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2008 Panda Award Winners Announced On Wednesday 22nd October in Bristol, at a glittering ceremony, actress and comedienne Joanna Lumley and television presenter Steve Leonard presented Wildscreen’s infamous Panda Awards to the world’s best wildlife and environmental filmmakers. The Awards, which have been running for 26 years, are firmly established as the most prestigious in the natural history filmmaking calendar. Over 420 entries were received this year, with 22 prizes awarded. At the Awards Joanna Lumley said, "It’s very heartening to see so many films with a strong environmental focus – it seems at last the environment is going mainstream, and is on everyone's agenda." The top award, the Golden Panda, was awarded to awarded to Life in Cold Blood - Armoured Giants a BBC Natural History Unit programme presented by Sir David Attenborough. Sir David joined colleagues from the Natural History Unit to collect the Award. This year's award winners, listed in order of presentation: BBC
NEWCOMER AWARD CAMPAIGN
AWARD UWE
CHILDREN’S CHOICE AWARD PRESENTER-LED
AWARD FIVE
AWARD FOR POPULAR BROADCAST PROGRAMME EARTH
SCIENCE AWARD NEWS
AWARD ARKIVE
NEW MEDIA AWARD PARTHENON
ENTERTAINMENT AWARD FOR INNOVATION WILDSCREEN’S
AWARD TO PROMOTE FILMMAKERS FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES GRANADA
AWARD FOR ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR NATURAL
HISTORY MUSEUM ENVIRONMENT AWARD ANIMAL
PLANET INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE AND ANIMALS AWARD CHRISTOPHER
PARSON’S AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT BEST
EDITING AWARD FILMS
AT 59 AWARD FOR BEST SOUND BEST
SCRIPT AWARD BEST
MUSIC AWARD BEST
SERIES AWARD PANASONIC
AWARD FOR CINEMATOGRAPHY JURY’S
SPECIAL PRIZE GOLDEN
PANDA Further information on all winning films at http://www.wildscreenfestival.org/index.php?pageid=308&parentid=256 |
32nd IWFF Call for Entries Deadline for Entries: January 31, 2009* (Late entry fee of 20% for all film entries received after deadline. *Final cut-off date is February 9, 2009). Our two-month judging process begins in February and filmmakers are notified via email as to the status of their films' progress through this intensive judging process. For more information, call (406) 728-9380 or email iwff@wildlifefilms.org to receive a Packet in the mail. * See Entry Guidelines, Category Descriptions & Entry Fees, plus Festival Highlights at www.wildlifefilms.org/festivals/iwff/entry.html |
Wild Talk Africa Film Festival Call for Entries Enter your wildlife, travel and / or cultural productions, and stand a chance of walking away with a ROSCAR (Rhino sculpture) Award. The ROSCAR Awards will be awarded to filmmakers at a gala event held during the Durban Wild Talk Africa Film Festival and Conference, which runs from 19 – 23 April 2009 at the ICC Durban. The prestigious evening event promises to be a highlight as tribute is paid to filmmakers for the outstanding contributions that they are making to the natural history industry. Building on the success of the ROSCAR Awards in 2007, six new categories have been added, these include; Best Use of Music; Best Script; Best Series; Best Sound Design; and Outstanding Achievement for African Wildlife Filmmaker. Any production which noticeably impresses the judges, will be put forward for the Judge’s choice Award. The existing ROSCAR Award categories are: Best Editing; Best Cinematography; Best Production with a Limited Budget; Best Children’s Production, which will be judged by schoolchildren; Best Environmental and Conservation/Campaign Production; Best Eco-Tourism, Travel and/or Culture Production; and Best Newcomer. The call for entries is now open. To submit your production for a ROSCAR Award, click onto www.wildtalkafrica.com for the entry form and rules, the entry fee is R350 per entry. All film entries will be listed in the Festival Directory. The deadline for entries is 28 November 2008. |
NaturVision 2008 The Award Winners NaturVision congratulates all award winners of 2008: Best International
Contribution Best German Film Bavarian Film Award Best Cinematography Best Story Best Film in the Children's
Program Science Award The Youth Jury Award Audience Choice Award Children’s vote
for the Best Film in the Children’s Program |
Wildscreen finalists announced The Nomination Panel met over a week in Bristol and comprised of thirteen judges from nine countries, who represented a wide range of industry skills and backgrounds. The team was also joined by an editor and an earth sciences expert, who helped provide those particular categories with additional expertise. Separate specialist judging panels were assembled for the New Media, Theatrical and Children's Choice Awards (the latter comprising school children in both Bristol and Zimbabwe). The judges identified 62 films which will go forward to the final jury in October, just prior to the Festival. There were a few notable and outstanding films, the Campaign Award received several entries "...with outstanding creative approaches to environmental issue campaigns...". In the Natural History Museum's Environment Award judges observed that "the large number of entries in this newly created category clearly reflects the growing importance of environmental issues in our world and in the media, where the topic has graduated from the fringe position it held in the not so distant past to a position of prominence. We saw an extraordinary range of subjects and styles, from major series to student films, which both inspired us and made selection difficult. " Wildscreen would like to pay tribute to Alex Muzi-Falconi. Founder of the Italian not for profit, Progetto Natura, which runs the Valle d'Aosta International Nature Film Festival, Alex was well known to many people in the industry, and had been asked to Chair the Wildscreen Nomination Panel. Sadly, Alex died suddenly at the beginning of the week. We will all miss his joie de vivre, integrity, warmth and generosity of spirit. His family have informed us as to how much Alex had been looking forward to joining the jury, and how honoured and excited he was to have been invited by Wildscreen. Having founded and run his Italian wildlife film festival for 14 years, we very much hope that in the spirit of wildlife filmmaking Alex would have wanted the show to go on, and for the jury to continue without him. He will be missed by us all. Read the full list of finalist films at www.wildscreenfestival.org/index.php?pageid=256&parentid=0 Festival registration opens: Delegate registration is now open - book now to receive the early bird discount and save GBP 135 off the full delegate rate. The delegate rate does not include the Panda Awards' ceremony. Tickets for the Panda Awards' ceremony are sold separately and cost GBP 55. GBP
445 - Early bird delegate fee (before Friday July 11th) |
Ocean Festival - Call for Submissions CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS -- JUNE 1st through September 25th 2008
Santa Barbara Ocean Film Festival - Call for Submissions -- June 1st through
September 25th This
year's film categories are: *The Student Ocean category is open to young people enrolled in school at any grade level, elementary, high school, university, etc. Further information at www.ocean.com/index.asp?LocationID=311&CatId=311 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22ND 2008 at the MARJORIE LUKE THEATRE in Santa Barbara, California
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5th Anniversary Montana CINE International 5th Anniversary - Montana CINE International - The Last Best Film Fest Cultures
and Issues of Nature & the Environment CALL FOR ENTRIES - THROUGH AUGUST 1 For
an entry form, categories and entry fees, please go to Montana CINE International is the Last Best Film Fest in Missoula, Montana. Montana CINE International is a cultural and environmental screenings film festival held every fall and is now in its 5th year. Montana CINE International completes a global picture of why and how we live in our world and interact with our environment. While the International Wildlife Film Festival has a special focus with wildlife as the central theme, the subjects of Montana CINE International are broad, featuring issues that explore the human experience and peoples' relationships with nature and their environment. Films
that are eligible can be features or documentaries, full length of short.
There is no limitation on production year. |
31st International Wildlife Film Festival Summary The 31st IWFF has now come and gone but we hope that many of the friendships, memories, inspirations, ideas and film projects that emerged from this year’s festival will resonate with you for months to come. We’ve received so many emails post-festival with wonderful stories, great comments and some excellent suggestions for next year – we’ll do our best to achieve and implement these. In fact, planning is already underway for another significant IWFF next year, May 9th – 16th 2009. But first things first – our Montana Film Academy, part of our year round International Wildlife Media Center will have us in the field this summer with many young film students, learning the craft of filmmaking and preparing to become the next generation of wildlife filmmakers. October 6-12 will be the 5th Anniversary of our fall Cultural & Environmental Film Festival: Montana CINE International – the last best film fest. A reminder that the Call for Entries for CINE runs until August 1st and there are no restrictions on production year. In fact, Montana CINE is an outgrowth of one of the key issues we discussed at this year’s IWFF, Cross-Over Films – the expanding genre of films that deal with the world around us – culturally, socially, politically, economically and their potential impact on the environment, on wildlife and on the natural world. In early October, you’ll also receive the 32nd IWFF Call for Entries and if you are interested in being a sponsor of the Entry Packet & Festival Highlights, please let us know early this summer. Next year’s IWFF theme is: Global Vision: Innovations & Explorations in Wildlife Media & the Natural World Looking back on this year’s International Wildlife Film Festival, we hope that IWFF gave you something relevant and important for you to take back with you to your work and in your thoughts about wildlife, the natural world and what your role can and should be. One of the things that I hope you gained from this year’s festival, is the extent to which the local community and local schools are involved, celebrating wildlife and the natural world through film and television – not only here in Missoula but from throughout this region. This year, close to 4000 students along with dozens of teachers, parents and families attended film matinees while a total of about 10,000 people turned out for the film screenings! Having you as filmmakers meet the audiences and they in turn meet you, was an experience not to be missed. The 31st IWFF began with the traditional opening weekend festivities featuring the WildWalk Parade and WildFest in Caras Park along the Clark Fork River. While most of you couldn’t be here for these two special events, if you return another year, they are not to be missed! Hundreds of children and families turn out to celebrate wildlife and film and the parade is a spectacle to behold, followed by an afternoon of innovative educational activities and special presentations related to wildlife. Later that afternoon, the films begin at the historic Wilma Theatre and continue on through the week to the following Saturday night. Opening weekend and Monday of Festival Week, we had some wonderful local activities to introduce filmmakers to local culture, natural history and phenomenal recreation, Montana style. The Rocky Mountain School of Photography hosted a photo workshop and hike and despite cloudy skies, the feedback was great and the views breathtaking. If you didn’t make the annual “Climb to the M” we hope you will come a day early next year for the annual journey to the top of the “M.” The views of the city are incomparable! Monday night featured a Welcome Party sponsored by the Montana Film Office which, if you missed it was a wonderful way to get our week going! The Montana Film Office, along with director Sten Iversen and his fantastic assistant Sage, welcomed delegates to the IWFF and to Missoula – the “garden city,” which by the way offers some incredible incentives for filming within the big sky state. If you are planning anything from a feature to a short, Sten is the man to call at the Film Office. He will make it as easy to film here as anywhere in the world along with some great tax breaks! Tuesday began in earnest as IWFF Lifetime Achievement Award Winner for Media and marine filmmaker Hardy Jones gave a keynote on the State of our Seas – from his very personal point of view as a filmmaker and active conservationist working to protect marine mammals. It was a wonderful way to begin a day whose focus was on the marine environment. Many others marine presentations continued with highlights from the National Marine Sanctuaries Program, a hosted lunch and an overview of Rick Rosenthal’s breathtaking underwater film work and his latest project – Superfish! Tuesday night featured an annual tradition, now seven years running – the Western Barn Dance sponsored by National Geographic Television. Music, dancing, western style food and drink, horse demos and a country auction at the incomparable Saddle Club and Equestrian Center at the Resort at Paws Up gave us all a great dose of western hospitality and down home fun well into the evening hours. Wednesday was devoted to international efforts in Wild Cat Conservation at the annual Tarkio Retreat – Forging New Partnerships in Media & Conservation. This is an annual initiative of the IWFF in an effort to be more proactive and innovative in our annual gathering. Sequestered on a private island, the day began with a memorable and inspiring talk by Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, one of the world’s most renowned field scientists and newly named Chairman of the Panthera Foundation. Other presentations included Zara McDonald of the Felidae Conservation Fund, a wonderful group that works solely on wild cat conservation efforts around the world. The Fund hosted the morning welcome breakfast to get the day started. There was an excellent presentation by Gary Koehler about Project Cat, an innovative educational approach to wild cat conservation. We heard from Rebecca Klein, of the Cheetah Conservation Project Botswana and many other wonderful and inspiring presenters. Special Thanks to moderator Allison Argo and Workshop Facilitators Steve Michelson, Zara McDonald, John Cones, Katya Shirokow, Rebecca Klein, Brad Rutherford, Gary Koehler and many others who contributed so much to this spectacular day and evening. Panasonic hosted the Tarkio Retreat lunch and field workshop to bring delegates up to date on the newest equipment, with opportunities to try out the cameras under true field conditions. Later in the day Sony hosted a wine and cheese reception as well as field trials with their newest technology as well. Tucked away at a private lodge on the lake, afternoon talks fed into active workshops and breakout sessions where participants discussed, debated and hammered out real projects to be pursued in the months to come and at last count at least six film or media related projects were in the works as a result of the Tarkio Retreat. Animal Planet hosted a wonderful buffet dinner preceded by a special presentation with highlights from some of AP’s newest and greatest programs featuring those with some form of a conservation component. It should be noted here that we at IWFF truly appreciate all of our sponsors’ longstanding support. We just couldn’t do as much as we try to do without all of our sponsors’ support. The Tarkio Dinner hosted by AP then led into socializing and networking well into the evening hours. Then it was back on the boat for a leisurely bus ride back into Missoula. Thursday featured many fantastic presentations and seminars – Self Distribution for Independent Filmmakers, Writing on the Wild Side, and a special presentation and hosted lunch by Wildlife Media, a relatively new non profit wildlife conservation and film company, featuring a group of people who are extremely talented and committed. Thursday night’s highlight was a special presentation by the BBC’s Alastair Fothergill, titled, “From Planet Earth to Saving Planet Earth” at the University Center on the campus of the University of Montana. This breathtaking presentation was open to the Missoula community as well as festival attendees and the mixing and mingling continued at a middle eastern buffet dinner following Alastair’s amazing talk and visual presentation. Special thanks to Alastair for bringing this visual tour de force to IWFF Friday --- into the home stretch with additional seminars and important, critical discussions as well as a special focus on films and filmmakers who cross over into conservation through their film and television work. Several groups, in honor of Endangered Species Day hosted an East Indian themed buffet lunch followed by a special presentation and traveling photo of exhibit of some of the world’s most endangered species, presented by Earthjustice and others whose presentation focused on the future of our planet. The Awards Gala that evening celebrated film and television and the greatest works of the past year – as well as that special moment of recognition for this year’s two IWFF Lifetime Achievement Award winners, Hardy Jones for Media and Alan Rabinowitz for Conservation. The Coyote Children’s Choir, a new youth group whose songs celebrate nature, wildlife and our beautiful planet, entertained festival attendees with a few of their original songs but the featured music for the evening was the amazing and world renowned Drum Brothers who literally rocked the ballroom. FYI – the Drum Brothers write and perform original music which they compose and are available for film projects! Saturday featured a wonderful presentation by David Novack and Steve Michelson on Cross-over Films and alternative methods of distribution primarily via the Internet. A Farewell Brunch and a day and evening of award winning films at the historic Wilma Theatre wrapped up the 31st IWFF and a weary but inspired group made their way home for another year. Special thanks to all of our festival volunteers & interns – you help to make the IWFF special! The 32nd IWFF is May 9-16, 2009. The theme for next year’s Festival: Global Vision: Innovations & Explorations in Wildlife Media & the Natural World. This wraps up the Summary for the 31st IWFF – the full report on the Tarkio Retreat will be available online soon at www.wildlifefilms.org as well as highlights of the festival! Once again, if you have any suggestions, comments, or ideas, we would love to hear from you. If you are interested in being a sponsor of IWFF in 2009, or if you are interested in presenting, attending or judging, please let us know ASAP. Again, many thanks to all of you and to all of our sponsors for the 31st IWFF including: Animal Planet; BBC; Denver Zoological Foundation; Earthjustice; Felidae Conservation Fund; Fujinon; Montana Film Office; National Geographic Television & Film; National Marine Sanctuaries Program; Nature, WNET-Channel 13 NY; Panasonic; Sony; University of Montana; Wildlife Media |
SONDRIO FESTIVAL 2008 - Call for Entries Organisation of SONDRIO FESTIVAL 2008 (Sondrio, Italy, 6 - 11 October 2008) is now underway!! What is it? It's an International Documentary Film Festival on Parks, unique in its kind, focusing on high quality nature films shot in parks and protected areas worldwide. It has been running for 21 years and has attracted top film-makers, park managers and conservationists from every continent. What sort of films are eligible? Documentary films on the theme of National Parks, Reserves and Protected Areas, featuring naturalistic, ethnographic, historical and/or management aspects. Films must have been produced not before 2006. What does it cost to enter? Nothing - entry is free! Just send your entry form and a PAL DVD or VHS tape for pre-selection (not later than 15 May 2008). Are there prizes? Of course - the Town of Sondrio Award (first prize) is 5,000 Euros (plus an invitation back to Sondrio) and the Stelvio National Park Award is 3,000 Euros. The Lombardy Region Award (2.000 Euros) will be assigned for the best documentary that highlights the naturalistic, cultural, landscape and economic aspects of Italian protected areas. How can you enter? The Festival entry regulations and entry form are on our website: www.sondriofestival.it where you can also find more information. |
Green Screen 2008 - Call For Entries The International Wildlife Filmfestival GREEN SCREEN (4th – 7th of September) is searching for the best wildlife films in the world! We are looking for wildlife films and short films with a natural l topic. Following GREEN SCREEN’s brilliant premiere in September 2007, plans for the second edition of this international wildlife film festival are once again in full swing. The first film entries have already arrived in Eckernförde, although the closing date is 30th April, 2008. The Heinz Sielmann Nature Film Prize will be donated in Eckernförde, together with the sum of 5 000 €, one of the highest financial awards in Europe. There will be about four more film awards. For further information visit our internet page www.greenscreen-festival.de/ or write to infogreenscreen@aol.com. |
International Wildlife Film Festival 2008 Call For Entries 31st
International Wildlife Film Festival - Missoula, Montana 2008
CALL FOR ENTRIES & FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS IWFF is the premier wildlife film event, renowned for its central focus on film, television and the dedicated individuals who make and bring these programs to public audiences. A key focus of the annual IWFF is the critical role of media and its impact on international wildlife conservation efforts. Our Mission: To promote awareness, knowledge and understanding of wildlife, habitat, people and nature through excellence in film, television & other media Our
Purpose: In 2008, IWFF will honor two special individuals with the IWFF Lifetime Achievement Award. These individuals are: Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, of the Wildlife Conservation Society, for his lifelong conservation efforts to save wild cats and their habitat around the world & Hardy Jones, award-winning filmmaker who has devoted his life to marine conservation, awareness and education. The
31st IWFF 2008 also features: The
Tarkio Retreat: Forging New Partnerships in Media and Conservation: This one-day Retreat during festival week will be held at the Montana Island Lodge, a private retreat on Salmon Lake, a short distance from festival headquarters in Missoula. Dr. Rabinowitz will deliver a keynote address. Participants will have the opportunity to explore this magnificent natural setting while participating in proactive presentations and workshops that focus directly on critical conservation issues---engaging media and other sectors to build creative partnerships and to impact international conservation efforts across the globe. In addition, festival week features award-winning films in the beautiful and newly renovated large screen Wilma Theater, and at the historic Roxy Theater, our festival headquarters where delegates gather for seminars, workshops, and a technology forum, demos and field trips, that emphasize critical issues and trends in the wildlife and documentary film industry, all part of festival week May 10-17. Nightly parties and social events that highlight the best of Montana and western hospitality are also included for all registered festival delegates. To
Enter Your Film * Register for Festival * Info on Sponsorship/Advertising
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Wildscreen 2008 Call for Entries CALLING
ALL WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL FILMMAKERS! The Awards and Festival are widely regarded as the industry’s finest. Wildscreen Patron Sir David Attenborough said, “They are seen around the world as the top of the pyramid.” The Wildscreen Festival, which has been running for over 25 years, will be held Sunday October 19th to Friday October 24th 2008 in Bristol, UK. “Bristol is the centre of wildlife filming worldwide and Wildscreen is a reflection of that” concludes Sir David. The 2006 Awards encompassed cinematic extravaganzas such as March Of The Penguins, alongside documentaries, campaigns, new media and series made for television. There are many categories available, which means that the Panda Awards are able to recognise a wide range of different achievements. Wildscreen regulars will notice that some of the award categories have changed. For example, the One Planet Award is splitting into two new categories, the Environment Award and the People & Animals Award, reflecting the increase in film entries about environmental issues. Whatever the budget, wherever the location, the Wildscreen Festival is looking for interesting, innovative and recently made films about the natural world. To view a full list of categories and how to enter this year’s Panda Awards please visit www.wildscreenfestival.org |
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