About the DC Environmental Film Festival
Since 1993, the Environmental Film Festival has been the premier showcase of environmental films. Each March, we bring the world’s largest green film festival to museums, embassies, universities, and other cultural institutions across Washington DC. Our mission is to harness the power of film and community to illuminate, celebrate, and inspire positive and lasting action for our planet.
Yanuni & Nuisance Bear Among 2026 DCEFF Award Winners
Tuesday, February 17, tickets went on sale for the 34th Annual Environmental Film Festival. This year will feature over 50 programs, including four special awards screenings.
“This year’s award winners are potent examples of film’s power as a tool for telling moving and important environmental stories. Collectively, they illustrate the beauty of our planet, celebrate those working to protect it, and provide new ways of understanding complex issues and each other.”
— Monica Schorn, DCEFF Executive Director
Shared Earth Foundation Award for Advocacy
Yanuni, Directed by Richard Ladkani
Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, this eco-thriller follows the extraordinary journey of Juma Xipaia, an Indigenous chief from the Brazilian Amazon, as she rises from a remote village in Xipaya territory to the political frontlines of climate justice.
The Shared Earth Foundation Award for Advocacy recognizes the film that best inspires advocacy in response to a compelling environmental challenge.
William W. Warner Voice of Nature Award
Nuisance Bear, Directed by Gabriela Osio Vanden & Jack Weisman
Winner of Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize for Documentary, A24’s Nuisance Bear takes viewers to the “Polar Bear Capital of the World” in Churchill, Manitoba. It follows the bears as they’re forced to navigate a human world of tourists, wildlife officers, and hunters as their ancient migration collides with modern life. When a sacred predator is branded a nuisance, it becomes unclear who truly belongs in this shared landscape.
The William W. Warner Voice of Nature Award recognizes a film that reflects a spirit of reverence for the natural world. William Warner was the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Beautiful Swimmers, a study of crabs and watermen in the Chesapeake Bay.
Sharing the joy of nature through entertainment and pop-culture content that encourages people to think, feel, and act differently towards our world.
They say:
We’ll continue sharing inspiring, magical and curious stories from nature, straight to your inbox. Alongside exciting new campaigns across music, comedy, film & TV.
We're switching things up and sharing stories from all over nature (not just EDGE species, although they have a special place in our hearts) so we needed a new name to reflect that.
Studio BlueGreen is bringing an animated family feature film to screens in 2027 called On The Edge.
The film is directed by Octavio Rodriguez - whose credits include “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” and “Coco” - quite a swing!
And the cast? Absolutely stacked with stars to voice the characters you’ll see on screen.
On The Edge follows a motley crew of endangered animals, led by Donnie, a Cuban solenodon with a nose for adventure, on a worldwide quest in search of survival, freedom, and as many free snacks as they can eat.
Donnie and friends refuse to go extinct quietly, setting out on an epic quest to crash the world tour of Peng – the superstar panda and hero of Pandaland – to discover how fame and “huggability” kept him alive.
Along the way, Donnie haphazardly recruits, amongst others: Vy, a sassy, loyal, and fiercely independent Aye-Aye; Kiki, a flightless Kakapo parrot and powerhouse of kindness and optimism; and Roman, an overly dramatic Greater Funnel-eared Bat.
It’s funny. It’s heartfelt. And it’s bringing endangered species to centre stage like never before.
‘Nature belongs to everyone’: Toby Nowlan on his work with David Attenborough and being out in filmmaking
With his BAFTA long-listed Ocean with David Attenborough documentary, filmmaker Toby Nowlan - who leads the 'Media & Broadcast' category of Attitude 101, empowered by Bentley - has sparked change in European environmental policy, while behind the camera, he’s keen to encourage diverse voices to tell nature’s stories
In the vast, untamed world of wildlife documentaries — where jagged mountains meet hidden reefs and endangered species steal the spotlight — Toby Nowlan has carved out a career that’s as bold and boundary-pushing as the stories he tells. As the leader of the Media & Broadcast category of Attitude 101, empowered by Bentley, this 38-year-old filmmaker, director and expedition leader isn’t just capturing nature’s raw beauty; he’s part of a new era where queer voices help shape the narratives that move us.
Speaking to me fresh from an adventure spotting “gorgeous, gorgeous animals” in forests he “didn’t even know were in China”, Nowlan sounds exhilarated yet reflective — his mind, he admits, is “a bit spongy” from being on the road. “I’ve never been here before and it’s actually been amazing,” he shares. “It’s really beautiful. I’ve been in the mountains of Sichuan — just amazing forests and lots of green space.”
His fascination with the natural world began as a child. Nowlan recalls pond-dipping, picking up woodlice, and being hooked on birds by the age of 11 or 12. At university, he led funded expeditions for rare species.
In 2012, he was faced with a quandary: continue his studies by doing a PhD, or take a three-week-long, lowly paid research and field assistant job for the Discovery Channel series, North America. He remembers, “My parents said, ‘Take the PhD.’ I said, ‘No, the three-week job!’” That sparked 18 years of “amazing” adventures in wildlife filmmaking, including as part of BBC Bristol’s Natural History Unit. “I’ve met incredible people, been to the most amazing places, seen the most incredible things,” he enthuses. “What’s the coolest job? Being part of the teams that made Planet Earth,” he says.
Attitude 101 2026: Here are the 10 influential figures who made our ‘Media & Broadcast’ list"
Toby Nowlan, Mobeen Azhar, Natasha Devon MBE and Stephanie Hirst are among the inspiring people making up our 'Media & Broadcast' category of Attitude 101
This year’s rising stars of Attitude 101, empowered by Bentley are showcasing the next generation of LGBTQ+ talent making waves.
Below are the 10 young LGBTQ+ changemakers who are already reshaping their industries, who we’ve honoured on this year’s ‘Media & Broadcast’ list.
Category leader: Toby Nowlan
From the depths of the Pacific to the BBC’s Natural History Unit, Toby Nowlan’s lens captures the world in its most raw form. A director on landmark natural-history productions, including the Attenborough-narrated Ocean, Nowlan’s work defines how we view our planet. As a prominent queer professional in wildlife filmmaking, he brings a unique perspective to conservation storytelling, proving that the search for scientific truth is enriched by diverse voices.
Mobeen Azhar
BAFTA-winning journalist Azhar doesn’t shy away from difficult stories. From investigating the frontline of the drug war to exploring the complexities of faith and sexuality, his documentaries for the BBC are prime examples of immersive reporting. As a gay man of British-Pakistani heritage, Azhar brings a nuanced, deeply human perspective to global investigative journalism. By uncovering truths that others often overlook, he ensures that marginalised voices are heard on the world’s most prestigious broadcasting platforms.
Channel 4 doc “Cecil” examines 2015 hunting death of Africa’s largest lion
Channel 4 has set a February 19 premiere date for a feature documentary about how the killing of Africa’s biggest lion exposed tensions between hunters, safari operators, and conservationists.
Cecil, presented by Film4 and Channel 4 Docs and BAFTA-winning director Arthur Cary (Surviving 9/11, The Last Survivors) with BAFTA-winning producer John Smithson (127 Hours, Touching the Void), the doc investigates the death of Africa’s biggest lion, who was killed with a bow and arrow by American dentist Walter Palmer in 2015, and examines the moral questions and conflicting stories exposed in the aftermath.
Known as Cecil, the lion was once the biggest tourist attraction in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park and part of an Oxford University research program. The story of his death went viral, making the lion a symbol of endangered species everywhere and eventually leading to his image being projected onto the side of the Empire State Building as Palmer felt the force of “cancel culture.”
A decade after Cecil’s death, the film looks at the legal and moral complexities of trophy hunting and explores the tensions at Hwange National Park and the surrounding areas, giving voice to a range of perspectives including trophy hunters, safari operators, local communities, conservationists and people directly entangled in the hunt and ensuing criminal proceedings. It also interrogates the history of colonization and Western assumptions about Africa’s national parks.
Cecil was developed in association with Film4 and Channel 4 Docs and produced by Arrow Pictures (a Fremantle company). The film was financed by Film4 and Vice News and was commissioned for Channel 4 by Sacha Mirzoeff. Serial Maven Studios is overseeing all licensing and distribution.
Born Free responds to the two-hour documentary film broadcast on Channel 4 in February 2026
On 19th February, Channel 4 aired the Film 4 production “Cecil: The Lion and the Dentist”, which told the story of the brutal slaughter of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe in 2015, by Minnesota Dentist Walter Palmer. Cecil’s death sparked international public and media outrage at the time and has since been a central theme of campaigns by Born Free and others to end trophy hunting.
Who was Cecil and how did he die?
Cecil was 12 years old. In spite of his relatively advanced age for a wild male lion, he was still head of two prides and was widely revered because of his size and his distinctive dark mane.
While Zimbabwe allows trophy hunting of wildlife on private land, Cecil lived within Hwange National Park in which he was protected, and at the time of his death there was no quota for lion hunting in the area because hunters had previously been killing younger male lions and the population needed to recover.
However, a local professional hunter made arrangements for Cecil to be lured from the park to an elephant carcass, in order forWalter Palmer, a prolific trophy hunter whose preferred weapon of choice was a bow, to target him. In the event, Cecil was injured by Palmer’s first shot, and only finally killed several hours later.
The incident was discovered by researchers who had been following Cecil’s movements through a tracking collar. Palmer left the country soon after Cecil had been killed, leaving the professional hunter and trackers to deal with his carcass and attempt to hide his death by moving the tracking collar, which was later retrieved.
News of Cecil’s death spread rapidly, and resulted in international outrage and condemnation, leading to the arrest of the professional hunter and calls for Palmer to be extradited. Neither were convicted of the crime.
What does the documentary focus on?
The film centres around two characters: Brent Stapelkamp, who was part of the Oxford University team researching lions in Hwange at the time of Cecil’s killing and who was clearly deeply affected by it; and Theo Bronkhorst, the professional hunter who organised and coordinated the hunt for Walter Palmer, and continues to insist he did nothing wrong. Palmer himself by all accounts declined to be interviewed.
The film features footage of Cecil prior to the incident, who was a major draw for tourists from around the world who came to see and photograph the magnificent lion; alongside interviews with local community members and safari business owners, all of whom were clearly upset by his killing. It also features media coverage at the time, video footage of protests outside Palmer’s dental practice, and interviews with a US-based hunter who defends Palmer.
However, while the film touches on wider questions around the ethics, financial flows, corruption, animal welfare issues and ecological impacts associated with trophy hunting, it failed to explore these questions in greater depth, and no experts from conservation or animal welfare NGOs featured in the film. This seems like a missed opportunity.
In July 2025, Born Free co-organised an event at Westminster to mark the 10th anniversary of Cecil’s death and highlight the lack of real progress towards ending trophy hunting that has been made since.
The fact that Cecil features in a film almost 11 years after his untimely death is testament to the impact his killing had at the time. Nevertheless, trophy hunting continues virtually unabated. Since 2015, hundreds of lions and thousands of animals belonging to other species have been killed in Africa by trophy hunters. Even as the film aired, South Africa is once again proposing to reopen its doors to trophy hunters who want to target elephants, black rhinos and leopards, all of which, like lions, are threatened with extinction.
Cecil’s death will continue to be a poignant moment in the fight to bring the heinous, colonial, corrupt and morally bankrupt practice of trophy hunting to a permanent end.
Find out more about Born Free’s campaign to end trophy hunting, and how you can support our call to ban the import of hunting trophies into the UK: bornfree.org.uk/get-the-ban-done
Aishwarya Sridhar: She Leads the Hunt, She Leads the Story
Like the lionesses she films, Aishwarya Sridhar leads with instinct, intelligence, and unapologetic ambition.
In a world obsessed with filters, fast reels, and instant gratification, Aishwarya Sridhar is doing something quietly radical. She is choosing patience. While everyone else is chasing virality, she is waiting. Watching. Listening. Trusting time. She doesn’t just film nature. She shows us the emotions behind it, and somehow makes us relate to animals in the wild. To their struggles. Their instincts. Their invisible labour of survival. She lives a life where stories are not rushed, moments are not manufactured, and meaning is allowed to unfold slowly, at its own pace. And through this beautiful act of waiting, she brings us the unseen stories of the wild, making them feel intimate, personal, deeply human, and unforgettable.
Her latest documentary, India’s Lion Queen, is not just a wildlife film. It is a cinematic love letter to resilience, coexistence, and quiet female power, set against the breathtaking landscape of Gir Forest National Park, the last natural home of the Asiatic lion.’
And at its heart? A lioness named Noor.
And behind the camera? A woman watching another woman, with tenderness, respect, and deep emotional investment. Not just observing, but understanding. Relating. Feeling. This is sisterhood across species.
It feels special. Because here, a woman is telling a woman’s story.
No mansplaining.
Just empathy, observation, and emotional intelligence - which the Y chromosome tends to lack.
It is intuitive. It is layered. It is deeply felt.
The Disney-controlled brand is launching what it calls a "Creator Cohort," providing access and opportunities for creators that focus on nature, science, travel and other topics in Nat Geo's wheelhouse.
Nat Geo, the Disney-controlled nature, science and factual entertainment brand, is turning to creators as it seeks to carve out a digital presence that will span the platforms that increasingly dominate consumer attention.
The company is launching what it calls the “Creator Cohort,” an initiative that will see the company work with eight creators on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube who create content spanning nature, science, history, travel, wildlife photography and other areas. The creators will gain access to brand events and activations around Nat Geo’s signature Earth Month initiative; the next installment of James Cameron’s Secrets Of franchise, Secrets of the Bees; and Lion, among other programming, and will also be able to travel with National Geographic Expeditions and National Geographic Journeys.
Nat Geo, meanwhile, will gain exposure to its brand and programming through the creators, with consumers increasingly turning to these platforms for their shortform factual entertainment. The inaugural program will run for six months, after which the participating creators will be considered for ongoing opportunities with Nat Geo, including marketing and programming activations.
“The way audiences discover and connect with nonfiction storytelling continues to evolve,” said Tom McDonald, executive vp content for Nat Geo. “National Geographic has always believed in not only the power of storytelling but also backing the storytellers behind them. Supporting the next generation of voices in science, exploration and adventure keeps the genre ambitious and relevant, bringing a new generation of audiences into the Nat Geo ecosystem.”
The inaugural Nat Geo Creator Cohort will include nature and wildlife creators Maya Higa and Macaila Wagner; science creators Ethan Penner and Maynard Okereke; travel and adventure creators Jordan Kahana, Tanya Badillo and Paige Tingey; and history creator Dr. Tenninger Kellenbarger.
The program is being led by Aiman Ahmed, vp social media at National Geographic.
“For more than a century, National Geographic has been a leader in powerful, fact-based storytelling that transcends platforms and inspires curiosity around the world,” Ahmed said. “That legacy has helped build one of the most engaged and widely followed communities in social media today. Working alongside these eight exceptional creators is an exciting opportunity to extend the reach of Nat Geo storytelling, connect with new audiences, and invest in the next generation of influential nonfiction storytellers.”
Andrew Lincoln Voicing ITV’s ‘Force Of Nature’ & Promises: “The Show Captures What Other Wildlife Series Have Not”
Andrew Lincoln will voice Force of Nature and the star promised it will be a new take on the natural history genre. The series, for ITV in the UK and ARD in Germany, captures the trials and tribulations of the animal world as it faces unprecedented challenges from weather and climate change.
“Force of Nature is unlike any series I have ever worked on before,” Lincoln said. “The team have done an excellent job at capturing the breathtaking wildlife in all its glory. To see these animals up close and personal is a privilege, and a real insight into the battles nature endures every day. The show captures what other wildlife series have not, as we reveal the real impact the weather has on the world’s creatures.”
Plimsoll Productions has made the series, with ITV Studios distributing and kicking off sales here at the London TV Screenings this week. Through dramatic, character-led storytelling, the show will capture nature’s resilience in the face of hurricanes, floods, droughts, and wildfires — showcasing both the ferocity of Earth’s forces and the ingenuity of animal survival, the team behind the series said.
“I was the series producer of Blue Planet 2 and exec produced Frozen Planet 2…but this series is bigger and tells the most important story of our time,” said Mark Brownlow, Head of Natural History at Plimsoll. “Extreme weather affects each and every one of us. For the first time we tell the uplifting story of a heroic cast of animals fighting back against these biblical weather events.”
Cineflix Rights, Cream partner on new series “Deep Water Secrets”
Cineflix Rights is teaming up with Toronto-based Cream Productions to co-finance and produce the investigative series Deep Water Secrets.
With a presale already signed with Hearst Networks UK and EMEA, the 8 x 60-minute series (pictured) uses cutting-edge technology and never-before-seen footage to examine the cases of rare creatures of unexplained origin in our planet’s waters — from the Tasmanian Globster, Montauk Monster, giant squid and the frilled shark as well as alleged sightings of the extinct Megalodon.
The series also investigates some of the ocean’s historical enigmas, including Lake Michigan Stonehenge, a structure that predates even Stonehenge itself; myths surrounding the Lost City of Atlantis; alien craft at the bottom of the ocean; and the Bermuda Triangle.
One Tribe launch YouTube show with Changing Rooms star
Nations and Regions factual producer One Tribe TV has launched Life at Anna’s Zoo, a new digital-first wildlife series revealing the day-to-day running of a modern zoo, produced in partnership with Manor Wildlife Park and Lovetovisit.
At the heart of the series is the presenter Anna Ryder Richardson (Changing Rooms, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!), who is the owner of Manor Wildlife Park.
Anna Ryder-Richardson, said: “People often see the animals, but they don’t always see everything that goes on behind the scenes. This channel is our way of opening the doors at Manor Wildlife Park and showing what a modern zoo is really like – the hard work, the care, the funny moments and the occasional bit of chaos, because that’s zoo life. It’s honest, it’s welcoming, and it’s all about helping people feel closer to the animals we look after every single day.”
Premiering on YouTube, Life at Anna’s Zoo takes viewers behind the scenes at the Pembrokeshire zoo, offering access to the operational, veterinary and behavioural work involved in caring for its animals. Alongside Anna, the series follows a cast of regular contributors, including Head Keeper Kim and Vet Kevin, whose expertise and personalities bring the inner workings of the zoo to life.
The channel will release more than 20 minutes of long-form content every week, supported by a rolling programme of shorts and social media clips designed to maximise reach and engagement across platforms. Despite its digital-first strategy, Life at Anna’s Zoo has been produced with “broadcast-level production values, balancing obs-doc style storytelling with the immediacy and accessibility required for social and online audiences.”
The series is executive produced by Peter Mills-Frost, with Adam Hearne serving as Shooting Producer, Director and Editor. Both recently joined One Tribe from the Oscar-winning wildlife production company Off The Fence and are wildlife experts, having studied Zoology at the University of Bristol.
"A flying block of ice the size of a truck nearly knocked our helicopter out of the air” – A stark reminder of the colossal power of nature – Jamie McPherson
A sober reminder never to underestimate the power of nature.
The Store Glacier in Western Greenland is one of the fastest moving glaciers in the world. When I say fast, I mean fast for a glacier. Store can move up to 20m per day.
Back in 2016, I visited Store as part of a documentary crew hoping film a dramatic calving event - when enormous chunks of ice break away from a glacier, creating icebergs.
I was working with Director Adam Chapman as the aerial film crew, and we were on our way to meet the rest of the team, who had already set up camp by the glacier. But when we landed in Kangerlussuaq, our helicopter was nowhere to be seen. In fact, it wasn’t even in Greenland; it was stuck in bad weather on Baffin Island, hundreds of kilometres away.
It was July, the height of summer, when the glacier is at its fastest, and therefore most likely to calve. Calving events occur, on average, every 3-4 weeks. Every day we spent at the airport risked us missing the only event that would happen during our shoot.
Who is Mya-Rose Craig aka Birdgirl? All you need to know about the ornithologist and activist.
Who is Mya-Rose Craig, aka ‘Birdgirl’, and what is she known for?
Mya-Rose Craig (aka Birdgirl) is a British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, activist and author. She set up a blog about birds aged 11 and became the youngest person to see half of the world’s bird species when she was 17.
She founded Black2Nature, an organisation which aims to get more visible minority ethnic young people, families and communities to engage with nature and learn about environmental issues. Mya-Rose also regularly features on the Get Birding podcast.
“Astonishing behaviour.” Filmmakers left a robot orangutan in the Borneo rainforest. The footage helped solve a mystery that puzzled scientists
Wild orangutans in the Borneo rainforest have been observed washing themselves with soap – but researchers weren't sure why
The intelligence of chimpanzees has been frequently studied, such as their ability to use tools, medicines and even ‘toilet paper’. However, while orangutans have been subject to less scrutiny, they perform just as well as chimps in cognitive ability tests.
So to learn more about these incredible animals, a team of researchers and filmmakers teamed up for the BBC TV series Spy in the Wild to film a group of them using spy cameras in the Borneo rainforest.
In the footage, an orangutan mother crosses a river to reach an old research post to obtain a bar of soap left behind by humans. Then, she shares it with a friend.
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Gordon Buchanan: "Coming from such a small community, I'm almost embarrassed by my achievements"
Gordon Buchanan’s difficult home life forced him outdoors – and he’s never looked back.
Wildlife film-maker Gordon Buchanan, who grew up on the Isle of Mull, is part of the BBC team following lion, leopard and cheetah across Botswana, day and night, as the title promises. The Scottish cameraman is at the top of his game, having shot more than 32 natural-history programmes, a number of which he’s also presented. In 2020 he was appointed MBE for his services to conservation. Is he as satisfied as those lions? “Coming from such a small community, I’m almost embarrassed by my achievements. I never set out to prove anything, bar to myself,” he says.
Buchanan didn’t have an easy, or privileged start in life. Born just outside Glasgow, the third of four children, the family moved to Mull when Buchanan was a small child, after his mother separated from his father. They lived in a caravan and money was tight; his mother held down three weekly jobs.
“She had no support. There were hugs and we were loved, but the rest… you had to make up for yourself. We had a sort of feral existence.” School was no help. “I think today I would be defined as dyslexic,” he says. “I struggled through school, not grasping things. I could skive my way through it and I wasn’t expected to pass anything, bar woodwork and art.”
Buchanan acknowledges that being a natural-history presenter from a working-class background is unusual. “Historically, the only people who were naturalists were the clergy or monied classes,” he says. “There is an assumption that I’m middle-class because in the media, and in wildlife film-making in particular, there are a lot of middle-class people. About 90 per cent of people have been to private school, so I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder. There’s this assumption that I’m probably privately educated. Someone once asked me if it was true that my family owned half of Mull. Ha! The only bit of land we had was under my mum’s council flat.”
A pride of lions – two lionesses and six or seven, almost-grown up, cubs – are gorging on a zebra carcass in the Okavango Delta. They have been without food for several days. Astonishing close-ups show the longed-for meat disappearing into the jaws of each lion. Drone shots capture the moment when the pride has had its fill. Tummies full, the big cats roll over, sated. If you want to see lions in a state of bliss, Big Cats 24/7 is for you.
Big Cats 24/7 team talk series 2 - "Following a pride of hunting lions at night has to be one of the wildest rollercoaster rides imaginable"
An elite team of wildlife filmmakers returns to the breathtaking Okavango Delta in Botswana to follow the dramatic lives of the big cats that live there.
Following the success of series one, an elite team of wildlife filmmakers returns to the breathtaking Okavango Delta in Botswana to follow the dramatic lives of the big cats that live there. This ambitious, unfiltered and adrenalised wildlife series is made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit for BBC Two and iPlayer.
Fed by seasonal flood waters once a year, the Okavango Delta is an oasis of life in the middle of the Kalahari Desert. It’s one of Africa’s last wildernesses and a stronghold for Africa’s lions, cheetahs and leopards. Stunning behaviour-led cinematography combines with visceral, observational documentary, to tell the story of individual big cats, and their families, living in the Delta.
Series two sees the return of a familiar cast of human and big cat characters, following the Xudum lion pride - now the largest in the world - as it grapples with the challenges of this newfound status.
The pride females find themselves deserted by their dominant males and forced to battle intruders alone. Resident cheetah Pobe is now a mother, teaching her cubs to make their own way in the world while fighting to protect them from aggressive leopards.
Familiar characters are joined by a new cast of big cats including new leopard mum Lediba, who struggles to keep her vulnerable young cubs alive; and new lioness mum Serami, as she attempts to raise cubs fathered by an unknown male.
The expert team of presenters/cinematographers – Gordon Buchanan, Anna Dimitriadis, Brad Bestelink, Sets Nthomiwa, Rea Shulte to Brinke, Greg Hartman and Tristen Woodward – live and work together at the Natural History Film Unit, Botswana’s remote film camp in the heart of big cat territory.
Together, they follow the twists and turns in the lives of big cats introduced in series one. Across six vital months from June to November the big cats and humans, battle punishing seasonal change, from flood to extreme drought. Over brutal terrain, in searing temperatures and through day and night, the team keeps its cameras rolling 24/7 to capture unparalleled, unseen animal behaviour, testing all to their limits and revealing how the cats adapt to survive in an increasingly challenging world.
It varied depending on the physiology of the animal and how it moved. Some were controlled with rods and some were the puppeteers in costume. We had big Smilodon [saber-toothed] cats made in sections that could be moved with great detail and accuracy. Others were model heads made to scale, which were positioned within the scene.
Nat Geo slates Werner Herzog’s “Ghost Elephants” for March premiere
National Geographic has slated Werner Herzog’s Ghost Elephants doc for a March 7 premiere on the cable network, followed by a streaming debut on Disney+ and Hulu on March 8.
National Geographic Documentary Films acquired global streaming rights to the doc last August, following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
The film, directed, written and narrated by Herzog, follows conservation biologist and National Geographic’s Okavange Wilderness Project leader Steve Boyes (pictured) as he tries to prove the existence of the elusive “ghost elephants” of Lisima in Angola. In order to find them, Boyes and fellow National Geographic Explorer Kerllen Costa teamed up with three KhoiSan master trackers.
New York-headquartered distributor Abramorama will also host a one-night-only theatrical simulcast screening event on February 26, followed by a live Q&A with Herzog and Boyes in Manhattan which will be transmitted to theatres nationwide in coordination with Abramorama’s live event partner, Take 2 Productions. The next day (February 27), the doc will open in select North American theatres. It will also release in select international territories including Benelux, France, Mexico and Lithuania.
Ghost Elephants is directed, narrated and written by Herzog. It is produced by Herzog for his banner Skellig Rock and Ariel León Isacovitch for The Roots Production Service. L.A.-based Sobey Road Entertainment is the producing partner with Brian Nugent, Andrew Trapani, Emerson G. Farrel, David Sze, David B. Kirk, Terrence Battle, Richard Sneider, Christopher White and Casey Graf serving as executive producers. For National Geographic Documentary Films, EVP Carolyn Bernstein and VP Tim Horsburgh are executive producers.
Blue Ant Media natural history greenlights include trio of Love Nature commissions
Blue Ant Media has unveiled four natural history series commissioned by its Love Nature natural history brand and available for licensing in non-commissioning territories via Blue Ant Rights.
The original programs, including Europe’s Wild Kingdoms, Superbeast, Wild Germany and the second season of Aussie Snake Wranglers: Deadly Pursuit are produced by a range of prodcos and will be available for licensing outside of commissioning territories as part of the offerings Blue Ant Rights will be bringing to the London Screenings event later this month.
Europe’s Wild Kingdoms (2 x 60 min., pictured) is produced by France’s Le Cinquième Rêve with ARTE G.E.I.E. as coproduction partner, and delves into Europe’s most beautiful heritage sites to reveal how they are linked to the wildlife living there. Ambitious drone shots and use of long lenses along with infrared, remote and time-lapse filming show unique animal behaviors unfolding across the seasons.
Superbeast (6 x 60 min.), meanwhile, hails from WildBear Entertainment, with each episode featuring a list of the top wildlife abilities in a specific category, honing in on extraordinary skills.
Wild Germany (2 x 60 min.), produced by Doclights, focuses on the wilderness of northern Germany, while the second season of Aussie Snake Wranglers: Deadly Pursuit (6 x 30 min.) from Breakout Productions continues to follow a team of elite snake handlers as they go head-to-head with some of the deadliest snakes on the planet on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
The commissions are overseen by Alison Barrat, SVP, head of content, global channels and streaming, who leads Blue Ant Media’s original commissions across the company’s portfolio of factual channels.
The Earthshot Prize Summit and Awards 2026 will be held in Mumbai, India this November!
Home to more Finalists than any other country, India is a place where climate solutions are not just imagined but proven at scale in everyday life.
It is exactly this spirit which brings us to Mumbai for our sixth Awards, where five new Winners will each receive £1 million to help amplify their impact.
“Mumbai is a city defined by pace, ingenuity and possibility.”
- HRH Prince William
BBC Studios Natural History Unit follows four rival animal families over five years in one of its most ambitious wildlife series ever made
Narrated by renowned naturalist and three-time Emmy® Award-winner Sir David Attenborough,Kingdom is an epic six-part natural history series that follows four rival animal families over five years, chronicling their stories of survival and dominance. Filmed in the heart of Zambia, with over 1,400 days in the field and a team of more than 170 people, including over 90 local Zambian crew members and wildlife experts, it is considered one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by BBC Studios Natural History Unit.Kingdom premieres Sunday, March 8 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on BBC Earth during the channel’s nationwide Free Preview, running from February 27 to April 30. The series will be available to stream on BBC Earth via Prime Video Channels starting March 9, with new episodes released weekly.
Leopards, hyenas, wild dogs and lions all lay claim to Nsefu, a lush corner of Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, situated along the banks of the mighty Luangwa river. Teeming with life, Nsefu is an ideal place to raise a family, but with so many predators competing for territory, it can quickly become crowded. Kingdom follows a lion pride, a wild dog pack, a hyena clan and a leopard family, as they battle to make Nsefu their home. It’s a story about endurance, control, ever-shifting power dynamics, and perhaps the greatest challenge of all: raising a family in a fiercely competitive world.
In Kingdom, audiences are introduced to a leopard named Olimba, who is attempting to raise her young cubs in the heart of Nsefu, when her world is thrown into chaos by the dramatic arrival of Storm, the wild dog queen, and her pack. However, Storm’s pack soon faces new challenges when a returning lion pride attacks the local hyena clan, led by matriarch Tenta. Even the lions must remain vigilant, particularly when protecting their own cubs. As well as the intense power struggles between these top predators, the series shows how a colourful supporting cast, from powerful elephant herds to flocks of hamerkops to troops of marauding baboons, impact the central characters in surprising ways.
Representing the longest period the BBC Studios Natural History Unit has ever spent embedded in a single location for one series, Kingdom goes beyond documenting the stories of some of Africa’s most charismatic wildlife and also shines a light on the vital work of leading conservationists striving to protect them from poaching.
Kingdom, a 6×50’ series for BBC One and iPlayer, is made by BBC Studios Natural History Unit, co-produced by BBC AMERICA. It was commissioned by Jack Bootle, Head of Specialist Factual, BBC Commissioning. The Executive Producer is Mike Gunton, the Series Editor is Simon Blakeney, and the Series Producer is Felicity Lanchester. BBC Studios is handling global sales.
“Blue Planet III” headlines BBC Studios Showcase roster
BBC Studios’ slate for its Showcase features a number of major series, with the big ticket item being Blue Planet III, once again featuring Sir David Attenborough.
The 6 x 60-minute series, first announced in 2022, focuses on five underwater habitats: tropical seas, high seas, polar seas, deep seas and seasonal seas. It is produced by BBC Studios Natural History Unit Production for BBC and BBC America, and coproduced with ZDF and France Télévisions. BBC Studios facilitated the coproduction deals with BBC America, ZDF and France Télévisions.
Ronan Keating’s Wild Atlantic (10 x 30 min.) follows the Irish singer-songwriter as he travels back to his hometown following the death of his brother Ciaran in 2023. Produced by Alleycats TV for BBC, the series introduces audiences to Keating’s family and friends as he meets up with fellow creatives like Westlife’s Shane Filan and artist Terry Bradley (a favorite of Bono and Madonna). He also tries the sport of hurling, travels on the traditional Irish coracle boats and learns the art of Irish leatherwork.
Ed and Ryu: Mad About Seafood (4 x 50 min.), produced by BBC Studios and Studio Janchi for BBC Earth Asia, follows chef Edward Lee as he returns to South Korea. He enlists South Korean actor and chef Soo-young Ryu to help him navigate the local customs, culture and history.
Also in the travel genre is the 2 x 60-minuteTiger Island, which explores a river island in a community-owned Nepalese forest that contains the highest concentration of tigers on Earth. It is a BBC Studios Natural History production, coproduced by PBS for BBC One and iPlayer.
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.
Lazarus Training – First aid, medical & safety training based in Essex & London.
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First Aid on Remote Locations is designed for production teams working away from the office or studio. Whether filming or recording, this course is aimed at groups who will experience a delay in accessing medical care for a colleague injured or taken ill.
Specialist Medical Training for Media Production Teams
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Filming overseas?
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Lazarus Training’s First Aid in Remote Locations course is explicitly designed for media production companies operating in areas with limited access to hospitals or rescue services.
This isn’t generic first aid — it’s tailored by professionals, for professionals who face real risk in remote environments.
As a full member of the site, you get a listing in all appropriate sections, a profile page, access to our members' private Facebook Group and priority on your news across the site, this newsletter and our social media accounts.
Membership fees help to keep the site going too ... Your support is much needed and appreciated!
Generative AI Just Killed the Wildlife Video. Should You Care?
You're not crazy—the critters on Instagram are wilder than ever, thanks to artificial intelligence-generated video. Our articles editor takes a deep dive into the technology, culture, and ethics around this new footage.
A black bear lumbers through a suburban front yard that’s been decorated for Halloween. One of the decorations—an animatronic ghost—begins to shake and moan and light up, its sensor triggered by the approaching animal. Terrified, the bear turns and sprints away, only to slam head-first into the homeowner’s pickup truck.
This clip caught my attention when it popped into my Instagram feed a few months ago. I am a huge fan of wildlife videos—specifically, footage of whimsical animal activity captured by wildlife cameras, dashcams, or people’s home surveillance equipment. As I have done far too many times, I mindlessly clicked the “like” button and then shared the bear video with some friends, before returning to my braindead scrolling.
Unbeknownst to me, this video was a fake, just another AI-generated clip circulating the Internet. Since I validated it with my click, Instagram’s algorithm immediately chummed my feed with an impressive tonnage of wacky AI wildlife videos. In quick succession I watched a porch-pirate raccoon attack a decorative clown; a barn owl peck a rock climber on the side of El Capitan; a marauding squirrel chase a grizzly bear down a bike trail.
I hoovered up this content, watching hundreds of videos. Yes, I knew that they were fake. But they appealed to my brain in the same way that real ones do—my neurons tingled as I endlessly scrolled. Within a matter of hours I’d developed an addiction to AI wildlife videos.
This affliction was short-lived, and after a few days, I came to an unfortunate realization: I could no longer discern an authentic wacky animal video from one created by generative AI.
“If you start to think some of it can be fake, you start to think all of it can be fake,” Ben Colman, an AI expert, told me. “And pretty much everything you see or hear on the Internet can be deepfaked now.”
How AI-Generated Animal Videos Mislead Millions About Nature
A house cat stares down a leopard in a suburban backyard. The big cat growls, the child in the background freezes, and—against all odds—the cat lunges. The leopard turns tail and bolts. Within seconds, the clip racks up thousands of likes and comments: “Cats really are fearless!” or “This is why I love animals!”
Except, of course, none of it ever happened.
The leopard, the child, and the heroic cat are all creations of artificial intelligence. Yet the video has been shared tens of thousands of times across TikTok, Facebook, and X, fooling millions into believing it’s real. And it’s not alone. Other viral AI-generated wildlife clips show raccoons riding crocodiles down jungle rivers, bears playing on trampolines, and deer politely joining family picnics. They’re funny, heartwarming, and almost believable—but according to scientists, they’re also dangerous
A new study from the University of Córdoba (UCO) in Spain warns that this wave of synthetic wildlife videos is quietly eroding public understanding of nature. Far from being harmless entertainment, these ultra-realistic fabrications are distorting how people—especially children—think animals behave, what species are truly endangered, and even what kinds of creatures live near them.
“The main conclusion from our study,” José Guerrero Casado, lead author of the research, explains to A-Z Animals, “is that AI-generated wildlife videos often present distorted or unrealistic portrayals of nature. These misrepresentations can spread misinformation, especially among children and audiences with limited ecological knowledge.”
As social media becomes a dominant source of environmental learning, the researchers say this flood of digital fantasy is undermining conservation efforts and fueling a dangerous disconnect between society and the wild world it claims to love.
Why Are AI-Generated Wildlife Videos Harmful?
To understand the implications AI-generated wildlife videos have on audiences, the Córdoba team analyzed dozens of viral AI-generated clips across the social media platforms TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X, examining how often they were shared, liked, or commented on to measure their influence. They found that these digital creations often depict animals acting in ways that defy biology and ecology, predators playing gently with prey, apex carnivores wandering suburban lawns, and rare species appearing as common backyard visitors
“Some AI-generated videos depict highly implausible or exaggerated human-wildlife interactions—such as large carnivores entering homes, attacking pets, or even harming people,” Casado says. “These videos are often presented in a format that imitates low-quality security footage, which can make them appear more authentic.”
Such fantasy-filled depictions can have subtle but serious consequences. When young audiences or less scientifically literate viewers take these portrayals at face value, they form unrealistic expectations about the natural world. “When social media users, especially children or individuals with limited ecological knowledge, perceive these videos as real, they may develop distorted views of wildlife,” adds Casado.
The problem lies not only in spreading falsehoods but also in creating a false sense of familiarity. Videos that portray dangerous species as friendly or endangered species as abundant can distort the sense of rarity and risk that conservation messaging depends on. They erode the emotional urgency that motivates people to protect wildlife.
The viral “cat versus leopard” clip is a particularly damaging example. The idea that a leopard would appear in a European suburb—or that a domestic cat could scare one away—is pure fiction, but the imagery feels plausible enough to shape viewers’ beliefs about big cats.
This distortion becomes more dangerous as AI tools grow more accessible. Videos that once required film studio budgets can now be created on a smartphone in seconds.
“Some AI-generated videos depict highly implausible or exaggerated human-wildlife interactions—such as large carnivores entering homes, attacking pets, or even harming people,” Casado explains. “These videos are often presented in a format that imitates low-quality security footage, which can make them appear more authentic.”
The psychological effect may swing in two directions. On one hand, fake videos showing predators in human spaces can heighten fear, making species like leopards, wolves, or sharks seem more threatening than they are. That, in turn, could reduce public sympathy for conservation measures. On the other hand, overly cute or humanized portrayals of wildlife—animals acting like pets or performers—could make viewers complacent, leading them to believe that endangered species are plentiful or that wild animals are safe to approach. Both extremes weaken conservation attitudes and blur the line between wildness and domestication.
“Not even AI could imagine that!” Photographer finds unreal-looking sea creature in Cornwall
Rainbow slugs are being found more frequently in the UK as a result of warming waters.
A wildlife photographer in Cornwall has shared hypnotic footage of what might be the UK’s most beautiful slug.
“Have you ever seen such a colourful slug?” says wildlife filmmaker Jacob Rheams on Instagram while sharing footage of the nudibranch creeping along in the rockpools.
The multicolour animal looks like a make-believe creature with its bright pink body, and pink and purple cerata (finger-like projections that allow it to breathe) flecked with orange and yellow “frosted tips” at the end.
King Charles III's documentary sets out his philosophy for saving the planet
Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend the premiere of Finding Harmony: A King's Vision, at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.
In his new film, “Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision,” Charles delivers a simple message — that humanity needs to restore the balance between man and nature if it hopes to solve global warming and many of the other problems facing the world today. Helping spread that gospel, he hopes, will be his legacy.
“It all boils down to the fact that we are actually nature ourselves, we are a part of it, not apart from it, which is really how things are being presented for so long,’’ Charles says in the closing moments of the documentary before turning to Shakespeare. “Maybe, by the time I shuffle off this mortal coil, there might be a little more awareness … of the need to bring things back together again.’’
'Criticisms really upset him'
Charles and Amazon Prime unveiled the film on Wednesday at Windsor Castle, near London, ahead of a red-carpet premiere attended by celebrities including Kate Winslet, who narrates the film.
The film spells out the king’s philosophy that humans will only thrive if they learn to work with nature, not against it, because they are as much a part of the natural world as animals, insects and trees. Charles first addressed these ideas in his 2010 book “Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World.”
It also gives him the chance to confront those who have lampooned him as a dilettante flitting aimlessly from one cause to another with no rhyme or reason. On the contrary, the film argues, climate change, urban planning, sustainable agriculture, traditional crafts and fostering understanding between religions — causes to which the king has devoted much of his adult life — are inter-related issues that must be dealt with to create sustainable communities.
Behind the scenes with Too Wild wildlife filmmaking course
The Too Wild initiative that sponsors local students from communities near game reserves ...
Offering immersive training, bridging the gap between locals and conservation areas to foster new talent, offering hands-on experience in capturing wildlife stories, making a real impact in conservation through community upliftment and skill-building.
Beverly and Dereck Joubert reflect on 40 years of African wildlife photography in new book
For more than 40 years, Beverly and Dereck Joubert have lived with, photographed and filmed African wildlife.
Their images bear witness not just to the majesty of life on the continent, but also the host of threats that confront both the animals and the wilderness.
¨A magnificent large-format coffee table book featuring the dazzling wildlife and haunting landscapes of the African continent, with more than 250 four-colour photographs. From one of National Geographic's most popular photographers and her filmmaker husband, these luxe retrospective documents a 40 year odyssey through Kenya, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania. This dazzling book of photography is a vivid journey into Africa’s illuminating landscape and all its varied creatures. One of the most spellbinding places on the planet, the continent is home to animals of all sizes and species, making it one of the most sought-after destinations in the world. Prizewinning photographer and National Geographic explorer Beverly Joubert has spent more than 40 years documenting the wildlife that traverse the African terrain with her filmmaker husband, Dereck. Their passion for animals has resulted in striking images that tell an arresting story in an instant, opening a window into the souls of their subjects and inspiring viewers to fight for their survival. Each alluring shot includes Dereck's observations on the wildlife they hold so dear. Organised into five themes, the book reveals the essence of Africa: *Awe: a leopard, his eyes glowing, from an acacia tree *Compassion: a lion devouring a buffalo *Humility: a baboon silhouetted against the moon *Intimacy: a baby elephant snuggling with his mother *Legacy: a rhino being rescued from poachers Both profound and inspiring, this majestic book forms a bridge between the animals, the lands, and the photographer. Each page is an impassioned call to conserve all forms of life - no matter what it takes.¨
We focus in documentary making on land and underwater, we do high speed, infrared and thermal filming. We can also help as fixers in Cyprus and Greece.
Victoria Clarke – an Australia-based Presenter/Host/Narrator
Victoria is a freelance television presenter, broadcaster, science communicator and narrator for documentaries and television series specialising in wildlife, science, natural history and adventure/travel.
She studied a Bachelor of Science in Zoology at the University of Queensland, which she paired with formal training in television presenting and communications, and has since combined the two fields as a host for wildlife and natural history media.
Her work as a wildlife presenter has taken her to many interesting and remote places in the natural world, and she is an avid traveller and adventurer.
Victoria believes in the power of storytelling, and it's her objective to share information about our planet, and the scientific discoveries made here, to the wider community through compelling, entertaining and accurate stories.
Victoria knows that through the art of nature filmmaking, the importance of conservation and exposure to the beauty of the natural world can be truly understood and appreciated.
Massimiliano (Max) Finzi – a Marine Supervisor – Assistant Underwater Camera – Water Safety Diver
Max is a professional Marine Supervisor and Safety diver in Media, Film and HATV at Netflix, Prime, Lionsgate, Disney, BBC amongst others.
Based in both the UK (Devon) and Italy.
He says" "I have great experience in water diving safety. I am a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, an SSI Divemaster Instructor and the HSE Scuba L.4 and I’m also Instructor of many diving specialties; I’m an underwater camera assistant and also operate independently. I also have experience of training cast and crew in scuba diving to facilitate underwater sequences.
I have done over 10,000 dives in extremely different places and locations such as sea, ocean, river, altitude, lake, caves, under ice, deep and wrecks using all different equipments; I have worked as a dive instructor and dive manager for 21 years and in the last 5 as part of a team in the Marine department in film and TV.
Before becoming a diver in 1996 I was a studio still-life photographer a profession that I brought with me underwater;
I have the Gates STO (Setup/Test/Operate) certification made by Esprit Film; RYA PowerBoat L2, VHF Radio Operator, Day skipper.
I also have the IRATA Rope Access certification L1 and A1/A3 Drone open category.
Acclaimed filmmaker Georgina Willis is set to release highly-anticipated environmental documentary INSECT_O_CIDE, delivering a cinematic exploration of the increasingly critical issue of insect decline.
Tackling this prominent issue of the modern era, the film which promises to be a powerful and undeniably important contribution to the ongoing global conversation surrounding environmental protection has already generated buzz, considerable support and enthusiastic endorsements from prominent figures and influential voices, including the distinguished Sir Stephen Fry and the beloved Dame Joanna Lumley.
Narrated by esteemed figure in entomology and conservation, Professor Dave Goulson, the documentary offers viewers a comprehensive and unflinching portrayal of the devastating consequences resulting from the widespread and often indiscriminate use of insecticides on vulnerable insect populations and the fragile ecosystems that they inhabit.
Delving into scientific research and data about the alarming decline of vital pollinator species, including bees, butterflies, and other essential insects as well as the repercussions of this for both human society and the natural world, INSECT_O_CIDE has already received numerous accolades and prestigious awards...
GOA – An Indian Wildlife Documentary – Shot on PIXBOOM Spark and LUMIX Cameras
At the end of October, we published our first hands-on review of the PIXBOOM Spark, a new high-speed camera by the Chinese startup PIXBOOM.Back then, we teased footage that I shot in Goa, India. Now, the full documentary is online. Curious to hear and see more? Then read on … by Gunther Machu
It is the beginning of September. I am starting to pack my gear for the upcoming business trip to India, where I will mostly visit customers and speak at a conference. Still, I also plan to use an extended weekend to visit some special places in Goa with my dear Indian wildlife friends. This time, they recommended making a film about the Cotigao wildlife sanctuary, butterfly gardens, and their owners.
I consider myself very lucky to have made some close friends in the Indian wildlife community over the years, and this time, Parag Aklujkar, Jaayant Deshpande, and Vijay Gaikwad joined me. These guys have superb local contacts, which allow a depth of insight you won’t get if you just visit these places as a tourist – a very important aspect of any documentary..
While discussing the story and the animals/insects we wanted to cover, it became clear that this film would be a lot about macro shots, close-ups of butterflies, and also damselflies.
Greenpeace unveils Jane Fonda-led feature doc “Gaslit”
Environmental organization Greenpeace USA is behind the feature documentary Gaslit, featuring Academy Award-winning actor Jane Fonda and set to premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 5.
The doc sees Fonda (pictured left) embark on a road trip through Texas oil fields and Gulf Coast communities, meeting those at the forefront of U.S. fossil fuel expansion. which has led to the U.S. becoming the world’s biggest liquified natural gas exporter while also fueling a massive expansion of plastics production. The film paints a portrait of the shrimpers, cattle ranchers, former oil workers, families, faith leaders, organizers and self-described “reluctant activists” standing up to the expansion.
Gaslit is directed by Katie Camosy in her feature debut. She previously worked with Fonda as a senior producer on Greenpeace USA’s Fire Drill Fridays with Jane Fonda, a national movement and web series to protest what the organization regards as government inaction on climate change. Alana Schwartz serves as production manager.
Join Viva! for an inspiring – and deeply thought-provoking – Trilogy of Talks that reveal the truth about our connection with animals and the natural world.
From the hidden horrors of industrial farming to the wild magic of ecological restoration, Viva! founder Juliet Gellatley and Randal Plunkett, the 21st Baron of Dunsany, share powerful, personal journeys from their extraordinary lives.
Viva!'s Juliet Gelatley transports an audience back to her first experience of entering a factory farm, describing how it felt to be a young teenager traipsing through rows upon rows of pigs confined to cages, gnawing on their metal prisons – and how this moment led to her dedicating her life to saving animals.
For over 30 years, Viva! has been at the forefront of animal campaigning and this is Juliet's personal and unfiltered story of how she launched and sustained the vegan charity through its ups and downs.
Randal Plunket, the 21st Baron of Dunsany, discusses how he is transforming his inherited estate into a wildlife haven through the 'rewilding movement', a form of environmental restoration that he has rebranded as 'V-Wilding'. By rewilding a third of his considerable estate, Plunkett has seen huge swathes of lost species return to their natural habitat, driving the return of biodiversity. In this talk for Viva!, he uses his trademark humour and wit to discuss the cost of progress, the unbelievable arrogance of humans and his contributions to natural restoration.
Viva! founder and director Juliet Gellatley delivers a searing indictment of the meat industry, describing it as a "vast machinery of greed" that desecrates the sanctity of life. Drawing on decades of firsthand experience entering factory farms, she recounts the horrors hidden behind their walls and exposes how animals are reduced to mere cogs in the machine of death. In this talk, Juliet unpacks the megalithic power of the industry, from its immense financial backing to its far-reaching influence and relentless stream of misinformation. She confronts the uphill battle of challenging its lies while calling for a dismantling of the system that profits from suffering.
2025 was a defining year for Viva! – a year in which courage, creativity and unwavering compassion collided to create extraordinary impact.
From headline-grabbing campaigns to bold public actions, Viva! pushed harder than ever to expose the truth behind animal agriculture and inspire people to choose kindness.
Viva!´s mission, now more than three decades strong, remains as vital as ever – revealing the cruelty hidden behind the meat and dairy industries and offering something radically hopeful in its place: veganism. Take a look back at our remarkable year!
Viva! is the UK’s leading vegan campaigning charity, specialising in undercover investigations and animal, health, environmental and lifestyle campaigns. Founded in 1994 by Juliet Gellatley, we have spent 30 years creating a kinder, more sustainable world for humans and animals alike.
Permission to Harm: A Documentary Project by We Animals Fellow, Ira Moon
Who pays the cost of animal agriculture?
As a We Animals Fellow, Ira Moon produced a short documentary exploring this question.
Through images and intimate interviews, “Permission to Harm” brings viewers into an agricultural community in Ontario, Canada, where human labourers and farmed animals coexist within the same systems of exploitation, highlighting a shared fight for dignity and liberation.
“My Fellowship project culminated in a short documentary called “Permission to Harm,” which lays out the systemic problems with Agricultural Exceptionalism in Canada. The project was then presented at the Canadian Animal Law & Advocacy Conference.” — Ira Moon, 2024 We Animals Fellow
Exclusive look inside the World’s First Happy Human Farm
Watch Viva!´s latest campaign video – Pixton Pig Farm – an advert for humane farming.
A 100 per cent free-range, organic, ethically certified facility where humans are raised in open fields, social groups and enriched environments. Really… welfare doesn’t get better than this.
The World Health Organisation has classified processed meat as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it causes cancer in humans, and red meat as Group 2A, meaning probably carcinogenic.
We're urging the UK Government to add warning labels on all products that fall into these categories to ensure the public are fully aware of the risk to their health when shopping. Add your name and share our petition to help us make an impact!
A Decade After Its Release, ‘How Not to Die’ Finds a New Life on Screen
The 2015 bestseller ‘How Not to Die’ by Michael Greger, MD becomes a free documentary, translating nutrition science into a consumer-facing film about diet and disease prevention.
If you read 2015’s bestselling book How Not to Dieby Michael Greger, MD, FACLM and Gene Stone, you already know the premise that made it a cultural lightning rod: for most people, the greatest threat to long-term health is not genetics or bad luck, but what ends up on the plate day after day.
Now, on its 10-year anniversary, the book moves from page to screen in How Not to Die, a new documentary streaming free on UnchainedTV, translating Greger’s data-heavy arguments into something far more immediate and visual.
From bestseller to screen
The film stays tightly aligned with the book’s core argument, examining how the standard Western diet contributes to the most common chronic diseases in the US and other industrialized countries. Heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, liver dysfunction, and neurodegenerative conditions, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, are all addressed through peer-reviewed research and clinical experience. The documentary also explores links between diet and colon, prostate, and other digestive cancers, grounding each claim in nutritional science rather than wellness folklore.
Jane Velez-Mitchell, president of UnchainedTV, a non-profit streaming platform, framed the film’s purpose in direct terms: “The crucial information in this powerful, meticulously researched documentary can help people avoid preventable lifestyle diseases and improve their chances of living a long and healthy life,” she said in a statement. “What could be more important than that?”
Vegan Camp Out are offering animal rights activists 25% off their festival ticket and donating £10 from each activist ticket sold to animal rights organisations.
Vegan Camp Out is the world’s largest vegan camping festival as well as being the most international, with campers coming from over 40 different countries each year! The event is 4 days/3 nights of camping, talks, live music, afterparties, yoga/meditation classes, workshops and of course the UK's best vegan food!
Email vcoactivists@gmail.com to get your personalised discount code and let them know which organisation you do activism with.
My Role on the Katavi Series – ¨Over several years, I had the privilege of working on the Katavi series during both the dry and rainy seasons, immersed deep in the bush. My primary role involved extensive long-lens cinematography from a vehicle, supported by my incredible local drivers – Naiti and Kahimba – whose tracking skills and instinct in the field were invaluable.
Alongside ground-based filming, I also operated drones to capture aerials and dynamic bird-following shots that helped bring the vastness and drama of Katavi to life from above.
During my time there, I picked up some “kidogot” Swahili, basic tracking techniques, and, more importantly, a profound respect for the land and its rhythms. I filmed intense and emotional wildlife behavior, including dramatic hippo fights, a rare pelican kill, and powerful sequences of infanticide – alongside many other unforgettable moments from this remarkable series.
A highlight of this experience was being mentored and deeply inspired by Owen Prümm – an extraordinary filmmaker, cameraman, and bushman. His passion and presence in the field made this one of the most meaningful and unforgettable chapters in my career.¨ Luana Knipfer
Andreas Fiskeseth – Underwater filmmaker, drone pilot and DP based in Thailand.
Born and raised on the Western coast of Norway, I moved to Thailand at 23 to pursue a career in underwater filmmaking.
I'm a certified PADI Divemaster with 14 years experience and 3000+ ocean camera dives.
I've had the pleasure of working on various films, documentaries and tv-shows for clients such as the BBC, Disney+ & UFC.
Having dived all over Thailand I also offer consultations and location scouting, both for remote and underwater destinations.
I'm also an experienced drone pilot & timelapse photographer and have shot art films, music videos and promo videos.
While I'm experienced shooting with cameras from RED, Sony, & Canon my personal setup consists of a Panasonic Lumix GH7 for underwater – a great rig paired with the right glass.
Also the owner of a DPV rental company so I have access to some very handy DPV setups for underwater filmmaking to create unique images or keep up with fast moving subjects.
Located in Thailand but available to work anywhere. Speak Norwegian and English fluently.
I'm passionate about the ocean and marine conservation and this is reflected in my safe conduct around any subject or reef.
I also have a huge 6K/4K Stock library of mantas, whale sharks, macro, reef, turtles etc.
Wildlife Film Productions inc. – a boutique production company specialized in creating groundbreaking natural history films for audiences worldwide.
Wildlife Film Productions (WFP) was founded by Alex Jones, an Emmy-nominated and Panda award-winning Director of Photography (DOP) who has worked with top broadcasters like Disney, NatGeo, BBC, Netflix, and Apple. With over a decade of experience, Alex is known for his breathtaking macro and long-lens work, creating world-class wildlife films. Initially hired as head DOP on many shows, he quickly became involved in the creative direction and writing, showcasing his storytelling talents beyond the camera. His ability to shape the overall vision of a project adds a unique depth to every production.
Award-winning filmmaker Jaap Perenboom joined Alex after a chance encounter while filming in the jungles of Corcovado, Costa Rica. Their mutual passion for wildlife filmmaking brought them together, and they soon realized they shared the ambition to build a boutique Blue-Chip wildlife film company. With Jaap’s background in both business and filmmaking, he brings a rare combination of business savvy, strategic insight, and hands-on experience as a DOP, perfectly complementing Alex’s creative vision.
United by their love for wildlife and a shared dream to produce top-tier films, Alex and Jaap are building a strong, passionate team. Their collective vision and expertise drive WFP to deliver captivating, high-quality wildlife content that stands out in the industry.
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Membership fees help to keep the site going too ... Your support is much-needed! Hoping to relaunch the site this year ... Updated for the new decade ... Will be looking for help from all over the world!!
Since the late 1990s Wildlife-film.com has been the leading source of information for the wildlife filmmaking industry worldwide. For over twenty 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.
