Jackson Wild Media Awards 2024

In the 1970s, Satish Bhaskar became a turtle walker: He walked nearly the entire coastline of India and the spectacular Andaman and Nicobar Islands in search of sea turtles. Carrying a camera and a notepad, he documented turtles' nesting areas and tried to save them from extinction. Then the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami struck, putting all his work and the creatures he loved in peril.

A group of Indian Forest Service officers, NGO workers, police constables and Good Samaritans risk their lives trying to track down the biggest elephant ivory poachers in the history of India and bring them to justice.

In 1971, John Francis, known the world over as "Planetwalker," witnessed an oil tanker collision in the San Francisco Bay. The sight of oiled birds on the shoreline caused him to give up motorized transport and rely solely on his own two feet. Months after that, he took a vow of silence convinced that listening rather than adding fuel to any fire was the way ahead. He didn't talk, but he kept on walking clear across the country and back again. During the next seventeen silent years, he listened and studied the world around him.
Over many miles, his idea of environmentalism changed. At the core of his emerging belief were the people he met, talked to, and broke bread with.

Three orphaned desert lion cubs discover a remarkable way of survival along the mystical shores of Namibia's Skeleton Coast. Documented over eight years, we follow the ground-breaking work of lion researcher Dr Philip Stander as he witnesses the orphaned cubs' incredible journey, from their first unsteady steps in the heart of the desert, to their remarkable discovery of an extraordinary life along the Skeleton Coast.

Antarctic Killer Waves Bertie and the team cross the infamous Drake Passage, the roughest stretch of ocean on Earth, to reach Antarctica, where they witness and film the staggering intelligence and adaptability of a group of killer whales.

The dark, a world of opportunity for mammals. More than two-thirds prefer the cover of the night, with some now returning to the safety of the shadows in order to avoid us.

Tiny Jungle Queens — Under the rainforest canopy of Central America is a secret world ruled by insects. Two tiny queens will give everything to build their empires. The ant queen will sacrifice her own body for the future of her growing colony, while the beautiful orchid bee will stop at nothing for success, betraying those closest to her.

Based on Isabella Tree's best-selling book by the same title, Wilding tells the story of a young couple that bets on nature for the future of their failing, four-hundred-year-old estate. The young couple battles entrenched tradition, and dares to place the fate of their farm in the hands of nature. Ripping down the fences, they set the land back to the wild and entrust its recovery to a motley mix of animals both tame and wild. It is the beginning of a grand experiment that will become one of the most significant re-wilding experiments in Europe.

A journey into the heart of America's most iconic forests, GIANTS RISING reveals the secrets and the saga of the coast redwoods—the tallest and among the oldest living beings on Earth. It's an epic tale that explores the wonders of these silent giants and our dramatic, ever-evolving relationship with them. Living links to the past, redwoods also hold powers that may play a role in our future, including their ability to withstand fire and capture carbon, to offer clues about longevity, and even to enhance our own well-being. How do they do it —and how will redwoods keep working their magic as they're pushed to their limits?
Through the voices of biologists, artists, Native peoples and others racing to understand and safeguard these trees, GIANTS RISING reveals the scientific wonders of redwoods, our deep cultural ties to them, and efforts to help these iconic forests overcome the legacy of logging that nearly wiped them out. It's a story that offers lessons about resilience and connection, and the promise of solutions that will help us ALL rise up from the past and face the challenges that lay ahead.

Wild Space, Freeborne Media, Netflix

Meet the scientists studying sound around the globe to help stop the rapid progression of climate change and wildlife endangerment.

A passionate conservationist makes a cruel pact to save endangered seabirds from extinction on an inhospitable island, alone. In the end, it's a victory for the birds, but at what price?

When a wild otter in desperate need of help washes up on his jetty in the remote Scottish islands of Shetland, Billy, his wife Susan, and their devoted sheepdog Jade find themselves with a unique new member of their family. From National Geographic and Silverback Films, "Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story" is a heart-warming story directed by Charlie Hamilton James and shot in 4K. This documentary film shows us how love can reawaken us to the beauty of nature.

Resident Orca tells the unfolding story of a captive whale's fight for survival and freedom.

Alaskan brothers Strickland and Yup'ik sisters Christina and AlexAnna Salmon all grew up fishing for salmon in Bristol Bay, home to a vibrant indigenous subsistence culture, a sustainable commercial fishery that provides over half the world's supply of wild sockeye salmon, and a world-class sport-fishing destination. When a shady foreign company advances a massive proposed open-pit mine at the headwaters of Bristol Bay through backroom deals, the film sets out to discover what the local coalition of mine opponents is really up against and realize there's a bigger story to be told.

A 13-year-old aspiring journalist investigates his father's mysterious murder within the boundaries of one of Kenya's largest wildlife conservancies. As a ravaging drought encroaches, his quest to find the killer shifts as the collateral damage of a warming world is revealed.

An international diary of the impact of climate change is constructed from thousands of hours of in-the-moment footage. Through the process, we witness the deep human resilience, resourcefulness and courage necessary to confront the world's most pressing challenge.

When it comes to 'what Mother Nature intended', it turns out she was pretty open-minded. In this vivid, funny and eye-opening one-off doc we take the audience on a journey to explore the rich diversity of animal sexuality.

After Earth's third mass extinction, mammals' surviving ancestors ruled the super continent Pangea. But lizards soon ushered in the age of reptiles.

Planet Earth III travels across six continents and 43 countries over five years, capturing never-before-seen wildlife behavior—from whales wearing motion‑tagged cameras to snakes and iguanas pursuit sequences. The series highlights how animals adapt in a human‑dominated world and delivers hope amid environmental urgency.

Witness the extraordinary life of Dr. Lonnie Thompson, an explorer who went where no scientist had gone before and transformed our idea of what is possible. Daring to seek Earth's history contained in glaciers atop the tallest mountains in the world, Lonnie found himself on the frontlines of climate change—his life's work evolving into a salvage mission to recover these priceless historical records before they disappear forever.

Amid the glamour of Hollywood, Los Angeles, a woman finds herself on a transformative journey as she nurtures wounded hummingbirds, unraveling a visually captivating and magical tale of love, fragility, healing, and the delicate beauty in tiny acts of greatness.
A film of joy and wonder, EVERY LITTLE THING offers profound truths in a deceptively simple story. What does it mean to care for another, and what impact does this act have on us? In tending to these fragile yet resilient hummingbirds, Terry Masear finds a sense of healing from her own past. Her diminutive patients — brought into sharp focus through breathtaking, beautifully detailed photography — become memorable protagonists in their own right. The viewer becomes emotionally invested in Cactus, Jimmy, Wasabi, Alexa, and Mikhail, celebrating their small victories and lamenting their tiny tragedies. The compassion and empathy that Masear shows her Lilliputian charges serves as a lesson to us all — a reminder that in the smallest of acts, and in the tiniest of creatures, we might find grace.—BT

A nature documentary that follows two leopard cubs as they make the journey from infancy into adulthood.

Rugari and his family live on the border of the Serengeti. During the dry season hungry lions threaten their village, and Rugari is faced with a terrible decision - save his livelihood, or find a way to live with lions?

On the day that Lansana Mansaray was born, a tree was planted in his name in his father's Limba village. Now an Emmy and Peabody nominated filmmaker, Mansaray returns to the same village to better understand the essential relationship that Limbas share with the trees that define every aspect of community life.

Anti‑poaching officers Lam and Julong risk their lives confronting violent poachers and navigating the unpredictable terrain of Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam. Their mission: to protect critically endangered pangolins and other wildlife from extinction—a high‑stakes struggle against illicit trade and environmental collapse.

In "Apes," investigative journalist Mariana van Zeller travels to the Democratic Republic of Congo to uncover the illegal trade in wild apes. She tracks the trafficking supply chain—from poachers through brokers to buyers, especially in the Middle East—where apes are sold as pets or used in sideshow attractions. The episode also centers on Congolese activists fighting to protect apes on the brink of extinction

Bertie searches the wilderness of Patagonia in southern Chile, hoping to find a female Puma. He first met four years ago when she was a cub. He finds her, she has two cubs of her own which she must feed and protect in the harsh landscape.

These students in Ireland, like many young people around the world, are finding a way to act in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss: by building an ARK and rewilding a small patch of nature.

"Making the Leap" follows scientists from the University of California, Berkeley as they explore the biomechanics and evolution of leaping in small animals, such as the Galápagos lava lizard. The short film captures stunning slow-motion footage and field research to investigate how these animals jump—and why. The story highlights curiosity-driven science, integrating evolution, physics, and cutting-edge field techniques in Ecuador's Galápagos Islands.

As Timo prepares his nest ready for mating season, his call is answered… But the source of the reply is not what he had hoped.

"Unwind" explores the enthusiastic yet fickle momentum surrounding virtual reality, using a mix of documentary footage, voice-over, and reflective narration to question whether VR hype leads to meaningful change or fades into digital white noise. The short encourages viewers to reflect on technology's real impact and our assumptions around immersive innovation

In the heart of the Chesapeake Bay, the fishing community of Tangier Island is grappling with the disappearance of their homeland. As hurricane season approaches, the personal experiences of two influential fishermen reflect the generational struggle against the looming environmental crisis.

Filmed through a water vole's perspective, this short film immerses viewers in the life of an endangered species inhabiting England's chalk streams. With first-person storytelling, it reveals the vole's daily interactions, environmental challenges, and the fragile beauty of its aquatic world.

Almost a century of overgrazing has destroyed much of America's public lands, but Cottonwood Ranch has discovered that cattle can actually be the key to restoring our rangelands.

"Death at Sea" is a compelling short documentary directed and produced by Sara Pipernos. It investigates the mysterious death of fisheries observer Eritara Aati Kaierua aboard the Taiwanese-flagged fishing vessel Win Far 636 in March 2020. Combining investigative journalism with intimate testimony from Eritara's family and colleagues, the film sheds light on systemic risks faced by fisheries observers, accountability failures, and broader human rights violations in the maritime industry.

Thailand is the world's largest exporter of rubber, and Chorthip is a key farmer demonstrating and leading a shift to regenerative agroforestry methods. She's transformed her land from a rubber monoculture to a diverse rubber forest garden, implementing organic practices that improve the quality of life for both her family and her community.

This short film follows Chilean mycologist and National Geographic Explorer Giuliana Furci's search for new mushrooms in far southern Chile, on the main island of Tierra del Fuego. She's joined by biologist and author Merlin Sheldrake and mycologist Toby Kiers from SPUN, the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks, whose goal is to map the mycorrhizal networks of the world. Together, the three scientists illuminate how—through nutrient cycling and the essential relationships they form with plants—fungi underpin every ecosystem on Earth, and outline a strategy for greater fungal inclusion in conservation policy.

A young girl growing up in the Indigenous-held forests of central Borneo follows ancient connections to earn the gift of a story – her People's 1973 fight to preserve their lands amid rampant deforestation.

The Bird in my Backyard follows a window salesman turned hummingbird expert as he documents the secret lives of the hummingbirds that nest in his urban backyard.

Unrestricted access to beaches is a public right in Texas. But for the little-known, magical, and untamed stretch of beach called Boca Chica, that right is curtailed when SpaceX takes flight. "Boca Chica" uncovers the mesmerizing beauty of this fragile coastline and the fight for free access for its longtime visitors.

Hosted by evolutionary biologist Shane Campbell‑Staton, this 11‑minute science special examines how intense selective pressures—especially poaching in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park—have reshaped elephant genetics, leading to increased rates of tusklessness and shifts in physical traits across generations

A Hong Kong newt resides in a narrow irrigation channel, believing it would be confined there forever. However, an unexpected flood sweeps it away, carrying it through a dark passage until it arrives in a serene, azure pond. The newt finds companionship among its kind and thrived in the aquatic haven. But as it ventures back onto land after the breeding season, it encounters unforeseen threats.

Marmots on Toast is a short film about the complicated relationship between humans and feeding wildlife, starring some incredibly adorable and friendly marmots.

After witnessing a massive fish kill on her ancestral home waters, Yurok tribal attorney Amy Bowers Cordalis dedicated her life to reversing the generations-long destruction wrought by the Klamath River dams.

How do you rebuild "home" from nothing but memories? This verite-style film thrusts us into the intimate conversations between Maria and her grandchild, Marucha: two Indigenous refugees living in displacement. To Maria, the Venezuelan delta is her home. To Marucha, these refugee camps are all she knows. Through the rhythms of their daily lives, we witness the complexity of raising a new generation in displacement and explore how land, memory and identity are deeply intertwined.

Many of the world's most beloved frogs and amphibians are headed for extinction, but inside "The Ark" in Panama, some of those threatened species are given a fighting chance. Using innovative technology and breakthrough genetics, researchers have ignited a cadre of solutions to save these rare and cherished species.

An Optimist's Guide to the Planet captures Nikolaj Coster-Waldau's search for people across the globe who are helping drive humanity toward a brighter, more sustainable future.

We Are Guardians follows Indigenous forest guardian Marçal Guajajara and activist Puyr Tembé as they fight to protect their territories from deforestation, an illegal logger who has no choice but to cut the forest down, and a large landowner at the mercy of thousands of invaders and extractive industry. Through intimate, character focused storytelling, the film brings the issues to the forefront — from the science of the Amazon Rainforest and its pivotal role in our global climate stability to the economic drivers of deforestation. The film weaves together politics, history, economics, science, and consciousness, providing an in-depth exploration of this incredibly complex and critical situation — the origins and the impact of which ripple out far beyond the boundaries of the Amazon itself. Directed by Indigenous activist Edivan Guajajara and environmental filmmakers Chelsea Greene and Rob Grobman; produced by Academy Award winner Fisher Stevens, with Executive Producer Leonardo DiCaprio .

Kolkata-born wildlife filmmaker Ashwika Kapur travels to rural Bengal to investigate an illegal wildlife hunting festival where children as young as three wield catapults. In a transformative experiment, she replaces their weapons with cameras. Five children—from hunters to wildlife documentarians—use photography to reshape their relationship with nature, sparking a grassroots conservation movement across their villages.

Athena is a mother who will do everything in her power to protect her herd when they are forced to leave their waterhole and embark on an epic journey across the African savannah in a tale of love, loss and coming home.

Narrated by Robert Redford and directed by Mark Decena, Watershed examines the environmental crisis of the Colorado River—once a mighty waterway now heavily diverted, dammed, and diminishing. We meet a diverse constellation of individuals—from ranchers and fly-fishing guides to Indigenous leaders and youth rafters—who exemplify a "new water ethic." Their collective stories illustrate how communities across the U.S. and Mexico are forging innovative, collaborative solutions to restore flow, protect rights, and heal ecosystems

From freshwater jungle ponds to the dark depths of the open ocean, air breathing mammals have found remarkable ways to overcome the many challenges of a life in water.

Timing is crucial. From the setting of the sun to the passing of the seasons and the phases of the moon, nature works best when it's in sync with life.

World-renowned adventure photographer Krystle Wright heads to the United States to chase storms, rock climb and make epic images.

In the bustling streets of New York City, daring pavement ants and a streetwise jumping spider navigate urban perils. This visually stunning nature docuseries episode reveals the hidden microcosm of city-dwelling bugs, spotlighting their survival tactics and unexpected alliances in the concrete jungle.

In ancient woodlands, a crocodile relies on sound to protect her babies, koalas release powerful roars, and an enchanting frog choir communes.

Covering one tenth of all species on the planet, Freshwater is a rich, diverse habitat filled with never-ending surprises.

Sharing an entire year in the life of a pack of wild wolves... a dream for Yves the painter and Olivier the photographer. Somewhere in the no-man's-land between Finland and Russia, they'll be waiting for the pack, in a hut just a few meters square. Throughout the four seasons, motionless and silent in the midst of an unchanging scenery, they gradually become part of the "picture" and immerse themselves in the life of the wolves.

Nowhere else on Earth is changing as rapidly as the polar regions. From melting sea ice to shifting wildlife dynamics, this documentary captures the dramatic impacts of climate change in Greenland — from polar bears raiding bird nests to muskoxen grazing new greenery, narwhal pods navigating open waters, and Inuit communities adapting to rapidly changing ice conditions

Sir David Attenborough investigates the discovery of a lifetime: the giant skull of a prehistoric sea monster, known as a pliosaur - the Tyrannosaurus rex of the seas.

Evolution Earth embarks on a global expedition to reveal the animals keeping pace with a planet changing at super speed. Heading out across the globe to distant wilds and modern urban environments, five episodes track how animals are moving, using ingenuity to adapt their behaviour, and even evolving in unexpected ways

Alex Honnold is leading a six-week expedition to East Greenland to make the first ascent of one of the world's tallest unclimbed rock faces. But this journey is more than just a sporting challenge. Joined by glaciologist Heidi Sevestre, Alex and his team are helping to study the impact of climate change on this remote part of the Arctic.

Animals use sound to survive: hunt prey, defend against predators, and escape danger. Great grey owls hear voles under snow. Kangaroo rats detect rattlesnakes by sound, drum feet to defend themselves.