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BBC launches new wildlife video podcast as part of the Watches expansion
Naturewatch will begin this autumn, highlighting the best of British wildlife each week
A new video podcast, Naturewatch, will be launching on the BBC later this year.
Naturewatch will explore the latest nature news in Britain, share remarkable animal sightings and celebrate seasonal wildlife moments each week.
Each episode will be accompanied by an audio-only Q&A programme (exclusive to BBC Sounds) where the hosts will answer your questions about the natural world.
When does Naturewatch start? Naturewatch is expected to begin in autumn 2026, though no official date has been confirmed yet.
British Council hosts Green Oscar winner Ashwika Kapur for a conversation on wildlife filmmaking
Recently, the British Council, in partnership with the Indo-British Scholars’ Association, hosted a conversation with environmental and wildlife filmmaker Ashwika Kapur at the British Council Calcutta library.
Held in June, the month that marks World Environment Day, the session celebrated environmental responsibility and eco-consciousness. It also paid tribute to legendary wildlife broadcaster, natural historian and writer Sir David Attenborough, who recently turned 100, and with whom Ashwika has collaborated on acclaimed wildlife documentaries such as Attenborough and the Giant Elephant and Attenborough’s Life in Colour..
During the conversation, Ashwika offered a fascinating glimpse into the world of wildlife filmmaking, sharing stories from her travels behind the camera and her experiences documenting some of the planet’s most captivating landscapes. The Green Oscar-winning filmmaker also refl ected on Sir David Attenborough’s enduring influence in shaping global perspectives on the natural world, while revealing little-known stories from her collaborations with the celebrated broadcaster. t2 caught up with Ashwika for an exclusive chat on her environmental calling, filmmaking travels and the role of the youth in shaping an environmentally responsible future.
What drew you to wildlife as a subject to focus on?
I’ve always had an instinctive connection with animals, and a love of stories has run alongside it. When it was time to pick a career, I simply fused the two and decided to become a wildlife filmmaker. There was no wildlife film industry in India to apprentice into, no obvious door to knock on, so the path had to be built rather than found. The Green Oscar early on was a thrilling vote of confidence, but the real apprenticeship was everything after it: years in the field that led to directing for the BBC Natural History Unit, National Geographic, Netflix, Discovery, Disney, and alongside those, the smaller, fiercely personal ones closer to home, like Catapults to Cameras in the forests of Bengal.
Nat Geo’s Bertie Gregory on filmmaking in the streaming era
Emmy- and BAFTA-winning National Geographic cinematographer Bertie Gregory is reshaping wildlife filmmaking with immersive storytelling.
Whether he’s swimming alongside sharks or capturing never-before-seen moments via drones in some of the world’s wildest places, Bertie Gregory has built a reputation for making nature storytelling feel deeply immersive. Through his work with National Geographic, the Emmy- and BAFTA-winning cinematographer has helped reshape wildlife storytelling by bringing audiences behind the scenes and into the heart of the adventure.
His latest special, “Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory,” continues that approach. Premiering as part of National Geographic’s SHARKFEST, the film follows Gregory alongside scientists and conservationists as they study one of the ocean’s most recognizable predators while uncovering encouraging signs for conservation.
In our conversation, Gregory shares insight into how streaming has changed the way wildlife stories are told, the technology transforming modern filmmaking, what leadership looks like when working alongside scientists and local communities around the world and why protecting our oceans offers a hopeful blueprint for the future.
The way audiences consume nature storytelling has changed with streaming. How has that shifted the way you approach building an immersive story?
Bertie Gregory: Traditional nature documentaries are very animal-focused. Then, over the last 15 to 20 years, documentaries like Planet Earth on the BBC with Sir David Attenborough started showing the last 10 minutes behind the scenes, revealing how they made the film.
I noticed that so many people who watch on streaming platforms weren’t necessarily interested in nature, but had all the questions about that part. That got me thinking: if that’s the part people connect with, maybe that should be the whole show.
That’s really the storytelling approach behind “Hammerhead Sharks Up Close” and the whole “Up Close” series. We take viewers behind the scenes and want them to feel like they’re part of the team, so we can shine a light not only on the really cool animals, but also on the really cool people we get to work with.
How Underwater Filmmaking Can Help Save Hammerhead Sharks Before It’s Too Late
National Geographic kicked off its annual summer Sharkfest event in a huge way with a brand-new, jaw-dropping special, Hammerhead Sharks Up Close With Bertie Gregory. These eye-catching, iconic sharks are wildly misunderstood, unfairly feared, and face an existential threat. Gregory spoke to PetaPixel about his new special on hammerhead sharks and what people can do to protect marine life.
Bertie Gregory’s name should be familiar to anyone who enjoys nature and wildlife documentaries. Gregory, an award-winning cinematographer, filmmaker, and environmentalist, is perhaps best known for his Up Close series of nature documentaries, including Cheetahs Up Close and Dolphins Up Close. Gregory also worked on the acclaimed television mini series, Seven Worlds One Planet and A Perfect Planet.
Gregory is one of the premier names in wildlife filmmaking today. He is extremely committed to his craft and bringing science to the masses in a way that’s digestible, accessible, and entertaining.
“A picture paints a thousand words, right?” Gregory tells PetaPixel. “I don’t know the last time you read a scientific paper — you know, I studied zoology, I know how to read science, work with lots of scientists — science is not written for entertainment. Science is written for science… it’s often very dry, very boring.”
“Wild Africa” Launches As Africa’s First Weekly Wildlife Television Magazine Series
“Wild Africa” is set to debut across Africa as a first-of-its-kind weekly wildlife television magazine series.
The 13-episode series shares inspiring stories from the frontlines of wildlife conservation across the continent in an engaging magazine-style format designed to both educate and entertain.
Presenters Rumbie Takawira, Dr Mark Ofua and Zandile Ndhlovu explore on-the-ground initiatives and the dedicated conservationists behind them. Along the way prominent African wildlife ambassadors, including Black Panther stars Danai Gurira and Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o, actor Djimon Hounsou, musician Focalistic, comedian Josh2Funny and gospel singer Amani encounter Africa’s most charismatic animals. We also meet some of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife, from forest elephants in Nigeria and slender-snouted crocodiles in Ghana to Temminck’s ground pangolins in Namibia and black rhinos in South Africa.
Created specifically for African audiences, it aims to help raise awareness of the urgent need to protect the continent’s wildlife and wild spaces. Over the past 50 years, Africa’s monitored wildlife populations have declined by 76%, and every year the continent loses an estimated 3.9 million hectares of forest.
Insidious PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) chemicals now drift on global air currents, fall in rain, accumulate in soils and food webs, and can persist in ecosystems for generations. Inescapable reveals how ordinary people are tackling the toxic impacts from this sprawling class of industrial compounds—long used and still widely produced in consumer products, building supplies, and firefighting foam.
Journalist Marina Schauffler recounts how PFAS contamination in Maine—a state known for its bountiful farms, woods, and waters—has upended lives and livelihoods, endangered public health, and cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Stories from homeowners, firefighters, farmers, tribal members, researchers, and elected officials reveal the staggering implications of the federal government's failure to regulate synthetic chemicals that manufacturers have known for decades were toxic. Maine is among states at the forefront of PFAS testing and regulation, but no region is immune from this chemical threat.
The poignant accounts in this book illuminate the challenge of reckoning with the far-reaching effects of PFAS and addressing the ongoing burden borne by highly affected individuals. Countless communities across the nation and world could face similar struggles as the ubiquity of PFAS contamination becomes clear. Inescapable offers a roadmap for tackling this chemical Hydra.
¨I thought I knew about PFAS, until I read this. Schauffler lays out, horrifying detail by horrifying detail, how widespread and truly inescapable toxic PFAS are today, making the unassailable case that this is a crisis we need to come together to solve. Fortunately, there are brave, inspirational people lighting the path forward. A must-read for anyone who cares about their health—and the health of their neighbors.¨ — Alden Wicker, author or To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick–and How We Can Fight Back
Published – 12th May 2026
Elliot Page Learned “The Obvious Truth” From His New Doc: Nature Is Queer
The transgender creative discusses his new documentary, Second Nature, which shows how gay penguins and sex-changing fish are part of the animal kingdom's diversity.
For generations, many Americans have been taught that biology is simple: male and female, dominant and submissive, heterosexual and reproductive. Nature, in this telling, follows rules. Men compete. Women nurture. Anything outside that framework is unnatural.
Elliot Page wants viewers to reconsider it all.
In Second Nature, a visually lush and unexpectedly funny new documentary narrated and executive-produced by the transgender actor, queerness is not presented as an anomaly or an ideological invention, but as a recurring feature of life on Earth itself. Penguins form same-sex parenting pairs. Clownfish change sex. Bonobos use sex to resolve conflict. Seahorse fathers carry pregnancies. In some primate societies, females dominate social hierarchies. Across species, the film argues, the rigid binaries humans insist upon begin to dissolve.
The documentary arrives at a moment when “biology” has become one of the most weaponized words in American politics.
Elliot Page Hopes Doc Exploring Same-Sex Relationships in the Animal World Helps Queer Kids Feel Less Alone
The actor, who narrates the film, and director Drew Denny want 'Second Nature' to help challenge long-held myths about what’s 'natural'
A new documentary narrated and co-produced by Elliot Page explores the prevalence of same-sex relationships and gender fluidity in the animal world.
The film, Second Nature, directed by Drew Denny, profiles scientists who have spent their lives researching the over 1,500 animal species that engage in same-sex sexual behavior and parenting, change sex, and form matriarchies in the wild.
The film also delves into the fact that these occurrences are widely underreported — or often not reported at all — in mainstream science and research.
Jackson Wild is heading to LA for their summit this year ... a joint industry gathering with Hollywood Climate Summit!
Two days of programming, conversation, and collaboration at the intersection of climate, storytelling, and impact — brought to a close with a joint awards ceremony honoring the best of both the Jackson Wild Media Awards and the Hollywood Climate Summit Awards.
Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to the fall.
The dates are set for DCEFF´s 35th Anniversary Environmental Film Festival!
We're a little over 10 months away, but planning has already begun for April 8-17, 2027.
Stay tuned for more news about what we're planning for this milestone year. We can't wait to celebrate 35 years of DCEFF with you, to revisit all the good we've done together, and to explore all that this community can still accomplish through the power of environmental storytelling.
Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam Announces 2026 Dates Following Record Attendance
Following a record-breaking 11th edition with over 30,000 visitors, the Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam (WFFR) has announced its 12th edition will take place from 2–8 November 2026, with online and local programs running from October to December.
The festival has opened registration for school screenings and is currently curating a new selection of international nature films.
Registration for school screenings is now open, offering specialized screenings for primary and secondary students.
For more details on the 2026 program and to register for the school screenings, visit: wffr.nl
‘Super Nature’ Trailer: Ed Sayers Documentary Captures Nature In Fresh Way With Vintage Cameras
Super Nature, a new documentary about the natural world directed by Ed Sayers, is truly a vintage piece of filmmaking. Sayers and his collaborators – 40 filmmakers across the globe – shot the feature entirely on Super 8, “the original home movie format.”
The “home” in this case is planet Earth and its multitudinous lifeforms large and small — leaf cutter ants and African bush elephants, Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins, and soaring barnacle geese.
“The film features a beguiling array of over 120 different animal species from around the world,” notes a release. “From the rarest of species: the last two remaining Northern White Rhino, to the humble and often overlooked Garden Snail, all living creatures are lovingly observed and celebrated.”
Super Nature, which held its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival last year, will be released in cinemas in the UK and Ireland by BFI Distribution on September 4. It has also been picked up by Madman for Australia/New Zealand, Wanted Cinema (Italy), SVT (Sweden), and TVP (Poland). Autlook Filmsales is handling international sales.
The truth is out there. But in a complex world, where facts are endlessly contested and simplified narratives abound, we all face a battle to see beyond our familiar echo chambers – to discern what’s true and what’s not. So why do we believe what we do? How much does anyone really know? And can we get closer to identifying the truth?
Part of our ‘The Big Picture In Focus’ series, providing a deep dive into the stories that impact Scotland’s road to nature recovery.
History is a notoriously unreliable chronicler. But if history is to be believed, a running battle between cattle rustlers and local clansmen in 1602 – or possibly 1606 – spread violence across the slopes below the Cairnwell Pass in Glenshee, ending with the death of dozens of ‘Cateran’ raiders at the hands of a renowned local archer, Cam Ruadh.
The Caterans were infamous cattle thieves who preyed upon Strathardle, Glenshee and Glen Isla throughout the Middle Ages and beyond. Today, the raiders are long gone, but the Cateran Trail remains, meandering between the Perthshire and Angus glens, and passing my front door along the way. Following the trail north, it climbs out of Enochdhu and snakes out over open moorland to pass between the rounded peaks of Ben Earb and Meall Uaine, before descending to the Spittal of Glenshee.
Like the Caterans themselves, many of the cattle once fiercely fought over have disappeared from this landscape, replaced by sheep. But signs of the past remain, from old shielings to standing stones, and there’s still some wildlife to be found. On a recent walk to the Spittal, I spotted numerous small groups of fallow deer grazing in the sheep fields of Strathardle, several larger parcels of red deer on the high moor, two roe deer and one red squirrel (raiding a bird feeder). I also counted two meadow pipits, ten black cock, two red grouse, an oystercatcher, half a dozen curlews, several buzzards, lots of ravens and a red kite. Crossing the high saddle between Starthardle and Glenshee, I saw the tracks of a single fox etched in the snow.
Which truth should we recognise: is Scotland nature-depleted, or is it still home to lots of wildlife?
Some might point to this tally as evidence that Scotland still supports plenty of wildlife. Others might list the notable absentees, the lost animals once found here: the extirpated wolves, bears and lynx, the elk and wild boar, or the wildcat now stuffed and confined to a glass cabinet at the Dalmunzie Hotel, its fusty face frozen in a grimace of faded feline fury. Even mountain hares were noticeably absent from my hike along the Cateran Trail, despite locals remembering these same hills hopping with their white forms not long ago. So, which truth should we recognise: is Scotland nature-depleted, or is it still home to lots of wildlife?
Nico Baumgärtel – a wildlife filmmaker and camera operator based in Berlin, Germany, with a passion for capturing authentic animal behaviour in remote and challenging environments.
He says ¨My work focuses on wildlife cinematography using long lenses, camera traps, thermal imaging, and drone operations. I enjoy spending extended periods in the field, whether working from hides, remote camps, or isolated wilderness locations, always aiming to document natural behaviour with patience and respect for the subject.
My background includes military training, advanced first aid, survival, and wildlife tracking, providing me with the skills and mindset required for demanding productions in remote areas. I am particularly comfortable in situations that require endurance, self-reliance, careful planning, and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
I have experience working with RED, ARRI, Sony, and DJI systems, as well as remote camera setups designed to capture natural behaviour with minimal disturbance. My approach to wildlife filmmaking has been strongly influenced by my mentor Oliver Goetzl, whose philosophy of patient observation and behavioural anticipation continues to shape my work today. I have also gained valuable experience through productions with GULO FILM.
Above all, I am passionate about telling authentic wildlife stories and collaborating with people who share a deep respect for nature, conservation, and high-quality natural history filmmaking.¨
WildEarth is a 24/7 LIVE TV channel reaching 7 million people globally every month, offering immersive nature experiences that benefit your well-being.
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Dhritiman Mukherjee does a unique brand of wildlife photography and filmmaking. Speaking with t2oS, he talks about his relationship with his subjects, trying to close information gaps for conservation, and his outlook on visual communication and how he has evolved.
What are the conservation issues that you’re working on?
A lot actually. So it is not like conservation issues. It is more related to conservation issues. So, whatever I do, it is in some way or other related to conservation. For example, I am going to the Sundarbans. I’m doing a film on the forest guards. It’s a parallel story of the struggle of the species. It’s like because it’s a difficult habitat, the Sundarbans. Any animal living there, they have a different way of dealing with the habitat because it’s an intertidal ecosystem where the crabs and the crustaceans are the heroes, not the tiger.
Anyway, so it’s a story of the struggle of the guards who are actually protecting the forest and nobody talks about them. They are protecting it in a place like Sundarbans, which is such a difficult area. And why is it important? Because it’s our home. And they are protecting our home. So it’s a parallel story. I am talking about the guards so that they will be inspired and that story will inspire other forest people also.
I’m doing work in Andaman, for example. So, Andaman is a fragile habitat where there are a lot of issues. It’s an isolated island. It’s a land of endemism. The maximum number of bird species, reptiles, amphibians, whatever species are there, they are all surviving only there. So if we lose the habitat, we will lose all these endemic species forever from the planet. Not only from the Andamans. They will vanish from the planet. Now, a lot of projects are happening in Nicobar. I made five films in Nicobar when I heard that Nicobar project is happening. Just to say, “Look, this habitat has so many life forms that are only surviving in this place.”
Corporate bullies are weaponising the legal system to silence the truth. They are using predatory lawsuits called SLAPPs – like the case that resulted in a staggering US$345 million judgment against Greenpeace International and Greenpeace in the US – to silence anyone who speaks out for the public good.
Billionaires and corporations want control of our rights and freedoms.
They use their vast fortunes to gut regulations, influence political candidates who serve their interests, control public debate through buying media, and silence dissent using intimidation tactics.
But they made a mistake: They underestimated our collective power to resist.
Even amidst this surge in authoritarianism, many more people believe in the power and hope of action. While they push division, we are building a movement. We are rising above their rhetoric to renew decency and community. It’s time to resist attempts to isolate us by joining together, to resist attempts at sowing division by rediscovering our common ground, and to resist the politics of competition and domination by cooperating as part of one people-powered movement.
Following the tragic Guadalupe flood, a coalition of landowners, volunteers, and organizations launched a bold effort to restore their cherished river. “Hope for the Guadalupe” bears witness to the heartbreaking disaster and showcases the conservationists working to replant native trees, spread grasses and forbs, and bring peace and beauty to a beleaguered river.
The film was made in partnership with the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, The Hill Country Alliance, Kerr County River Foundation, San Antonio Botanical Garden, Hunt Preservation Society, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, and American Rivers.
To those of you who were impacted by the floods, please be aware that the movie contains footage of the flood and recovery efforts, which we tried to tell with the respect and care it deserves. On behalf of the film team and partnering organizations, we would like to extend our sincerest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy.
If you'd like to support ongoing river restoration, please consider a donation to the Hope for the Guadalupe River Recovery Fund at hopefortheguadalupe.org
Large-spotted Civet Filmed through the Camera for the First Time Ever
Darryl Sweetland has filmed Large-spotted Civet in Huai Khayeng Nature Park, he thinks for the very first time.
He said ¨I have been spending many hours sitting in our hides at night recently, and at last, on the 17th February, 2026, I got what may be the first film in the wild ever obtained of a Large-spotted Civet. In any case, it was a wonderful experience and the first glimpse of this beautiful and elusive creature with my own eyes.¨
¨On the 17th and 19th of February 2026 I got what is probably the first ever film of the rarely seen Large-spotted Civet in the wild live on camera. That footage can be seen on my other channel: / @HuaiKhayengNaturePark I have tried and failed a few more times since then, but on this day, the 10th April 2026, I got my best film ever of this species, and I am over the moon.
I also took a lot of behind-the-scenes footage, and here is a film about how I film these rare and elusive mammals at night.¨
Armed with a wealth of planning and previs, those involved in making Prehistoric Planet:Ice Age moved on to capturing plates. During shoots in locations around the world, the visual effects team, in particular, consisted of a supervisor, wrangler and capture TD. They were, describes Framestore visual effects supervisor Gavin McKenzie, “tasked with collaborating with the directors and DOPs to select the optimal spots for shooting the background plates. We began our shots with a ‘puppet pass,’ which was crucial for determining the timing, framing, and focus of the shots. Once we were happy with this, we repeated the shot clean, without the puppet.”
Practic Creations built and performed the puppets and physical interaction reference assets for the various creatures seen in Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age. Puppeteer Brian Fisher explains that “the puppets needed to be dynamic assets which would help to solve a range of complexities. They needed to be lightweight and able to fully break down and fit into suitcases for travel around the world, and be easily assembled in remote locations without special tools. They needed to be made of resilient materials which could withstand temperatures ranging from sub zero glaciers, to full sun reaching nearly 50 degrees on iron sand.”
Yellowstone is a land shaped by extremes. From the renewal of spring to the brutality of winter, every animal must endure the changing seasons in one of the harshest wildernesses in North America.
In this cinematic wildlife documentary, journey deep into Yellowstone National Park and experience the lives of grizzly bears, wolves, bison, moose, coyotes, and more as they navigate a world defined by survival. Through intimate wildlife behavior, dramatic winter landscapes, geothermal wonders, and immersive natural soundscapes, Into the Wild explores the beauty, resilience, and struggle of life in the American wilderness.
Filmed over multiple seasons in Yellowstone, this episode captures rare moments of animal behavior and the raw atmosphere of the park during the transition into deep winter.
If you enjoy cinematic nature documentaries like Planet Earth, Yellowstone, Frozen Planet, Dynasties, and National Geographic wildlife films, this film is for you.
Filming Yellowstone follows award-winning wildlife filmmaker Alan Lacy as he documents the wildlife and landscapes of Yellowstone National Park through changing seasons, extreme weather, and unpredictable encounters in the wild.
Ever wondered how to make a wildlife documentary?
In this video, Alan breaks down the real process behind creating my Yellowstone wildlife documentary, Yellowstone: Into The Wild, from organizing years of footage and finding the story to filming animals in the wild, capturing cinematic sequences, building natural sound, and editing a finished wildlife film.
Wildlife Filmmaking Advice from a BBC & Nat Geo Cameraman (Alan Lacy)
@BrentTouchstone sat down with professional wildlife cameraman Alan Lacy—whose work has appeared on BBC, National Geographic, and Disney—to critique my first wildlife documentary and discuss the filmmaking gear and storytelling techniques used by pros.
Filmed on the Canon R6 Mark III, this session changed how I think about cinematography and narrative structure.
The Fish Hawk is a feature documentary in production with Touchstone Pixels, following osprey on the San Juan River in New Mexico through a full breeding season. This video covers my story beats, Alan’s honest feedback, and the wildlife filmmaking framework that's shaping the whole project.
THE FISH HAWK — Public Story Beats Most wildlife films ask: what does this animal do? The Fish Hawk asks something different. What does it cost?
Every flight burns calories. Every failed dive is a debt. Every fish caught barely covers the overhead of staying alive — and that's before the nest, the eggs, the chicks that need feeding every few hours. The osprey lives at the edge of what's sustainable. This film follows that edge through a full season on the San Juan River in New Mexico.
Bomanbridge preps vertical wildlife series copro with COL Group
Bomanbridge Media is teaming with Singapore-headquartered COL Group International, the mobile-first vertical storytelling company behind the microdrama platform FlareFlow, on Mapogo: The Lion Throne, a vertical docuseries set to stream on FlareFlow in late Q3 of this year.
The series (pictured), unveiled at Owl&Co’s Vertical Media Summit, was filmed over several years in South Africa’s Sabi Sands Game Reserve and chronicles the brutal rise and tragic fall of the Mapogo Lion Coalition, six South African male lions believed to have eliminated more than 100 rival lions during their ascent. The series will be narrated by actor Sam Myerson, star of Oops, I Married My Bestie’s Brother.
“The factual genre has always evolved alongside shifts in audience behavior and viewing technology,” said Bomanbridge Media CEO Sonia Fleck in a statement. “Following our continued expansion through international partnerships and catalogue acquisitions, we saw a clear opportunity to bring premium natural history storytelling into the vertical space, an area that remains largely untapped for documentary. As viewing habits become increasingly mobile-native, we believe the next generation of factual storytelling must evolve alongside them.”
The mobile-first vertical market continues to be a growth space in doc and unscripted, with 100 Zeros, the content production venture between Google and Range Media Partners revealing a slate of vertical projects earlier this year and the recently launched RoseBerry Media announcing its own plans for vertical content. Also, soon-to-launch microseries studio and platform aTwist, recently brought on a head of unscripted, longtime showrunner Josh Silberman.
Wild Scottish venison is healthy, sustainable and locally abundant. Greater demand for it could help support the deer management needed to restore resilient peatlands and give young native woodlands the chance to regrow. So why does venison remain a niche choice?
Our latest film, part of The Fiadh Project, introduces some of the people behind Scotland’s venison story – from deer managers and venison producers to those helping young people understand how wild venison gets from the open hill onto our plates.
They all share an appetite for change – and an appreciation for venison – reflecting their desire to balance healthy deer populations and recovering habitats with thriving rural communities.
DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION DECODED. The Landscape. Trends. Opportunities. A Webinar with Sarah Craig
In this week’s high energy webinar, Sarah Craig helps us navigate the often confusing landscape of digital distribution.
Sarah is co-founder of Foundation Distribution, where she develops and delivers TVOD, AVOD, and FAST solutions for 6,000+ hours across more than 55+ platforms.
What programs deliver the best results on Transactional platforms, like Apple and Amazon?
Is Tubi the leader in the Advertiser-supported digital marketplace?
What are reasonable revenue-sharing expectations?
Don’t miss Sarah’s story about she “grew up” in the new world of digital distribution, becoming a highly-valued industry leader.
Nat Geo: Still Spending. How Much? On Which Programs? Dan Salerno’s Deep Dive for 2026
Veteran network executive Dan Salerno provides unique, deep analysis of how and where Nat Geo is spending on programs.
Dan reveals that Nat Geo Channel aired 242 new hours in 2025.
That’s an estimated annual spend of more than $100 million!
Dan breaks down trends by series vs specials, and by genre. He pulls on the threads that join the channel and Disney+.
We’re all so grateful for Dan’s painstaking analysis. His practical takeaways shape our strategies for investing in development and production.
His big Takeaway is legacy networks still operate at significant scale and therefore deliver opportunity to producers.
Dan’s work is a powerful pushback to the gaggle of media consultants whose pretty PPTs bang on about the death of legacy production models and how we all need to be reborn as creative influencers.
Coming next, Dan’s deep data dive into Discovery‘s buying trends.
German distributor Autentic has unveiled its summer 2026 factual slate, featuring current affairs, history, blue-chip wildlife, travel and science across a range of new documentary titles and series.
Autentic’s People & Places strand features Suriname: The Green Heart of South America, a two-part Brandmedia Film production exploring one of the world’s least-known rainforest regions, and the second season of Through Snow & Ice: Swiss Alpine Rail Journeys, a four-part series from Mediafisch returning to the winter landscapes of the Alps.
The current affairs strand addresses pressing global issues, led by Under Pressure – Trump’s Fractured America, a 52-minute portrait of a divided US under Donald Trump’s renewed presidency, produced by Tob Film. It also features Digital Aliens – Excluded in a Connected World, from Hoferichter & Jacobs, which examines how digitalisation is creating new forms of inequality.
The blue-chip wildlife offering is led by four new titles from Terra Mater Studios. India – Monsoon Kingdom is a two-part coproduction with Dandy Lion Films exploring the relationship between India’s landscapes and wildlife, while Wild Boreal, made with Story Surge Films, portrays life in the northern forests. Terra Mater Studios also brings Christmas in the Alps and Mallorca – Beyond the Beaches.
Further wildlife titles include The Archipelago, a two-parter from Boreales set in remote island ecosystems shaped by geological forces, and The Hidden World of Dolphins from Marquardt Medienproduktion.
Blue Ant Media preps factual slate for international licensing, channel brands
Toronto-headquartered Blue Ant Media is unveiling a slate of factual programming featuring new programming and returning series commissioned for its portfolio of global channels and streaming brands.
The titles include projects produced by production division Blue Ant Studios as well as from other international producers, and the full slate is available for licensing in non-commissioning territories through distribution division Blue Ant Rights.
New titles include Space: The Ultimate Countdown (8 x 60 min.) from Blue Ant Studios, which uses a panel of scientists and space historians to count down significant moments in space exploration, revealing new insights along the way. Also on the science tip: Super Humans (8 x 60 min.), also from Blue Ant Studios, examines astonishing human feats through the lens of science, determining how such seemingly superhuman accomplishments were possible.
Wildlife projects include Scaling Oz (3 x 60 min.) from Adelaide-headquartered Breakout Productions, which aims to reframe the misconceptions around some of Australia’s most notorious, and perhaps misunderstood, reptiles. Rise of the Swamp Cats (2 x 60 min.), from London’s DocYard and copro partner Arte France, follows a pride of 70 lions in a Botswana wetland.
Ireland’s Wild Mountains (pictured, 2 x 43 min. or 3 x 60 min. for a hosted version) hails from Irish prodco Crossing the Line Productions, and explores the high mountains stretching across Ireland’s western seaboard. It’s coproduced by Arte G.E.I.E for the non-hosted version, and Irish pubcaster RTÉ for the hosted series.
The Dirty Truth About Britain's Rivers by Joseph Sermon
Since water was privatised in 1989, companies have paid out over £74 billion in dividends to shareholders - while discharging raw sewage into Britain's rivers and seas hundreds of thousands of times a year.
This film investigates how that happened, who benefits from it, and whether it can be fixed.
It follows the money behind England's privatised water system, speaks to people whose health and local environment have been affected, and asks why a country that invented modern sewage treatment has some of the worst water quality in Europe.
Dale Templar and Owen Gay’s indie, One Tribe TV, has been commissioned by Canada’s national public broadcaster, CBC, alongside Canadian production company Hemmings Films, to produce an ambitious new science and natural history documentary exploring the true story behind the largest ape ever known to have walked the Earth.
The Real King Kong (1 x 60 mins) is produced for CBC’s science and nature series, The Nature of Things. The film is also being made for cinematic release in partnership with London-based Featuristic Films. It follows the globe-spanning scientific discovery and investigation of the prehistoric Gigantopithecus blacki based on current fossil discoveries. This ice-age primate has inspired the legends of the Yeti and Sasquatch.
Standing up to 3.7 metres tall and weighing as much as 300kg, Gigantopithecus blacki remains one of prehistory’s greatest mysteries, with scientists still divided over whether climate change, habitat collapse or the arrival of early humans ultimately drove the species to extinction.
Blending cutting-edge animation, dramatic reconstruction and with access to leading international palaeontologists and anthropologists, the film examines how this Ice Age ape lived, evolved and ultimately disappeared after surviving on Earth for almost two million years. VFX will be created in collaboration with Canadian VFX studio Pixel Piranhas Inc who will recreate the world of the Pleistocene epoch and bring Gigantopithecus blacki to life on screen.
Prince William and Robert Irwin Board the Bus with Climate Campaigners | Earthshot Prize
All Aboard Route 2030, heading for The Earthshot Prize Impact Assembly.
A conversation between Prince William, Robert Irwin and two climate campaigners - Clover Hogan and Pranav Sharma on board the Route 2030 electric bus offers a glimpse of something bigger: that progress to repair our planet is happening in London and around the world.
Across countries, cultures and generations, people are stepping up, acting at huge scale, and building a better world for all of us, and our passengers onboard, like Earthshot Finalists, are an inspiration in showing that change is not only possible, it’s happening now.
The Earthshot Prize, founded by HRH Prince William in 2020, is the world’s most prestigious and impactful environmental award. Our mission is simple: Urgency + Optimism = Action. Each year, we identify, celebrate and back groundbreaking climate leaders across five Earthshots: Clean Our Air, Fix Our Climate, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Protect and Restore Nature – awarding £1M to five Winners and connecting all 15 Finalists to a global network of funders, businesses, and communities.
OTF inks rep deal with Andrew Zikking’s DocYard TV
Factual content distributor, Off the Fence, has signed a new representation deal with Andrew Zikking’s fledgling indie, DocYard TV.
Under the deal, Off the Fence will add two new premium nature-based doc series to its catalogue; Hidden Kingdom: Kalahari (2 x 60’), and Ancient Eden: Mayan Jungle (w/t) (2 x 60’) both originally produced for French/German channel ARTE.
The series were both acquired by OTF’s head of acquisitions Loren Baxter in a deal with Andrew Zikking’s Bristol based indie, DocYard TV. Zikking, former MD of Off the Fence Productions has credits spanning over 200 hours of specialist factual television as an executive, series producer, director and editor, including credits as exec producer of multi award winning documentaries Silverback and My Octopus Teacher.
Hidden Kingdom: Kalahari transports viewers into Botswana’s notoriously harsh Kalahari Desert, to witness extraordinary behaviour from its surprisingly diverse wildlife, including leopard’s, wild dogs, hyena and elephants, all during one of the region’s most severe droughts in centuries.
Ancient Eden: Mayan Jungle is brand-new history/nature documentary co-produced and fronted by Dan O’Neill who will be joined again on the show by his Tiger Island co- presenter and wildlife camera operator Anna Dimitriadis. Alongside a host of scientists and archaeologists, the series explores the enduring mysteries of the Mayans through a fresh lens: their extraordinary impact on the natural world. Filming in July 2026, during the most powerful El Nino for decades, Dan, Anna and the team will travel to Mexico to study the impact of climate change on the forest’s unique wildlife, and by studying the ancient ruins, culture, and forest, learn lessons from the ancient Mayan civilisation that could provide the key to saving this wild paradise.
NBC has greenlit its Emmy-nominated nature documentary series “The Americas” for a second season, exploring new regions and digging deeper into the wildlife and landscapes that the supercontinent has to offer.
Production is currently underway, and the new season is set to premiere in 2028.
Special episodes will roll out in the lead up to season two, starting with “The Americas: A Wild 250th,” airing July 2 at 9pm ET/PT on NBC and next day on Peacock. NBC will also air “The Americas: Mother’s Day” in 2027.
Tom Hanks is set to return as narrator for all new episodes, including the specials.
“We’re thrilled to bring ‘The Americas’ back into viewers’ homes, taking them on a journey that reveals even more of the extraordinary worlds, iconic landscapes and remarkable wildlife that make North and South America so compelling — all while blending breathtaking scale, discovery, humor and heart,” said Sharon Vuong, Executive Vice President, Unscripted Programming, NBC. “With Tom Hanks’ distinctive voice behind the awe-inspiring visuals and with our partners at UTAS and BBC Studios Natural History Unit, season two is poised to deliver even further on the series’ commitment to unique storytelling and bold explorations of the natural world.
ZDF Studios Secures Global Distribution for “Lord Howe Island – Reset of Paradise”
Florian Guthknecht’s latest wildlife documentary chronicles ecological collapse and restoration on a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.
ZDF Studios is expanding its international catalogue of premium nature and wildlife programming by taking on worldwide distribution of “Lord Howe Island – Reset of Paradise” (1 x 60’) from internationally acclaimed wildlife filmmaker Florian Guthknecht.
Nikolas Hülbusch, Director Unscripted at ZDF Studios, said: “‘Lord Howe Island – Reset of Paradise’ is an ideal addition to our nature documentary portfolio. Florian Guthknecht’s new film is far more than an observation of nature: it tells a story about humanity’s ability to destroy nature – and our equally powerful ability to restore it. Especially at a time of global climate and biodiversity crises, this film shows that nature can recover when responsibility is taken. We are delighted to distribute this hopeful story internationally and make it accessible to audiences worldwide.”
The island’s ecological balance was pushed to the brink of collapse by introduced rats and mice. Rather than accepting this fate, residents joined forces with scientists, including renowned photographer and naturalist Ian Hutton, as well as national park rangers, to undertake an unprecedented rescue mission. Over nearly three years, the island was completely cleared of invasive rodents. What followed was a remarkable recovery captured on film: vegetation began to regenerate, insects and birds returned, and species long thought extinct for centuries reappeared. Life flourished again in ways that surprised even experts.
What wildlife documentaries don’t show: 6 times filming turned terrifying, from nearly dying in Antarctica to being arrested for subversive activities
Filming a wildlife documentary is no small feat – and sometimes, nature is working against you by Magda Patynska
Capturing wildlife on film isn’ t without risk, but filming crews are kept safe by numerous safety measures and equipment. However, even those sometimes fail in a stark reminder that nature is wildly unpredictable.
6 times filming a wildlife documentary has gone scarily wrong
A close call
A journey out onto the river in Zimbabwe to film the mesmerising lunar rainbows that form in the mist of Victoria Falls during a full moon turned into a life or death situation for Jamie McPherson and Tommy Varley
“As I was to discover, filming rainbows is not necessarily a serene experience,” said McPherson.
The two men headed out onto the water in a small fibreglass speedboat; the plan was to spend the night filming and head back upstream in the morning. After catching a beautiful sequence of lunar rainbows on camera, they packed the kit back up. McPherson was a bit nervous about how close they were to the edge (about 30 metres), but got on with the job at hand.
And then...
“We’re out of fuel,” Tommy yelled.
The engine cut out, and the boat was carried by the fast-flowing water towards the 100m drop.
We’re excited to announce the official film selections for the 2026 World Wildlife Day Film Showcase, presented by Jackson Wild in partnership with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
We're proud to help shine a spotlight on stories that are too often underappreciated - stories of medicinal and aromatic plants, and of the communities whose knowledge and care sustain them. These films remind us that protecting biodiversity is inseparable from protecting health, heritage, and livelihoods. Christie Quinn,
Executive Director, Jackson Wild
The four selected films aligned with the 2026 World Wildlife Day theme, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage, and Livelihoods, explore stories rooted in culture, conservation, and community—highlighting how the protection of medicinal and aromatic plants supports ecosystems, sustains livelihoods, and preserves generations of ancestral wisdom.
2026 Official Selection Films
As announced during the UN World Wildlife Day 2026 celebrations on March 3:
CAFÉ Y AVES
Roshan Patel, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Indian Sandalwood
DAISY SKY
Plant Path
Karthic SS, Think Nature
Waiting for Alstonia
A film by Elodie Freymann
All selected films are available to stream online for free through December 31, 2026, offering educators, community groups, and audiences worldwide the opportunity to engage with these powerful stories on their own schedules.
Britain, Unexpected
- Five surprising discoveries from a German film crew exploring the UK’s wildest places
The UK is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. Yet around 10% of the country is protected as national parks.
Across these areas wildlife continues to thrive, from remote uplands to ancient forests and exposed coastlines. These places are shaped by both nature and people. Inside Britain’s National Parks explores these iconic landscapes.
The series is created by a young German production company from Berlin, encountering Britain’s national parks with fresh eyes. Here, they share their five most surprising discoveries.
1. Caring for the environment
One of the biggest surprises was the locals’ level of commitment to protecting their environment.
Across all four parks, people dedicate large parts of their lives to it. From rangers to volunteers, conservation here is not just policy, it is personal. What drives people like the guardian of a temperate rainforest on Dartmoor? Or the Commoners in the New Forest? Their spirit is rooted in wondrous traditions, carried forward over generations. In Britain, things tend to follow a plan.
And it makes sense: on an island, space is never taken for granted, so you’d better look after it.
Neon Buys Bong Joon Ho’s First Animated Feature ‘Ally,’ About a Piglet Squid Who Dreams of Movie Stardom
The "Parasite" and "The Host" filmmaker is turning to animation for the first time with his "Ally," but it's not all new: he's also re-teaming with his "Parasite" distributor to bring the film to the world.
Neon has acquired North American rights to Bong Joon Ho’s highly anticipated debut animated feature film, “Ally.” The filmmaker returns to Neon following the release of his “Parasite,” which won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Director, and Original Screenplay, in addition to the film winning Best International Feature Film, becoming the first film to win both Best Picture and Best International Feature Film. The film will be completed in the first half of 2027. Neon will give the film a wide theatrical release in North America in the same year.
Academy Award–winning writer and director Bong Joon Ho’s first animated feature, “Ally,” isn’t even here yet, and look, we’re already learning so much from it. Like, is a “piglet squid” — the species at the center of the film — real? You bet it is, and it’s adorable.
Director Bong and his team have today revealed a first look at “Ally,” which has been in development since 2019. Bong directed the film and co-wrote the script alongside “Sleep” filmmaker Jason Yu.
Per today’s announcement, the film follows “a curious and endearing piglet squid living in the uncharted depths of the South Pacific Ocean. She dreams of one day seeing the sun and becoming the star of a wildlife documentary. But when a mysterious aircraft sinks into the ocean, her peaceful world is suddenly thrown into danger. Alongside her colorful and loyal — yet unlikely — companions, Ally is thrust into an extraordinary journey that will take her all the way to the surface.”
National Geographic has announced the next instalments of the Emmy-winning “Secrets of” franchise, Secrets of the Bees, with all episodes streaming April 1 on Disney+.and National Geographic WILD.
Secrets of the Bees is produced by Silverback Films and James Cameron’s Lightstorm Earth
Hosted and narrated by explorer Bertie Gregory, Secrets of the Bees uses groundbreaking filming technology to reveal the extraordinary world of bees. With the expertise of entomologist and fellow National Geographic Explorer Dr. Samuel Ramsey, the series uncovers their astonishing architecture and intelligence, unlocking their secrets and featuring never-before-filmed moments.
For its fifth anniversary, ‘Secrets of’ turns its lens to one of Earth’s smallest yet most vital heroes: bees,” says executive producer James Cameron. “Far more than pollinators, bees are socially complex, fast-thinking individuals and the most important insects on our planet. Their impact on the natural world and humanity is immeasurable, and we’re only just beginning to see how extraordinary they truly are.”
National Geographic’s Secrets of the Bees will kick off its Earth Month initiative in April 2026.
Secrets of the Bees is produced by Silverback Films for National Geographic. Emmy Award-winners James Cameron and Maria Wilhelm for Lightstorm Earth are executive producers. For Silverback Films, Alastair Fothergill and Huw Cordey serve as series producers, and Nadége Laici serves as producer and director. Pam Caragol is executive producer for National Geographic.
Here, they say: Today, we are joined by Tania Esteban, a wildlife filmmaker who is guiding us on how to capture wildlife in more suburban and city landscapes, taking us on a deep dive into what you can find with just a little intuition, a camera, and a good zoom lens.
Foley in Wildlife Films: How Sound Design Brings Nature to Life – Roxy the Zoologist
Sound is one of the most powerful tools in wildlife filmmaking, yet much of what we hear in documentaries isn’t recorded in the wild at all. From the subtle rustle of leaves under a fox’s paws to the flap of a bird’s wings, these sounds are often recreated in studios using Foley and sound design.
In this video, filmed in collaboration with Wounded Buffalo, we take you behind the scenes of wildlife sound design to show exactly how these immersive audio experiences are created. You’ll learn what Foley is, why filmmakers rely on it to make wildlife feel alive, and how professional sound designers capture and craft every detail that often goes unnoticed by the audience.
This educational look at wildlife audio reveals the creative process that transforms raw footage into a fully immersive cinematic experience. From subtle textures to dramatic moments, sound design shapes the way we experience the natural world on screen and understanding it is key to both creating and appreciating great wildlife films.
An intern to NatGeo - Wildlife Filmmaker Sandesh Kadur on the Toehold Masterchat
In this edition of the Toehold MasterChat, we are having a wonderful conversation with the legendary wildlife filmmaker, National Geographic Explorer, and trustee Sandesh Kadur.
Known for his breathtaking documentaries and relentless passion for conservation, Sandesh shares his journey of visual storytelling, fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from his documentaries, his experience as a NatGeo Explorer and trustee, and much more!
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.
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.
Behind the scenes of the Amazon’s gold rush: Director Richard Ladkani on the making of ‘Yanuni’
Austrian director and cinematographer Richard Ladkani knew little about the Amazon Rainforest before he decided to make a film about it.
It was 2019. Fires raged across the Amazon. Ladkani had just finished his film Sea of Shadows, about the desperate effort to rescue the critically endangered vaquita porpoise in the Sea of Cortés and the drug cartels and traffickers threatening its habitat.
He was inhaling news about the fires, which got him thinking: “Is there a movie out there that really explains to people, emotionally, that this is our Amazon? That we’re losing not a remote place far away in Brazil or South America, but that this actually relates to us, wherever you live on the planet?”
Ladkani soon found that the impact-driven film he envisioned did not exist. And so, the first seeds of Yanuni were sown.
Filmed across two worlds, the Brazilian capital Brasília and a remote village in the Xipaya Indigenous Territory, the documentary film focuses on Juma Xipaia, an Indigenous chief from the Brazilian Amazon. It centers her ongoing effort to confront illegal gold miners, land grabbers and multinational corporations threatening the Amazon’s forests, alongside her husband, Hugo Loss, the head of special operations at Brazil’s environmental protection agency, IBAMA, who leads dangerous operations to crack down on illegal mining deep in the rainforest.
The film captures the personal realities environmental defenders face in the Amazon and features rare video of an IBAMA mission to combat illegal miners.
Yanuni was screened in Washington, D.C., on March 28 at the DC Environmental Film Festival (DCEFF), where Mongabay is a media partner.
In an interview with Mongabay’s Aimee Gabay, Ladkani shares behind-the-scenes insights into capturing the life of the Indigenous conservation leader, the filming process, important conversations, and the critical events in Yanuni that bring the Amazon’s dramatic stories to the big screen. The interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Ahead of their world premiere screening of Secrets of the Bees last month, DCEFF Advisory Council member Maggie Dewane sat down with Nat Geo Explorer Bertie Gregory and filmmaker Nadège Laici.
With the two-part National Geographic special Secrets of the Bees now streaming on Hulu and Disney+, this insightful conversation makes for great supplemental viewing for those looking to learn more. How did they get such stunning footage? Is Bertie deathly allergic to bee stings or just very allergic? How can you, the viewer, support pollinators? And more!
From Executive Producer James Cameron, SECRET OF THE BEES follows Bertie Gregory as he explores the extraordinary lives of bees - among the planet's most important animals.
Known as the Highland tiger, Scottish wildcats are among the UK’s most iconic predators. They form a crucial part of Scotland’s natural heritage and once roamed across Britain and Europe. However, over time, persecution, habitat loss, disease, and hybridisation with domestic cats drove the population close to extinction.
These pressures explain why Scottish wildcats are endangered today.
As Britain’s last remaining native cat and one of its few apex predators, Scottish wildcats play a vital role in healthy ecosystems. They regulate prey numbers and help diversify woodland and grassland habitats. In 2019, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature declared the species ‘functionally extinct’ in the wild. This is because, at that point, too few wildcats remained to rebuild a healthy population, even with full legal protection.
So, without a strategic programme to strengthen genetic health and release wildcats back into suitable habitats, Scotland would have lost the species entirely.
The Film by Saving Wildcats
The Scottish wildcat documentary Clinging by a Claw is a 60-minute film narrated by Outlander star Sam Heughan. It follows the struggle and hopeful comeback of the Scottish wildcat, tracing its journey from the brink of extinction. Along the way, it reveals intimate moments of wildcats living in the rugged landscape of the Cairngorms National Park.
The film also examines conservation work led by Saving Wildcats, showing how coordinated action supports safe reintroductions across the Highlands. Set against striking Highland scenery, the documentary offers both a warning and a hopeful vision for the future of Scottish wildcats.
Clinging by a Claw was produced SCOTLAND: The Big Picture.
The Dinosaurs review – Morgan Freeman’s narration is so soothing, you could use this as a relaxation aid
Yes, there are plenty of big-budget visual effects of prehistoric creatures in Steven Spielberg’s natural history show. But the voiceover is the real draw.
It’s difficult these days to make a nature documentary that isn’t like all the others. Spectacular landscapes, crisp closeup photography, tales of predation and survival, birth and death: whether you go for Pixar cuteness, crimson claws or environmental crisis, it’s been done 100 times before. Watching The Dinosaurs, it’s hard not to sense the same problem starting to affect factual shows about the animal kingdom as it was millions of years ago. Impressive as it is that big-money dino documentaries boast visual effects that look similar to footage of Earth today, we are getting used to it.
Before the opening titles roll, cliches from two genres have been cross-bred. From regular animal shows, there’s the one where a lone male tries to muscle in on a family unit, forcing the existing patriarch to fight for his status against a younger, stronger rival. Our friend who looks as if he’s about to be fatally pushed aside is a pachycephalosaurus, but the dynamic is the same. Then the two males’ head-smashing battle is interrupted by a familiar sight from dinosaur documentaries: the animal posing a threat is suddenly bitten in two by a Tyrannosaurus rex, leaping unbidden through the undergrowth with a camp flourish. The pachycephalosaurus clan, led by their relieved dad, scurry happily away to the sound of the interloper’s cracking skull.
On voiceover is Morgan Freeman, a reliable provider of grand Hollywood vibes whose gravelly folk-tale delivery is starting to slide into self-parody, but no less pleasing for that. He has a lovely habit of bringing us home in the last half-syllable of a line by modulating down into a bassy growl, not unlike the satisfied sigh of a sated apex predator. With him talking us through it, you could conceivably use the audio of The Dinosaurs as a relaxation tape.
The 40-minute Director's Cut of Chasing Time is officially available to stream for free on YouTube!
In honor of World Day for Glaciers, we invite you to experience Chasing Time the way the creators of the film intended.
This full-length, 40 minute Director's Cut of the film reflects the full artistic visions of co-directors Jeff Orlowski-Yang (The Social Dilemma, Chasing Coral, and Chasing Ice) and Sarah Keo. This is also the version of Chasing Time that made the 2026 Academy Awards Shortlist for Best Documentary Short and has been screened at film festivals worldwide.
Chasing Time follows photographer James Balog and his team as they bring to a close the wide-ranging, ground-based photographic study of glaciers.
Throughout the film, James and his team reflect on the legacy their efforts have left on the world and embrace the truth that combating climate change isn't a sprint but a relay race.
Wildstar Foundation
announces that they will be
joining Wildscreen Festival
2026 as Headline Sponsor
Wildstar Foundation has announced that they'll be supporting Wildscreen Festival as Headline Sponsor, cementing its commitment to nurturing and amplifying global voices and talent in natural history filmmaking
It marks a return to Nairobi, from the first edition which launched in 2023. Since then, the Wildscreen Festival African editions have grown into the continent’s most influential gathering of the wildlife film, TV and content industry with the goal of supporting a more equitable, sustainable and inclusive wildlife content genre for Africans both within the continent and globally.
The Festival Programme which will span industry talks, panels, premieres and networking will be curated by with the support of a Festival Advisory Board, comprised of representatives spanning the international wildlife film and TV industry, African filmmakers and conservation organisations.
The Chair of the 2026 edition is award-winning Producer/Director Faith Musembi, whose credits include QUEENS (National Geographic/Disney+), winner of Best Series at Wildscreen 2024, CHASING THE RAINS (Love Nature, Sky Nature, Arte) and is currently Producer/Director on LION, a landmark BBC Studios Natural History Unit series for National Geographic.
Faith Musembi, Chair of Wildscreen Festival Kenya said: “Seeds planted at that first Festival in Kenya in 2023 have since grown into jobs, commissions and meaningful industry collaborations and partnerships. It feels like a full-circle moment for our community, while also driving us to keep investing in and developing our own talent and creative economy within the wildlife genre."
Vanessa Berlowitz, Co-Founder of Wildstar Foundation said: “We were lucky enough to have Faith lend her creativity and authenticity to Wildstar Films’ QUEENS at the beginning of her directing journey and we are proud that she continues to collaborate with us through the Wildstar Foundation today. The Foundation was built on the belief that, in a time of crisis, our planet needs authentic, global storytellers. It’s a belief that is embodied by this Nairobi based Wildscreen festival and we are honoured to support Faith, the event and the community it reaches.
Lucie Muir, CEO of Wildscreen said: "Faith is not only immensely talented filmmaker but she continues to break ground within the wildlife storytelling genre globally both with the stories she tells and the storytellers she nurtures. She's a true visionary who opens doors, widens them and keeps them open for underrepresented and authentic voices to tell and own their own stories. We’re honoured to have her as Chair and so thankful to Wildstar Foundation and all our partners and community for standing alongside us to deliver Wildscreen Festival Kenya as part of our goal to nurture a more equitable natural history industry."
Wildscreen Festival Returns to Kenya for 2026 African Edition
Wildscreen Festival is returning to Nairobi, Kenya, for its fourth African-based edition, scheduled for June 11 and 12.
The first edition of Wildscreen’s African festival took place in Nairobi in 2023. Wildstar Foundation will be supporting the upcoming fourth edition as headline sponsor.
The event will convene over 200 delegates from across Africa and key global players, including filmmakers, production companies, broadcasters, streamers and conservationists, from over 12 countries. The program will span industry talks, panels, premieres and networking events, curated with the support of a festival advisory board.
The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) is supporting the event as a major sponsor. UWE’s renowned MA Wildlife Filmmaking program is co-designed with producers, directors and production managers from the BBC Studios Natural History Unit, who will also support as sponsors.
The chair of the 2026 edition is award-winning producer and director Faith Musembi (Queens, Chasing the Rains, Lion).
“Seeds planted at that first festival in Kenya in 2023 have since grown into jobs, commissions and meaningful industry collaborations and partnerships,” Musembi said. “It feels like a full-circle moment for our community, while also driving us to keep investing in and developing our own talent and creative economy within the wildlife genre.”
“We were lucky enough to have Faith lend her creativity and authenticity to Wildstar Films’ Queens at the beginning of her directing journey, and we are proud that she continues to collaborate with us through the Wildstar Foundation today,” commented Vanessa Berlowitz, co-founder of Wildstar Foundation. “The foundation was built on the belief that, in a time of crisis, our planet needs authentic, global storytellers. It’s a belief that is embodied by this Nairobi-based Wildscreen Festival, and we are honored to support Faith, the event and the community it reaches.”
Lucie Muir, CEO of Wildscreen, added, “Faith is not only an immensely talented filmmaker but she continues to break ground within the wildlife storytelling genre globally both with the stories she tells and the storytellers she nurtures. She’s a true visionary who opens doors, widens them and keeps them open for underrepresented and authentic voices to tell and own their own stories. We’re honored to have her as Chair and so thankful to Wildstar Foundation and all our partners and community for standing alongside us to deliver Wildscreen Festival Kenya as part of our goal to nurture a more equitable natural history industry.”
Watch the First Trailer for Disneynature’s ‘Orangutan,’ Premiering on Disney+ on Earth Day
A new trailer and key art for Disneynature’s “Orangutan” are now available ahead of the film’s exclusive Disney+ debut on Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22, 2026.
Narrated by Disney Legend Josh Gad, the trailer introduces Indah, a young and curious adolescent orangutan who is leaving the nest for the first time and stepping into the rainforest canopy on her own. The film is part of Disney and National Geographic’s “Step into Wonder” Earth Month 2026 campaign, which brings a full slate of nature content to Disney+ and Disney parks throughout April.
Disneynature’s “Orangutan” takes viewers into the treetops of a rainforest canopy in Southeast Asia, following a community of orangutans whose personalities are as distinct as their surroundings are breathtaking. At the center of the story is Indah, an inquisitive adolescent orangutan who is preparing to leave her family and make her way in the world for the first time. The film is built around themes of courage, family, and belonging, told through the kind of immersive wildlife filmmaking that has defined the Disneynature brand.
The film is directed by Mark Linfield and co-directed by Vanessa Berlowitz. Both Linfield and Berlowitz serve as producers alongside Roy Conli. Original music for the film is composed by Nitin Sawhney.
The production of “Orangutan” relied heavily on the expertise and field support of the Ketambe Research Center in Sumatra, one of the world’s longest-running orangutan research stations. The center and its teams provided the filmmakers with guidance and on-the-ground support nearly every day while they were filming in the field. That partnership gave the production access to knowledge and access that would have been impossible to replicate otherwise.
The film features exhilarating action sequences, close-up wildlife encounters, and an extensive look at the biodiversity of the jungle surrounding the orangutans’ canopy home. It is the latest in a line of Disneynature films that bring animal stories to life with both cinematic craft and scientific grounding.
My Garden of a Thousand Bees review – a joyous film on the unbearable lightness of bee-ing
This gasp-inducing documentary shows a man buzzing over the remarkable insects that bumble around his garden … and ended up changing his life
Martin Dohrn likes bees. Big bees, small bees, angry bees, randy bees, bees with voluminous ruffs and calves like tiny Henry VIIIs – rare is the bee that Dohrn doesn’t deem worthy of … what, exactly? Appreciation? Or something more profound?
“It’s hard to explain,” says the veteran wildlife photographer, peering at us through his red-framed glasses while perched at his gadget-strewn kitchen table. “But I really feel for bees. They’re really … I mean, I could say they’re my friends.”
And why not? If My Garden of a Thousand Bees has a theme (other than “bees”), it’s that companionship can thrive in the least likely places. The least likely place in this instance being a small patch of urban Bristol, where the spring and summer of 2020 found Dohrn directing his expertly modified bumble-cams at the 60+ species of bee that frequented his back garden. We meet the wool carder bee, with its bald back and ferocious aerial combat skills; the ashy mining bee, with its exhausted waddle and washed-out pelt, like a bumblebee that’s spent the last four decades grumbling about the ex-missus on a bench outside Ladbrokes; and the red-tailed mason bee, which builds its nest in an empty snail shell before topping it with a hipsterish dried-grass wigwam. I imagine a lightly pyjama’ed Kevin McCloud, watching at home, permitting himself a nod of admiration.
They’re all here, bumbling through the hazy Bristol sunshine while Dohrn, face scrunched up as he watches through his state-of-the-art magnifying lens, says things like “wow”, “yes” and “oh man, will you look at that!”.
Bees live in “a completely different dimension”, he says. Et voilà, a “time-stretching” approach to film-making that results in gasp-inducing detail and a soundtrack pitched somewhere between a bustling heliport and a distant conversation between drunken lawnmowers.
There is something pleasantly bee-like about Dohrn’s award-winning film, too. A leisurely thing, it drifts woozily around the photographer’s garden, picking up facts here and there and storing them like pollen in little pouches on the backs of its thighs. Not too many facts, mind. This is no place for statistics or percentages. The photographer’s narrative bag is an altogether looser affair, with as many shrugs and ellipses as there are firm specifics on, say, the climate crisis: “All over the world, bees are declining” is all we get on the doom-boffin front. Consequently, Dohrn – an affable, wistful sort who wears a range of crumpled action-shorts and calls us “mate” – often appears as awestruck and bewildered by his hairy quarry as we do.
Enter an industrious leafcutter bee called Nicky. Dohrn is smitten.He leans towards her nest, nose filling the screen like a nostrilly Jupiter.They bond. “I could tell she was looking at me. Does she know these are my eyes?” he asks, pointing at his eyes. “Scientists have shown that honeybees can recognise individual people, so why wouldn’t she?”
Why Wildlife Filmmakers Are Forbidden from Intervening in Nature | Wild Memoirs of a Film Crew
In this featured episode of Wild Memoirs of a Film Crew
, experience the unedited chaos of life in the field ...
In this episode the film crew and presenters reflect on heart stopping wild encounters as Katy experiences a wild hyena come up and sniff her shoulder, Karina is touched by an elephant on the bonnet of the land rover, while Craig is charged by a huge bull elephant and our stills photographer rolls down a sand bank. Katy shares her devious prank plan by making Craig eat rock rabbit droppings. An elephant lifts Craig's hat, drops it on the ground and proceeds to wee on it! Neil shares his experiences of filming wild dog hunts from his motorbike with steady camera gimbals. Karina and Craig experience a jaw dropping lion charge. The crew share some funny moments of hilarious wildlife guides and presenters of the past. A sad event plays out as Nicola and Craig are charged by an angry elephant mother as she tries to protect her dying baby.
Kevin Bacon Wants You To Swap Meat For Beans One Day Per Week
Award-winning actor Kevin Bacon is backing Humane World for Animals' new meat-free "Beansday"
Kevin Bacon has suggested swapping meat for beans on a Wednesday to improve your health, harm fewer animals, and protect the planet.
In a playful PSA for Humane World for Animals, the actor joked about changing his name to “Kevin Bean” in recognition of “Beansday.”
Humane World for Animals launched Beansday earlier this week as a Meat Free Monday-style way for people to reduce their consumption of animal products.
“You know me as Kevin Bacon, but on Wednesdays I’m Kevin Bean. Because Wednesday is Beansday, the day we swap meat for beans. They’re packed with protein and fibre, they keep you full longer, you save money and animals; they’re just beans until you realise how many animals they spare,” Bacon said in the PSA. “Observing Beans Day is a small step that makes a big difference. Take it from me, Kevin Bean.”
A deeply moving documentary honoring an animal rights pioneer is coming to your screen. Vegan FTA reports that I’m Trying, directed by Toronto-based filmmaker Ray Cruzzola, captures the profound legacy of Canadian activist Regan Russell.
Regan was tragically killed in 2020 while peacefully bearing witness outside an Ontario pig slaughterhouse.
Following its highly anticipated release, the film has deeply resonated across the advocacy community. I'm Trying explores themes of grief, love, and resilience. It features intimate interviews with Regan's parents and closest friends. Crucially, the film highlights how her spirit endures as fellow activists carry on her vital mission through the global Plant-Based Treaty campaign.
"If you were in the truck, we’d be here for you too.’ Please help us continue Regan’s legacy and be there for the animals and the planet who still desperately need our advocacy." - Regan Russell
Award-Winning ‘More Like Paul’ Documentary Is Now Streaming On YouTube
An award-winning documentary about an 87-year-old vegan ultra runner has just arrived on YouTube
The award-winning documentary More Like Paul is now available to stream on the Plant Based News (PBN) YouTube channel.
The film follows Paul Youd, an 87-year-old vegan runner, as he attempts to complete 100 ultramarathons before his 100th birthday.
The film, titled What Do You Really Know About Dairy?, will bring together undercover investigations, expert interviews and scientific evidence to examine what Viva! describes as the hidden reality of modern dairy farming – and the decades of marketing that have shielded it from public scrutiny.
An ultramarathon is any race longer than the traditional marathon, which is 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers). Ultramarathons are typically at least 31 miles (50 kilometers) long.
You´d will need to complete an average of six “ultras” per year to meet his target of 100, and he has now completed more than 27. He is simultaneously challenging himself to do one million press-ups before he turns 90 next year, and is currently on track for both milestones.
Exciting news from Viva! - Hogwood Farm is FINALLY closing.
Planning documents reveal that Hogwood’s intensive pig operation will shut down for good in September 2026, with the farm’s own planning statement explicitly citing Viva!’s investigations and relentless public pressure as a core reason the business became unviable.
The owner tried to sell to three major industry suppliers, including Cranswick. None of them would touch it. And with that, the countdown to the closure begins.
Viva! Marks World Milk Day by Announcing Major Dairy Documentary
Vegan campaigning charity Viva! kicks off a major crowdfunding campaign to fund What Do You Really Know About Dairy?, the UK’s first documentary challenging decades of dairy industry spin.
Leading vegan campaigning organisation Viva! has today launched a major crowdfunding campaign aiming to raise £25,000 from the public and will soon be unlocking a further £25,000 in match funding to produce what it says will be the UK’s first documentary dedicated entirely to exposing the dairy industry.
The campaign launches on World Milk Day to challenge the narrative promoted by the dairy lobby on one of its most prominent dates in the calendar.
The film, titled What Do You Really Know About Dairy?, will bring together undercover investigations, expert interviews and scientific evidence to examine what Viva! describes as the hidden reality of modern dairy farming – and the decades of marketing that have shielded it from public scrutiny.
For generations, consumers have been told that dairy is natural, healthy and necessary. These messages are reinforced through advertising, school curricula, government guidance and the industry itself. Viva! contends that this carefully constructed image conceals a far more troubling reality: cows repeatedly impregnated to sustain milk production, calves separated from their mothers shortly after birth and health claims that are, the charity argues, increasingly at odds with the scientific evidence.
A provocative campaign by Project Slingshot has launched on the London Underground in the UK, aiming to bring to light the secretive practice of slaughtering pigs in gas chambers.
Supported by comedians Diane Morgan, Jen Brister and Shabaz Ali, TV’s Dr Amir Khan, and TV personality and athlete Mathew Pritchard, the ads challenge the industry’s claims that CO2 gassing qualifies as “humane slaughter”
In England and Wales, 90% of pigs are slaughtered inside CO2 gas chambers, which according to a 2025 report by a government advisory body, causes severe pain, fear, anxiety, and respiratory distress.
More than 750 ads will appear in 206 London Underground stations, and there are 2,200 more inside tube carriages, for two months from today. The stations include Euston, Charing Cross, Liverpool Street, Embankment, and Kings Cross St Pancras.
Does The King Know About This? – Project Slingshot
Project Slingshot has officially taken the truth to the streets of London.
Backed by Green Party Leader Zack Polanski, the campaign projected hard-hitting footage onto major landmarks—including Buckingham Palace, Parliament, Defra, and the Tate Modern—to reveal what 10 million pigs go through annually inside CO2 gas chambers.
During the demonstration, comedian Diane Morgan pointedly asked: “Does the king know about this?”
It's time to end the silence surrounding industrial factory farming. See the powerful footage for yourself and join the movement to demand change. Visit: projectslingshot.com
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
When Your Crew is Hours from Help, Preparation is Everything
Filming overseas?
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When you’re out of range of immediate medical support, knowing how to respond in the first minutes after an injury can save lives — and save your production.
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 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! 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 five 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.
