Inside Wildscreen Festival 2024: Storytelling in a changing world

Wildscreen Festival is back for 2024, bringing together the global natural history storytelling community. Whether you’re in Bristol for the week or joining online, this biennial gathering is an unmissable opportunity to immerse yourself in cutting-edge discussions about the state of the industry and the planet – and, of course, a celebration of wildlife filmmaking through the Official Selection Programme and coveted Panda Awards!

Must-see sessions

Wildscreen Festival 2024 is packed with sessions that promise to inspire and inform. Among the headliners will be an exclusive conversation between Tom McDonald (EVP Global Factual & Unscripted, National Geographic) and Jack Bootle (Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual, BBC), where you can expect a deep dive into the state of the industry, with a particular focus on PSB versus streamer strategies, and offering a beacon of hope amidst the challenges facing the sector. Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer at the BBC, will also take part in a special headline session.

In today’s tough funding climate, you’ll also want to catch the new ‘Show Me The Money’ series, including ‘How to Fund your Coproduction’. With a line-up including Alison Barrat (Love Nature), Lilla Hurst (Blue Ant Studios) and Laura Mirret (ARTE), this session will delve into different ways you can collaboratively fund your project through government subsidies, production agreements, distribution partnerships, commissioners and more. Delve deeper into the subject with daily ‘The Decision Makers’ sessions, where you can hear direct from broadcasters such as BBC, NHK, ARTE France and LoveNature - as well as distributors, foundations, including the National Science Foundation (USA), and other sources of funds.

‘Gen-Sea: Diversity Beneath the Waves’ will spotlight pioneering voices in the ocean conservation space doing epic things to increase awareness, diversity, inclusion and education around the ocean. Be sure to also join the Science & Storytelling session, which focuses on the relationships between scientists and storytellers, and discusses how best the two can work together. These sessions are co-produced with Principal Sponsor, Save our Seas Foundation.

Another standout session is ‘AI Won’t Take Your Job… But The Person Who Can Use It Better Than You Will’. With speakers including Christopher Paetkau (1-800-NATURE ), Rob Hifle (Lux Aeterna VFX) and Eline van der Velden (Particle6 Productions), this panel will explore the rapid expansion of AI usage, from development and production through to postproduction, and question whether AI tools can help producers engage with new audiences.

Masterclasses and workshops

The global freelance community will be supported through a series of masterclasses and professional development networking sessions, including ‘Surviving as a Freelancer’, developing networks ‘Beyond the ‘natural history capital of Bristol’, talent speed networking, and the BBC Studios Natural History Unit-supported Mentorship Programme.

Wildscreen Festival is world-renowned for its craft focus, so expect the usual array of craft masterclasses, including a new series on cinematography covering a full range of specialist topics, including long-lens shooting (sponsored by MPB), macro, underwater, extreme, drone and gimbal. A range of cinematographers will be sharing their experience and advice, including Mark Payne-Gill, Justine Evans, Erin Ranney, Christina Karliczek Skoglund and Hans Ngoteya. There will also be the usual festival favourite masterclasses in scriptwriting, sound design, colour grading and editing.

Kit show

The iconic kit show, dedicated to showcasing the companies and technology at the cutting edge of natural world storytelling, returns for 2024. Exhibitors include: Arri, CameraTrac, Canon, CCKTech, CVP, Esprit, Gates Underwater Products, London Camera Exchange, Motion Impossible, Peregrine Risk Management, Sony and Underwater Visions.

Panda Awards – sponsored by Warner Chappell Production Music

The historic Panda Awards, the most prestigious awards in the international wildlife filmmaking genre, honours the very best in wildlife filmmaking across 14 categories. The awards ceremony will take place on 17 October at the Bristol Harbour Hotel, as well as being streamed online.

Official Selection Programme – sponsored by Love Nature and Blue Ant Studios

This year marks the festival’s third Official Selection, handpicked by a team of international, independent and professional programmers. The selection will see 36 films from six continents screen at the festival, 44% of which are directed by women. A special celebration event will be held on Monday 14 October to recognise the filmmakers.

The lineup includes Orca - Black & White Gold (1x91’) from Terra Mater Studios, Second Nature: Gender and Sexuality in the Animal World (1 x 56’, narrated by Elliot Page), The Eagle with the Sunlit Eye (1 x 92’), and shorts designed for Fulldome Planetariums, including Sounds of the Ocean (1 x 25’). Catch screenings of all the productions between 12-18 October at the Bristol MegaScreen (Bristol Aquarium), We The Curious and The Royal Photographic Society.

WildPitch - supported by National Geographic

WildPitch returns this year with a total prize fund of $24,000, to be split between three lucky winners. Storytellers will be pitching to a live audience and judging panel comprised of commissioners and senior industry execs in the categories of Human Nature Stories, Conservation, and Animal Behaviour.

With its rich history, cutting-edge content and unparalleled networking opportunities, Wildscreen Festival is an essential event for the natural history and wildlife storytelling community. Wildscreen looks forward to welcoming you in Bristol, or via the festival platform online!