2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit Guide by Jackson Wild

WELCOME

2015 JACKSON HOLE WILDLIFE FILM FESTIVAL & CONSERVATION SUMMIT Welcome to the 13th Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, a gathering like no other. For the past year or more, the festival staff has been working almost non-stop to make this one of the most rewarding Jacksons ever. Many of you—the filmmakers, scientists and conservationists who constitute this unique community—have helped us get to this festival week, contributing ideas, resources and energy. Thank you for your generosity, and for coming out to celebrate the best of wildlife media. This year, a record TK judges watched nearly 1,000 entries, also a record number. From edgy feature docs to classic blue chip, the submissions reflect an astonishing range of work, as do the nominees. As in most years, conservation stories are well represented in the mix. This time, though, there seems to be more urgency in the stories being told. That’s not surprising, given the message we are hearing from scientists and policy makers about the state of the planet. In fact, in the two years since the last Jackson, that message has only grown more alarming, with prominent experts weighing in on the likelihood of a sixth mass extinction. Given that urgency, the Jackson board decided to follow the 2013 Great Ape Summit with a gathering on the plight of elephants this year. We are thrilled by the outpouring of support for the Elephant Summit, which kicks off with an intensive day of teaching and discussion. This is a unique opportunity for filmmakers, scientists and conservationists to learn from each other about elephants, how to save them, and how to tell their story with compassion and impact. With lots of elephant content on subsequent days, we hope the discussion will continue all through the week. For most of us, Jackson is more than a film festival. In addition to the screenings, animated discussions and impromptu debates, you are probably planning a wilderness experience or two with friends you haven’t seen in months. That is an essential part of the Jackson experience and has been since the first festival 26 years ago. We hope you will take full advantage of these opportunities. We wish you a successful, stimulating and enjoyable week in the shadow of the Tetons. With so many colleagues gathered in such a beautiful place, how could it be otherwise? Sincerely, Michael Rosenfeld Board Chair, Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival

2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

I AM NOT A TRINKET Tens of thousands of elephants are killed every year for their ivory tusks, which are made into everything from knickknacks to souvenirs. Find out what you can do to stop wildlife crime.

worldwildlife.org/wildlifecrime

2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 Welcome 6

Board of Directors

7 Staff 8 Sponsors 10 Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New 12 General Info 14 Local Info 16 In Appreciation 17 Online Screening Library 18 Jackson Deals & Local Excursions 20 Social & Networking Events 27 Film Competition 30 Preliminary Judges 33 Final Jury 34 Programming 36 Outstanding Achievement 39 Keynote Speaker 40 Premium Exhibitors 42 Finalist Profiles

Nature * Culture * Place TRY A SUBSCRIPTION FOR FREE * WWW.ORIONMAGAZINE.ORG/FREETRIAL

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Some of the most respected names in media, science and conservation are on the JHWFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Board of Directors. Our continued growth and success is due in large part to their support and guidance. Among them are some of the finest names in broadcast media and film.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Michael Rosenfeld, Board Chair Fred Kaufman, Board Vice-Chair Nature/WNET Walter Koehler, Secretary Terra Mater Factual Studios

Ellen Windemuth, Treasurer Off the Fence Productions Stella Cha, Member-at-large The Nature Conservancy William Grant, Chairman Emeritus

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Animal Planet Marjorie Kaplan, President & General Manager BBC Natural History Unit Wendy Darke, Head

Off the Fence Productions Ellen Windemuth, Managing Director

Cineverse/VER Vince Pace, ASC

PBS Bill Gardner, Vice President of Programming and Development PBS

Discovery Channel John Cavanagh, Executive Producer

Sony Electronics Robert Willox, Director of Marketing

Disneynature Paul Baribault, VP Marketing

Tangled Bank Studios Dennis Liu Acting Head of Television and Film

Fujifilm / Fujinon Lenses Chuck Lee, Technology Manager, US Gorongosa Foundation Greg Carr, Founder National Geographic Channels International

Carlyn Staudt, SVP of Global Programming

Nat Geo WILD Geoff Daniels, Executive VP & General Manager National Geographic Studios Brooke Runnette, President National Parks Conservation Association Clark Bunting, President & CEO

Nature/WNET Fred Kaufman, Executive Producer

2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

The Nature Conservancy Stella Cha, Director of Film & Video Terra Mater Factual Studios Walter Koehler, Chief Executive Officer UNIVERSUM/ORF Andrew Solomon, Head of Natural History & Science Vulcan Productions Carole Tomko, General Manager & Creative Director WGBH John Bredar, VP National Programs World Wildlife Fund Steve Ertel, Senior Director, Media & External Affairs

SAVE THE DATE

HERE’S WHAT YOU MISSED IF YOU DIDN’T ATTEND THE 2014 SCIENCE MEDIA AWARDS & SYMPOSIUM— DON’T CHEAT YOUR BRAIN AGAIN!

OF THE MOST ILLUMINATING DAYS OF YOUR YEAR!

250

OF THE WORLD'S TOP PRODUCERS AND SCIENTISTS

∞

REVELATORY SESSIONS ON CUTTING EDGE SCIENCE AND MEDIA

IDEAS, BRAINY COOL CONVERSATIONS AND CONTACTS

SEPTEMBER 21—23, 2016 @ the studios of WGBH in Boston, MA The Science Media Awards and Symposium have a new name!

SMASH (SCIENCE MEDIA AWARDS & SYMPOSIUM in the HUB)

Support for SMASH16 is provided by:

SMASH

SCIENCE MEDIA AWARDS & SYMPOSIUM IN THE HUB

Presented by: 7

wgbh.org

WGBH is proud to join the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival as Partner on

save the date: September 21 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 23, 2016 at WGBH in Boston!

2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

OUR TEAM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Lisa Samford

SCIENCE STRAND PRODUCER Ru Mahoney

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Christie Quinn

SCIENCE STRAND COMMITTEE John Bredar, Katie Carpenter, Dereck Craighead, Dan Kahan, Michael Rosenfeld, Wallace Ulrich

FILM COMPETITION Dana Grant MARKETING & STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS Kathryn Jeffords DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE Melanie Judd VOLUNTEER & SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR Kori Price

EXHIBITORS & PARTNERSHIPS Martin Hammond DESIGN ASSOCIATE Dylan McAdam EVENTS ASSOCIATE Kirstie Montgomery OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE Kelly Thompson

MARKETING ASSOCIATE Katie Brooks

PRODUCTION ASSOCIATE Bowen Xiao

ELEPHANT CONSERVATION SUMMIT COORDINATOR Denise Robertson

PRODUCTION ASSOCIATES Lizzie Stallings Sarika Khanwilkar

ELEPHANT CONSERVATION SUMMIT COMMITTEE Lynn Hirshfield, Brooke Runette, Carole Tomko

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR C.R. Caillouet

VIRTUAL REALITY STRAND PRODUCER Lisa Truitt WILD FESTIVAL COORDINATOR Julie Kling

TECHNICAL TEAM Adam Hagan Ben Levin Ru Mahoney Jim Toten Sally Vaughn Jim Waters

SPONSORS PRESENTING SPONSOR

PREMIER SPONSOR

GRAND SPONSORS

MAJOR SPONSORS

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CONSERVATION SUMMIT & SCIENCE PROGRAMMING SUPPORT

Sunny Side of the Doc The Wild Image Project Wildlife-Film.com

Charles Engelhard Foundation

FESTIVAL FRIENDS

National Science Foundation

SUPPORTING SPONSORS BBC Natural History Unit Canon Conservation Media Group Eco Tour Adventures Fujifilm/Fujinon Lenses IFAW Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris Mara Elephant Project NatureFootage Nature/WNET NHK North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Off the Fence Productions Sky Skan The Nature Conservancy TOMS Universum/ORF WGBH World Wildlife Fund

CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS Arri Boreales Condition One Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders Icon Films Marco Polo Film Participant Media RED Wyoming Film Office

MEDIA PARTNERS AlphaGraphics Idaho Falls

Blue Ocean Film Festival DC Environmental Film Festival Giant Screen Cinema Association HD Video Pro Mountainfilm Natural History Netowrk Ltd. New Media Film Festival Orion Magazine Realscreen

Wildscreen

Atelier Ortega Bloomin Eco Kids Glee Gum Goddess Garden Grand Teton Brewing Company Jackson Hole Winery Justin’s Nut Butter Kate’s Bars Mountain Khakis People Towels Snake River Brewing

YEARLONG EDUCATION & OUTREACH INITIATIVES ARE FUNDED IN PART BY GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM: 4JH - Town & County Travel& Tourism Board C3 - Center of Wonder Charles Engelhard Foundation Community Foundation of Jackson Hole Town & County Arts For All Wyoming Arts Council Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Barbara Carlsberg Center for the Arts Brian Christy Maryanne Culpepper Carol Fleisher Jeffrey Flocken Grand Teton National Park Stephen Ham John Heminway Kirk Johnson Dan Kahan Valentine Kass Joh Kay Dru Lawton Lyndsay McCandless John Mortenson Tayloe Piggott Gallery Terry Roper Peta Roubin Carl Safina

M. Sanjayan Ann Smith Tucker & Kristen Smith Snake River Music Heather & Tom Sturgess Ron Surbuts

AUCTION SUPPORT Absolute Travel African Environments ArgoFilms Bear and Doe Massage Works Blue Collar Restaurant Group Blue Lion Restaurant Café Solé Calico Italian Restaurant Center for the Arts Dave Hansen Delaware North Dornans Double H Bar Ranch Fish the Fly Friends of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Fly Jackson Hole Fury Water Adventures Grand Targhee Resorts Hampton Inn JH Homewood Suites by Hilton High Country Outfitters Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis Jarrett Schwartz Jeff Green JH Adventure Rentals JH Ecotour Adventures JH Wildlife Safaris Laurie Thal Lucky’s Market National Geographic Expeditions National Museum of Wildlife Art Scenic Safaris Snake River Grill Solitude float Trips Spring Creek Ranch Susan and Jo Moore Teton Reserve Golf Course Thai Me Up The Bomb Sommelier The Gorongosa Restoration Project The Lexington Inn Trio and Local The Fine Dining Group World Cast Anglers Wyoming Inn of JH Wyoming Stargazing Yellowstone Zipline Canopy Tours

WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR 2015 ELEPHANT CONSERVATION SUMMIT SUNDAY - TUESDAY Jackson Lake Lodge For three intense days, a creative force of the world’s leading media and thought leaders will convene with elephant conservationists, scientists and policy makers with a single shared goal: to pool their collective resources in a massive collaboration to curb ivory consumption and halt illegal trade to stop the decimation of elephants! Amazing and unexpected things happen in Jackson Hole. Join us as we galvanize the power of media to inspire wonder, catalyze change and make a difference in the world.

SEE PROGRAMMING

WILD FESTIVAL FRIDAY, SEPT. 25 - SATURDAY, OCT. 3 Center for the Arts | Downtown Jackson Hole Our public festival brings the filmmakers, films and keynote speakers at our industry conferences to the Center for the Arts for an unprecedented community celebration! WILD Festival is A film festival focused on the issues that matter, stories that need telling and wildlife worth saving. WILD Festival is a unique & exciting opportunity for you to attend premier film screenings, view award-winning documentaries, and personally interact with some of the world’s leading scientists, conservationists, and filmmakers – and it’s all happening right in your backyard at the Center for the Arts!

SEE PROGRAMMING

HELP SAVE BIG CATS TOMS is excited to par tner with National Geographic and suppor t its critical nonprof it work through the Big Cats Collection. Big cats in the wild are disappearing at an alarming rate, and this special collection draws at tention to the critical need to protect these majestic creatures for generations to come. With ever y TOMS product you purchase, TOMS will help a person in need. One for One ® .

2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

SCIENCE STRAND Made possible by support from the National Science Foundation

There has never been a more important time for communicating solid science to public audiences! We are thrilled to launch a new programming strand that aims to integrate the science of effective communication alongside the effective communication of science directly into Jackson Hole programming. Running Tues-Thurs, we’ve created a robust slate of panels and workshops alongside formal and informal networking opportunities to integrate the programming priorities of Jackson Hole with our Science Media Symposium—slated for Sept 21-3, 2016 in Boston, in partnership with WGBH.

VIRTUAL REALITY STRAND Pay attention. You heard it hear first: Virtual Experience media is far more than an interesting advancement in storytelling technology and engagement. This has the potential to revolutionize media consumption across a huge range of market sectors, and you need to know more! We are at the front edge of a rapidly changing immersive personal media landscape. This is an amazing opportunity to engage with the early adaptors who are blazing into this developing frontier. Make a point to experience the various demos, and get acquainted with the nuances of 360 storytelling and workflow with the experts on the floor. VR tech innovators are actively seeking partnerships with storytellers/content creators. Consider this to be an unbelievable opportunity to dive in to the latest—most promising--emerging media market!

WILD MUSIC Site: R Park (search on app store)

SEE APP

When you find your way to town, make a point to visit R Park (Snake River at Hwy 22) and experience WILD Music. Merging new-media technology with original composition, Hays and Ryan Holladay have created a nonlinear, interactive “location-aware music installation,” inspired by and created for the landscape/ environment at R-Park, their site-specific public art installation incorporates an elaborate collection of seamlessly integrated tones, rhythms, and musical phrases. Elaborately managing the mapping of overlapping tracks in the physical environment they have created an immersive and interactive listening experience that is determined by physical exploration through the landscape. To date, the brothers have composed unique “location-aware” pieces in the National Mall in Washington, DC, in Central Park, NYC and for SXSW in Austin…and finally, in a landscape of unmatched creative inspiration: Jackson Hole! 13

Impact The power of science meets story

Proud sponsor of the Jackson Hole Conservation Award

www.tangledbankstudios.org

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JACKSON LAKE LODGE CONFERENCE MAP

CHANGING THE WORLD through

science, exploration & storytelling Congratulations to all of the finalists! Brooke Runnette, brunnette@ngs.org

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Jared Lipworth, jlipworth@ngs.org

GENERAL INFO

16 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

CONNECT WITH US! #JACKSONHOLE15 FESTIVAL REGISTRATION & ATTENDEE ASSISTANCE Our registration/conference “help” desk is located at the activities desk in the main lobby. Saturday, Sept. 26 6:30pm - 7:30pm Sunday, Sept. 27 7AM - 9PM Monday, Sept. 28 7AM - 5PM Tuesday, Sept. 29 8AM - 5PM If you arrive on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, please visit the Festival office (see below) to pick up your attendee credentials. FESTIVAL OFFICE The Festival Office is located on the ground floor (Wapiti 1) Hours: 8:30AM - 5:00PM LOST AND FOUND There is a $40 replacement fee for lost badges and bags. Check in with Festival staff at the registration desk for any missing items.

Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival @JHWildlifeFilm JacksonHoleWILD

MOBILE APP We are thrilled to have a #JacksonHole15 Festival app this year. Please reference the app for most up-to-date scheduling and transportation SPONSORED BY Search “Jackson Hole Festival Guide” on Apple’s App Store or Android’s Google Play Store to download. WATCH TRAILERS

PLAN YOUR SCHEDULE

TRANSPO SCHEDULE

EXHIBITOR LIST

CHECK WEATHER

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Meet us at MIPCOM, Palais -1 / F2.G1

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DAV ATTEN LIGHTID B ON EA RTH OROUGH’S

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EVENT TRANSPORTATION Round-trip bus transportation between the Jackson Lake Lodge and Coulter Bay Village, and to and from the Lodge and any social events will be provided free of charge. Please check the schedule on the mobile app for times and locations.

STAY UP-TO-DATE

LOCAL INFO At an elevation of 6,200 feet, Jackson Hole is likely to be sunny and warm during the day, with termperatures in the low 70’s, but the nights in September can dip into the 30’s. Jackets, sweaters and warm clothing are strongly recommended.

1. Center for the Arts Awards Gala 2. Airport 3. Dornan’s Nat Geo Wild BBQ 4. Jackson Lake Lodge Main Conference Venue & Lodging 5. Colter Bay Village Additional Lodging 18

2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

TRANSPORTATION ALAMO - Rental Car Provider Special Delegate Discount 10% discount / free additional driver / free airport pickup 307-733-0671 / 800-327-9633 www.alamo.com Contract ID: 675899

Airport Transportation (per person & not including park fee): Alltrans shuttle: $45 plus tax/person (Requires preregistration 24hrs in advance / 307-733-3135) Jackson Hole Taxi: $70 Airport to Lodge Snake River Taxi: $70 Airport to Lodge

DINING OPTIONS AT THE LODGE The Mural Room 7AM - 9:30AM 11AM - 1:30PM 5:30 - 9PM

The Pioneer Grill 6:30AM 10:30 PM

Blue Heron 11AM 10PM (for food)

Lobby Cart 6AM - 1PM

HEALTH TIPS DRINK WATER Dehydration occurs much more frequently in Jackson Hole than sea level locations since our relative humidity is very low.

WEAR SUNSCREEN High altitude predisposes one to sunburn because there is less atmosphere to filter out ultraviolet rays.

MEDICAL EMERGENCY If you need medical assistance, there is a summer clinic located at the Jackson Lake Lodge (307) 543-2514 | Mon-Sun, 10am-5pm Emergacare is available 24/7 for after hour emergencies (307) 733-8002

DRINK SMART The effects of alcohol are dramatically increased at altitude. At Jackson Holeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elevation of 6,200 feet above sea level, the effect of alcohol will be approximately double for the sea level inhabitant.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES Chapel of the Sacred Heart, a few minutes from Jackson Lake Lodge, hosts Catholic Mass on Saturday and Sunday at 5pm. Other religious services are available in town.

IN APPRECIATION VOLUNTEERS Egbe Anna Etka Kayla Arend Sarah Arnoff Eunice Baek Caitlin Bailey Laurie Bay Janice Beatty Katy Bell Kristy Bishop Frieda Brown Erin Buchholtz Lina Collado Billy Collins Jeremy Davidson Alain Douchinsky Megan Driscoll Alexander Finden Kate Garrett Zuzana Gedeon Kimberly Guidone Jeff Hester Nick Hill

Marcus Hockett Steven Holt Lindsey Hoshaw Abby Huetter Justin Jay Lynn Jeffords Laurie Johnson Ida-May Jones Sarika Khanwilkar Brett Kuxhausen John Lennon Samuel Lewis Constantine Lycouris Krista Lyons Olivia Macowski Alice Marlow Courtney Marvin Kyle McBurnie Madison McClintock Kit McGurn Paul McManus Amanda Miesnieks

Zach Montes Ben Morris Emily Narrow Drew Nevitt Jillian Norrie Conor O’Donovan Annette Osnos Scott Page Joao Pasquale Donnie Piper Alessandro Ponzo Nicholas Poole Erin Ranney Melly Reuling Tom Richards Sarah Ridgway Julian Robertson David Samollow Maggie Schwab Matthew Sileo Hugo Sindelar Sally Snow Dan Solmon Bob Spencer

Headquartered at the base of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, CO for 35 years, Mountainsmith is committed to creating durable provisions for every aspect of your adventure, on and off the trail. Beginning with iconic lumbar packs in 1979, Mountainsmith products carry an emphasis on utility for those who prefer life outdoors. Whether that is a solution for the backcountry, the gear closet, the office, the photo shoot, or even the dog; the brand offers tools that serve a purpose and stand the test of time. Dedicated in its mission to improve the lives of fellow outdoors enthusiasts, Mountainsmith manufactures products that are…forged for life. Visit www.mountainsmith.com to learn more.

Ryan Stolp Ellie Stratton Brook Patrick Tormey Luisa Velez Jim Waters Nicole White Elizabeth Wilk Christopher Zimmer

Mortensen Studios. Mortensen, a self-taught artist has created over 200 bronze sculptures to date, including 30 life-size works. His work draws inspiration from a life spent on ranches and observations of wildlife and ranch life seen from the back of a horse, and the trails beneath the Tetons in Jackson Hole. From his foundation in traditional bronze, he has launched a collection of western furnishings. mortensenstudios.com

TOM MANGELSEN The incredible images you see in the Festival printed materials, website, signs and banners were created by Jackson Hole photographer Tom Mangelsen. With three decades of experience in the field, Tom’s immense curiosity and love for wild places and creatures inspire his expeditions to the earth’s most beautiful and often endangered locales. A childhood on the Platte River in Nebraska and graduate studies in wildlife biology began Tom’s journey down the path to photography. His numerous awards include honors by the BBC as “Wildlife Photographer of the Year” and by the North American Nature Photography Association as “Outstanding Nature Photographer of the Year.” Today, Tom has thirteen ‘Images of Nature’ galleries across the United States with nearly 900 images available to purchase. His stock agency contains 4,000 images of wildlife from all around the world. imagesofnature.com | mangelsen.com 20 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

ONLINE SCREENING LIBRARY The Festival offers delegates an opportunity to view all films entered into the competition. For the first time, the Wildlife Film Festival used Vimeo, a secure online screening room for judging, that is available during the Symposium, and up to two weeks after the event. Please use the link and password below to watch any film youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like.

Password for all Vimeo pages - 2015JHWFF (case sensitive) jhfestival.org/2015-viewing-room

JACKSON DEALS & INFO Check out the ‘Around Jackson’ button on the mobile app for a more complete list of restaurants, points of interest and adventures in Jackson Hole. The community, the valley and the lake were all named after mountain man, trapper and trader, David Jackson. Jackson is a hub of outdoor recreation opportunity. Wildlife watching is easy here; elk, deer, and many other small mammals can be found throughout the valley. A plethora of bird species hangs in the valley throughout the year including various ducks, geese and even swans.

ATTENDEE DEALS SNAKE RIVER GRILL

RENDEZVOUS BISTRO

The locals’ favorite fine dining in Jackson Hole, 10% off Wyoming for over 20 years. MUST show festival badge at START of dinner; Guests asked to base gratutity on total before discount.

Romantic destination for steak & seafood in an 10% off intimate dining room with cozy booths & a raw bar. MUST show festival badge at START of dinner; Guests asked to base gratutity on total before discount.

THE BLUE LION Charming older house dishes up inventive 20% off American fare including lamb, fish & wildgame specialties. Valid from Sept. 27th - Oct. 3rd only. MUST show festival badge to server at start of dinner.

JENNY LAKE FERRY SERVICE $5 off

Jenny Lake Boating offers shuttle service across Jenny Lake at the base of Mount Teewinot with amazing Teton views. $10 roundtrip ticket for adults & seniors ($5 discount. Only valid from Sept. 23 - Sept. 27th. MUST show festival badge to receive discount.

BLUE COLLAR RESTAURANTS Noodle Kitchen, Pizza Artisan, Merry Piglets, 10% off Liberty Burger, Sidewinders, Bubba’s BBQ 10% off bill, excluding alcohol. MUST show festival badge at START of dinner; Guests asked to base gratutity on total before discount.

22 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

THE KITCHEN Modern eatery uses seasonal ingredients to 50% off craft a menu of meat & seafood dishes in a warm room. MUST show festival badge at START of dinner; Guests asked to base gratutity on total before discount.

CAFE GENEVIEVE Complimentary glass of wine with entrée glass of purchase. A quaint log cabin with pet-friendly wine deck & an American menu of classic cooking with wine & spirits. Only valid with purchase of entrée. Limit 1 per customer. MUST show festival badge at the START of dinner

NATIONAL PARKS GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK Rising above a scene rich with extraordinary wildlife, pristine lakes, and alpine terrain, the Teton Range stands monument to the people who fought to protect it. These are mountains of the imagination. Mountains that led to the creation of Grand Teton National Park where you can explore over two hundred miles of trails, float the Snake River or enjoy the serenity of this remarkable place.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK It’s Wonderland. Old Faithful and the majority of the world’s geysers are preserved here. They are the main reason the park was established in 1872 as America’s first national park—an idea that spread worldwide. A mountain wilderness, home to grizzly bears, wolves, and herds of bison and elk, the park is the core of one of the last, nearly intact ecosystems in the Earth’s temperate zone.

POINTS OF INTEREST A full list of entertainment, dining & points of interest can be found on the mobile app! National Museum of Wildlife Art The National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, WY is the premier museum of wildlife art and enriches humanity’s relationship with nature. WEBSITE

Jackson Hole Town Square Framed by four elk-antler arches, Jackson’s Town Square is the picturesque centerpiece of Jackson. It serves as a meeting place, shopping and dining hub, or just a place to relax.

Dornan’s Driving through the Grand Teton National Park or Jackson Hole and need gas? Food? Take a relaxing break and stop in at Dornans and browse, grab a bite, and stretch your legs

Teton Village Summer visitors can enjoy lift-accessible mountain biking, scenic tram rides, hiking trails, paragliding, live music, and horseback riding.

Jackson Hole Gallery Walk Within the past decade, Jackson Hole has taken a place beside Scottsdale, Santa Fe, San Francisco and New York as a major art center. The local galleries proudly present a broad range of work from “old masters” such as Charles Russell and Frederick Remington to internationally and nationally know contemporary artists, some of whom live in Teton County. WEBSITE Schwabacher’s Landing Schwabacher’s Landing is the location that truly highlights the immense beauty of Grand Teton National Park. Schwabacher’s Landing is a spot on the Snake River, almost exactly east of Grand Teton, where the terrain flattens out and allows easy access to the river. WEBSITE Rendezvous Park R Park is 40-acre natural park, including ponds, meadows, knolls, and trails for visitors to explore through a variety of passive recreation activities including cycling, walking, swimming, SUP boarding, kayaking, fishing, and picnicking.

Mormon Row, GTNP Mormon homesteaders, who settled east of Blacktail Butte near the turn of the 19-century, clustered their farms to share labor and community, a stark contrast with the isolation typical of many western homesteads. These settlers first arrived in the 1890s from Idaho establishing a community (named Grovont by the U.S. Post Office) known today as “Mormon Row.” Million Dollar Cowboy Bar Wyoming! The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar is no ordinary bar. This gallery-like atmosphere is an awesome display of the true Wild West. Wyoming’s landmark watering hole for spirits, beer and wine, The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar is located right on the town square in the heart of Jackson. It is famous for its western cowboy flare motif, complete with a large collection of western memorabilia, unique knobbled pine architecture, cowboy murals, animal mounts, and genuine saddle barstools. Snow King Chairlift Ride Kids and adults of all ages and physical abilities are invited to ride the Summit Lift to the top of Snow King for a great view of the Tetons and the town of Jackson. 23

SOCIAL & NETWORKING EVENTS Jackson Hole is known for its western flair and down-home atmosphere, so you’ll feel right at home in casual, comfortable clothing--including cowboy or hiking boots-and lots of layers. Each Festival in Jackson Hole is filled with casual networking opportunities--in fact, that is one of our specialties! There are social events slated for every day during the conference. Access to hosted events are included with your delegate credentials.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 NETWORKING BREAKFAST Sponsored by Mara Elephant Project 7:30 – 8:30, Explorer Room & Attendee Lounge

You have something in common with everyone in the room—you just don’t know what it is…yet! Jackson Hole is famous for creating new and unlikely collaborations. Sit with someone you DON’T know and begin what you came here to experience.

LUNCHSTORM: IDEA SLAM 11:30 - 1:30, Explorer Room & Attendee Lounge Sponsored by National Geographic Society

On the Ground Insight + Media Engagement = Amplified Impact This is the first of three “working lunch” intensives to brainstorm pragmatic ways we can work together to move the dial on elephant conservation. Today’s focus is on the supply and traffic side of the equation. Table Moderators will facilitate 45 minutes of brainstorming followed by full group discussion of the ideas that emerge. Do NOT miss these sessions—they might be the most important aspect of the Summit.

SUNSET RECEPTION ON THE TERRACE 5:45 - 7:30 Sponsored by Terra Mater Factual Studios & Vulcan Productions Networking, with a splash of Teton inspiration. Conservation—and conversation—to match the landscape! Make a point to head outside to watch tonight’s full lunar eclipse.

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SOCIAL & NETWORKING EVENTS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 NETWORKING BREAKFAST 7:30 – 8:30, Explorer Room & Attendee Lounge Sponsored by Terra Mater Factual Studios

Breakfast with a bite—make the most of every networking opportunity by joining a table of people you DON’T already know. That is what this week is about!

LUNCHSTORM: IDEA SLAM Sponsored by National Geographic Society 11:30 – 1:15, Explorer Room and Attendee Lounge

On the Ground Insight + Media Engagement = Amplified Impact This is the second of three “working lunch” intensives to brainstorm pragmatic ways we can work together to move the dial on elephant conservation. Today’s focus is on the demand side of the equation. Table Moderators will facilitate 45 minutes of brainstorming followed by full group discussion of the ideas that emerge. Do NOT miss these sessions—they might be the most important aspect of the Summit.

WELCOME RECEPTION 6:00 – 7:30, Terrace Sponsored By Panasonic

Bison in Yellowstone National Park.

When the opening day sessions conclude, the fun kicks up a notch. Join our host, Panasonic, for a Teton sunset and toast to the best Festival yet, with an open bar, delicious appetizers and a welcome opportunity to greet old friends and meet a few new ones!

Protecting wildlife and critical habitat for future generations.

npca.org/join

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SOCIAL & NETWORKING EVENTS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 MENTOR & NEWCOMER BREAKFAST 7:30 – 8:30, Explorer Room Sponsored by Disneynature

Seasoned industry veterans join emerging filmmakers for frank roundtable conversations and a chance to strategize for a week of networking and engagement! If you have signed on to be a mentor or mentee for more extended involvement, this will be your official first meet-up.

LUNCHSTORM: IDEA SLAM Sponsored by National Geographic Society 11:30 – 1:15, Explorer Room and Attendee Lounge On the Ground Insight + Media Engagement = Amplified Impact This is the final “working lunch” intensive brainstorming pragmatic ways we can work together to move the dial on elephant conservation. Today, we cut to the chase: Talk is cheap…what resources will you commit? What will you DO to make a difference? We want to walk away from this meeting with a LONG list of viable deliverables, so come prepared to actually make a difference.

HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY! 5:30 – 7:00, Grand Lobby and Sunset Terrace Sponsored by PBS

Celebrating a year of unprecedented milestones, join PBS for a Networking Happy Hour and more! Elephant Summit delegates can debrief, and Preliminary Judges are invited to a special meet and greet in the Blue Heron Lounge to compare notes from the 2015 Judging experience.

SOCIAL & NETWORKING EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 NETWORKING BREAKFAST 7:30 – 8:30, Explorer Room Sponsored by Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Enjoy a breakfast conversation with old friends or meet new associates and join one of our “assigned table leaders” for a lively discussion on a variety of timely issues and topics (a table/topic list will be provided onsite).

BOARD & SPONSORS RECEPTION (by invitation) Sponsored by National Parks Conservation Association 5:00 – 6:30, Craig Thomas Visitors Center A special thank you to our Board Members and major sponsors who helped make this year’s Festival possible.

YOU WERE BORN TO BE WILD! 6:00 – 11:00, Dornans in Moose, WY Sponsored by Nat Geo WILD

Party like a local at the infamous NatGeo WILD BBQ—a Festival Institution—with music by an all-local avorite, The Snake River Band—and a cameo appearance by rock and roll legend, Steppenwolf’s John Kay! 5:30 pm, Buses begin leaving Jackson Lake Lodge (last bus, 6:30) 9:00 pm, Buses return to Jackson Lake Lodge (last bus, 11:00)

28 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

SOCIAL & NETWORKING EVENTS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1 FINALISTS BREAKFAST (by invitation) 7:30 – 8:30, East Wing of Mural Dining Room

Congratulations, finalists! Join us for breakfast, pick up your beautiful certificates and learn what to expect during the Gala Awards event later tonight.

LUNCH & A MOVIE: Racing Extinction Sponsored by Vulcan Productions 12:00 – 2:00, Explorer Room

(Finalist: Theatrical, Conservation, People & Nature, Science & Nature, Conservation Hero) In “Racing Extinction” a team of artists and activists exposes the hidden world of extinction with neverbefore-seen images that will change the way we see the planet. Two worlds drive extinction across the globe, potentially resulting in the loss of half of all species.

GRAND TETON AWARDS GALA

Get ready for a night to remember as we recognize the films and filmmakers selected by this year’s jury as this year’s award winners! Join emcees M. Sanjayan & Bryan Christie at the beautiful Center for the Arts in Jackson Hole for an evening of celebration, drinks, eating and dancing! 4:30, Buses begin leaving Jackson Lake Lodge 5:30, Cocktail Reception Sponsored by BBC Worldwide 6:15, Theater doors open (grab that seat)! 6:30, Awards Celebration begins 8:00, Dinner, Music & Gala Celebration Sponsored by SONY 9:30, Buses begin returning to Jackson Lake Lodge 11:00, Last bus leaves—ignore this warning at your peril!

30 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

JACKSON HOLE WILDLIFE FILM FESTIVAL This year, 509 films from more than 27 countries on six continents entered over 1,000 categories to compete for 23 awards, including the Best of Festival “Grand Teton” Award. Finalists were selected during a six-week process that involved the committed participation of around 150 international judges screening an aggregated 3500+ hours of film. The Festival board is immensely grateful to each of the preliminary jurors who committed long hours to thoroughly screen and review each program entered into competition.

23 AWARDS 990 ENTRIES 150+ JUDGES 3500+ HOURS

Final award winners will be selected by a distinguished panel of five jurors who convened in Jackson Hole immediately preceding the Festival. Their decisions will be announced at the Grand Teton Awards Gala Celebration on Thursday, October 1 at the Center for the Arts in downtown Jackson Hole. All programs entered into the 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival are available to delegates for screening on our secure online screening room. Finalists will be showcased in special screenings throughout the week as well as in “Best of Festival” events around the world. Finalist Profiles and Trailers are accessed online here, and in the following pages.

www.offthefence.com 31

32 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

PAST GRAND TETON AWARD WINNERS 2013

On a River in Ireland Crossing the Line Films Producer: Cepa Giblin

2011

Broken Tail Crossing the Line Films Producer: John Murray

2009

GREEN Tawak Productions Producer: Patrick Rouxel

2007

Galapagos: Born on Fire BBC Natural History Unit, National Geographic, BBC Worldwide Producer: Patrick Morris

2005

2001

Mzima: Haunt of the Riverhorse Survival Anglia Ltd/National Geographic Television Producers: Mark Deeble & Victoria Stone

1999

Vision Man Aby Long Productions Producer: Lars Aby

1997

People of the Sea International Wildlife Films Producer: Patrick Morris

1995

Life in the Freezer: The Big Freeze BBC/National Geographic Television Producers: Martha Holmes, Ned Kelly, Peter Bassett, Alastair Fothergill

Homeland: Four Portraits of Native Action The Katahdin Foundation Producer: Roberta Grossman

1993

2003

1991

The Cultured Ape Scorer Associates Producer: Brian Leith

Eternal Enemies: Lions and Hyenas National Geographic Producers: Dereck and Beverly Joubert

Here Be Dragons Survival Anglia Producer: Alan Root, Mark Deeble, Victoria Stone

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FINAL JURY

THOM BEERS

is an award-winning television producer, industry veteran and creative visionary. Most recently, Beers led FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) as CEO, where he was responsible for the overall management and business performance of FMNA and its portfolio of companies, including Original Productions and 495 Productions. Within these, Beers oversaw the development, production and business operations of over 600 hours of network, cable, syndicated and digital programming. These programs include American Idol (FOX), America’s Got Talent (NBC), Family Feud (SYN), Let’s Make A Deal (CBS), The Price Is Right (CBS), The Great Christmas Light Fight (ABC), Deadliest Catch (Discovery), Married to Medicine (Bravo), Party Down South (CMT), Ice Road Truckers (HISTORY), Storage Wars (A&E), The Returned (A&E) and Celebrity Name Game (SYN) among others. Additionally, he spearheaded the launch of FMNA’s network BUZZR.

KATIE CARPENTER Katie Carpenter is an award-winning filmmaker specializing in

wildlife, science and conservation subjects for public and cable television. Most recently, she produced two National Geographic specials for PBS, Bones of Turkana and Battle for the Elephants, filmed on location in Kenya, Tanzania and China. Her current production is The Secret Lives of Elephants (working title) on the illegal ivory trade for the National Geographic Channel. Her films have aired on PBS, Discovery Channel, MSNBC, Fox, Animal Planet, ABC and the Disney Channel, and have been shot across East Africa, Southern Asia, Latin America and the U.S.. As a partner in Everwild Media, Carpenter co-produced Hundred Heartbeats, a two-hour special on the most endangered species around the world for MSNBC, and the Emmy-nominated documentary feature film A Year On Earth for Discovery Networks.

JONATHAN HALPERIN has spent the last twenty years making films about everything

from poisoned frogs to the political influence of the gambling industry. Along with Mark Mannucci, Halperin is co-founder of Room 608, a documentary and new media company. Room 608 has produced for PBS and Discovery as well as branded content clients. Previously, Halperin was the Senior Executive Producer of event programming and the executive producer of Explorer at National Geographic Television. Under his direction, Explorer earned two Emmy awards and another 14 Emmy nominations. His latest film, The Day the ‘60s Died, aired on PBS in April. He is currently working on a large-scale virtual reality natural history project and developing a new series for PBS. His work on Strange Days on Planet Earth and Gorilla Murders was honored at past Jackson Hole festivals.

LYNN HIRSHFIELD is Participant Media’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances.

She joined Participant Media in September 2005 and is responsible for leading the development of strategic partnerships, integrating these partners into social action and advocacy campaigns across all of the company’s platforms, including the film divisions, Takepart.com and Pivot TV. Lynn is also responsible for launching Participant’s publishing division to complement the company’s films and social action campaigns. In September 2008, Participant announced its first publishing deal, a series of four paperback original books with PublicAffairs Books, followed by a deal with Penguin and Puffin Books on a series of activist guides for readers 10 to 17, inspired by Participant’s social action activities on various issues. She has since published 8 books with Public Affairs, two of which hit number one on The New York Times best seller list. Lynn is the author of Girls Gone Green and two more books for younger readers, part of the Sassafras series.

LOUIS SCHWARTZBERG is an award-winning producer, director, and

cinematographer whose notable career spans more than three decades, providing breathtaking imagery for feature films, television shows, documentaries and commercials. As the only cinematographer in the world who has been shooting time-lapse 24/7 continuously for well over three decades, Schwartzberg is a visual artist breaking barriers, connecting with audiences, and telling stories that celebrate life and reveal the mysteries and wisdom of nature, people and places. His work was recently featured on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday. His recent theatrical releases include the 3D IMAX film Mysteries of the Unseen World with National Geographic, narrated by Forest Whitaker, and Wings of Life, a feature documentary for Disneynature, narrated by Meryl Streep.

PRELIMINARY JUDGES

he high caliber of the judges as well as the process and criteria for reviewing entries creates a competition that is thorough and unbiased. Every entry is screened in its entirety and scored by several preliminary judges from around the world who have access to entries via our secure online screening room, to ensure broad geographic and cultural representation.

Lauren Amable Caitlin Bailey Adrian Bailey Janine Baker Jon Bardin Whitney Beer-Kerr Eric Bendick Heather Benit Cara Biega Melinda Binks Michael Booth Liz Brach Kate Bradbury Arlene Burns Marina Cappabianca Krysia Carter-Giez Meghan Cassin Terry Clark Lina Collado Maryanne Culpepper Nate Dappen Trevor de Kock Virgina Lynch Dean Maya Drake Megan Driscoll Tyler Duke Alexa Elliott Larry Engel Josh Ewing Kathy Fitzgerald Carol Fleisher Mark Fletcher Sarah Fogel Brad Forder Daniel Fox Maddy German Liz Gibbs Stephani Gordon Amy Gotliffe John Grabowska Karyn Greenwood Teresa Griswold Martin Hammond Morgan Heim

Ana Cristina Henriquez Jeff Hogan Hays Holladay Sally Ingleton Denis Jensen Katie Jepson Taylor Johnson Sarah Joseph Valentine Kass John Kay Patrick Keegan Rachelle Keeling Robyn Keene-Young Susan Kelly Sarika Khanwilkar Mary Jo Kinser Hans Kummer David Leon Dean Leslie Joseph Levine Georgia Ligori Jared Lipworth Neil Losin Melinda MacInnis Ru Mahoney Tristan Mansson-Peronne David Matthews Sergio Garcia Mayer Cathy McConnell Kirsteen Mclean Scott Meddaugh Ben Meyer Zach Montes Virginia Moore Patrick Morris Stacey Moverly Dusty Nichols Meredith Nutting Candice Odgers Nicola Olsen Sandy Ostertag Kathy Pasternak Rosh Patel Karen Perry

36 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

Peter Pilafian Alessandro Ponzo Gina Poole Caroline Pryce Jeff Reed Maggie Rhodes Lynne Richardson Ron Riddle Joseph Rivers Cherie Rivers Sarah Robertson Patricio Rojas Michael Rosenfeld Gaelin Rosenwaks Hans Rosenwinkel John Rubin Ana Salceda Gianna Savoie Annette Scheurich Klaus Scheurich Paul Sher Benj Sinclair Praveen Singh Akanksha Sood Singh Alex Sletten Susannah Smith Liz Smith Scott Snider Andrew Solomon Patrick Spain Hillary Sparrow Leine Stikkel Phil Streather Kelly Sweet Shaz Syed Anne Tarrant Colleen Thurston Dustin Trayer Wallace Ulrich Caroline Underwood Sandya Viswanathan Elizabeth Volkkman Pam Voth Graham Wallington Marni Walsh Michael Werner

Chun-Wei Yi EWCL JUDGES Sara Barth Michelle Benham Jennifer Tsang Megan Haidet Krishna Roy Melissa Normann Max Maurer Kelly Donithan Dennis Jorgensen Weiskotten Weiskotten Kate Gersh Beth Allgood Christa Rose Eve Schaeffer Danielle Kessler

A SCREEN AS BIG AS YOUR PASSION FOR FILMMAKING. AND BY BIG, WE MEAN

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Why Attend? See the latest films and whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the pipeline n Learn how giant screen production, distribution, marketing and projection differ from other formats n See demos and participate in hands-on workshops featuring the latest in production and postproduction equipment and software, including cameras, audio, editing, and visual effects n Learn what audiences want with data from industry research n Make important industry contacts and network with colleagues n

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PROGRAMMING For more than twenty years 600+ media professionals have gathered in the shadow of the Tetons to celebrate excellence, exchange ideas and be inspired by the landscape and each other. This is no ordinary industry conference: it is a place where collaboration and innovation thrive, where ideas are launched and strategic partnerships are formed.

SEE FULL PROGRAMMING

ELEPHANTS SUNDAY - TUESDAY

This 3-day Summit will engage participants to address the decimation of African elephants that threatens the entire species. Our goal is to create a viable platform for stakeholders from two discrete worldsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;elephant science/ conservation and media content creatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to come together for the focused purpose of networking, collaborating, and brainstorming integrated solutions and targeted action plans for the preservation of this iconic species.

SCIENCE TUESDAY - THURSDAY

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FINALIST SCREENINGS MONDAY - FRIDAY

38 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

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OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS` HOWARD & MICHELE HALL

Outstanding Achievement in Media

Specializing in wildlife and marine conservation films for television and large format theaters, Howard and Michele have worked together for more than two decades. Their projects include three episodes of the PBS series Nature and a National Geographic Special. Howard’s career as an underwater wildlife film producer, cinematographer, still photographer and writer began in the early 1970’s. From 1976 until 1988 Howard hired out his cinematography skills to other producers. Among his favorite projects were the 16 episodes of the Wild Kingdom series he filmed and directed; filming for Survival Anglia; ABC’s Dolphins, Whales, and Us; and being the primary cameraman for the 1981 National Geographic Special: Sharks. In addition to winning a Peoples’ Choice award at the very first Jackson Hole Festival and a Golden Panda Award at Wildscreen, the Hall’s television work has resulted in seven Emmy awards. Howard and Michele Hall are perhaps best known for their underwater IMAX films. In 1994 Howard directed the first underwater IMAX 3D feature, Into the Deep. In 2002 Howard was underwater sequence director and Michele was location manager for MacGillivray Freeman’s Coral Reef Adventure, a film in which both he and Michele are featured on-camera. Michele produced and Howard directed Island of the Sharks, Deep Sea 3D and Under the Sea 3D. Their IMAX features had grossed more than $200 million in box office receipts and won awards from Jackson Hole, Wildsceen, Giant Screen Cinema Association and the International 3D Society.

IAIN DOUGLAS-HAMILTON

Outstanding Achievement in Conservation & Science

As one of the world’s principal authorities on the African elephant, Douglas-Hamilton pioneered the first in-depth scientific study of elephant social behavior in Tanzania’s Lake Manyara National Park at age 23. In the 1970s he researched elephant population trends and alerted the world to the devastation poaching was having on the species, and was instrumental in bringing about the worldwide ban on the trade of ivory in 1989. Dr. Douglas-Hamilton acts as a member of the Technical Advisory Group to the CITES Convention on the Monitoring of the Illegal Killing of Elephants as well as serves on the data review task force of the African Elephant Specialist Group of IUCN. He has authored two award-winning books, Among the Elephants and Battle for the Elephants, with his wife Oria. In 1993, DouglasHamilton founded the Save the Elephants organization, which, “aims to secure a future for elephants, to sustain the beauty and ecological integrity of the places where they live; to promote man’s delight in their intelligence and the diversity of their world, and to develop a tolerant relationship between the two species.” Now based in Samburu National Reserve in Northern Kenya he continues his research with a dedicated team, monitoring the movements and behavior of over 900 elephants. In 2013 The Elephant Crisis Fund (a joint initiative between Save the Elephants and San Francisco based NGO Wildlife Conservation Network) was established to confront the threat to elephants by supporting the most urgent, important and catalytic projects across the crisis to stop the killing, stop the trafficking and end the demand for ivory.

40 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

CYNTHIA MOSS

Outstanding Achievement in Conservation & Science

Born and educated in the U.S.A., Cynthia Moss moved to Africa in 1968 and has spent the past 47 years studying elephants and working for their conservation. She began her elephant work in Tanzania as an assistant to Iain Douglas-Hamilton. In 1972 she started the Amboseli Elephant Research Project (AERP) in Kenya. Moss has directed AERP for over four decades, making it the longest running elephant research project in the world. It is also one of the longest continuous studies of any mammal. Moss’s research has concentrated on demography, social organization and behavior of the Amboseli elephants; her collaborators use the Amboseli dataset to study genetics, communication, reproductive histories, and cognition. Moss’ role as Director of AERP encompasses directing and supervising ongoing research; disseminating scientific results; mentoring and training young biologists and conservationists: and promoting public awareness about elephants. In 2000 she founded the Amboseli Trust for Elephants (ATE) whose mission is to ensure the long-term conservation and welfare of Africa’s elephants in the context of human needs and pressures through scientific research, training, community outreach, public awareness and advocacy. Moss is the author of four books: Portraits in the Wild, Elephant Memories, Echo of the Elephants and Little Big Ears and co-author (with Laurence pringle) of Elephant Woman. In 2011, Moss and her colleagues published a scientific volume on the AERP research results. Edited by Moss, Harvey Croze and Phyllis C. Lee, The Amboseli Elephants:

JOYCE POOLE

Outstanding Achievement in Conservation & Science

Joyce Poole has studied elephants and worked for their conservation and welfare for 40 years and is a world authority on their reproductive, communicative and cognitive behaviour. She graduated from Smith College, holds a Cambridge University PhD and was a Princeton University post-doctoral fellow. Poole’s scientific discoveries of African elephants include musth, infrasonic and long-distance acoustic communication, vocal imitation, vocal and gestural repertoires and she has collaborated in ground-breaking elephant cognition studies. Poole is a leading voice for the protection and well being of elephants. Her documentation of the damage wrought on elephant societies by poaching was instrumental to the 1989 ban on international trade in ivory. She has been an expert witness in numerous elephant cruelty cases, is lead author of The Elephant Charter and an outspoken critic of the capture of elephants for captivity. Poole began her elephant research in Amboseli, Kenya in the mid-1970s. She headed the Kenya Wildlife Service Elephant Program 1990-1994, where her knowledge and enthusiasm inspired many Kenyans who hold key elephant management positions today. She has published numerous scientific and popular articles, written two books, Coming of Age with Elephants and Elephants, and participated in scores of media projects. She received a Smith College Medal for her research and training in Africa. In 2002 she and husband, Petter Granli, founded ElephantVoices and continue to co-direct it. They currently run elephant conservation projects in the Mara ecosystem, Kenya and in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, and work globally for the survival and welfare of elephants.

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42 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

KEYNOTE SPEAKER E.O. WILSON

Edward Wilson is one of the leading American scientists of our time. A biologist, his life-long passion for insects led him early in his career to become the world’s foremost expert on ants, but this was just the beginning. He went on to make groundbreaking contributions to evolutionary theory and the study of population dynamics. His 1967 book written with mathematician Robert MacArthur, The Theory of Island Biogeography, is widely considered to be the cornerstone of conservation biology. But perhaps his greatest contribution has been to the study of social behavior in the animal world. Wilson’s 1975 book, Sociobiology, created one of the great academic controversies of the late 20th century but revolutionized thinking about the bases of animal societies, including our own. It opened up new avenues for thinking about human behavior and psychology which are still being explored today. Later in his career, he embarked on a grand re-thinking of evolutionary theory as it applied to social animals. His open espousal of the theory of “group selection” has brought him into conflict with many scientists, notably Richard Dawkins, but reinvigorated the field. Throughout his career he has been a tireless champion of conservation. A fine writer, Wilson’s books on philosophy, religion and the natural world have made him one of the most widely read scientists of our era and earned him two Pulitzer prizes.

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44 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

CONTENT CATEGORIES - FINALIST PROFILES

ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SPONSORED BY VULCAN PRODUCTIONS Awarded to the program that most effectively explores animal behavior in a new, fresh, imaginative or authoritative way.

Brothers in Blood: The Lions of Sabi Sand

Discovery Networks International Aquavision Television Productions

The story is told by the witnesses themselves, and also features keen insight from top lion experts, including Professor Craig Packer and renowned large predator expert Dave Salmoni. The filmmakers felt certain that viewers would recognize the human desire for power and supremacy among the Mapogo coalition in this Shakespearean story. The film endeavors to reveal the rarely seen complexity, violence and fragility of life as a male lion, showing us that even the ‘King of Beasts’ struggles to survive and is more likely to die in the jaws of another lion, than of old age. It is rare to know the long, intricate life story of such captivating wild characters, but to have it documented on film – covering so many years – is unheard of.

Disneynature Monkey Kingdom

Disneynature

The overgrown ruins and rich cast of jungle animals make a wonderfully cinematic backdrop, but the strength of this film lies in its compelling story, wonderful score and the extraordinary breadth and depth of monkey behavior the team were able to capture. It is full of behavioral ‘firsts’ and scenes that are groundbreaking in primate filmmaking. Memorable scenes include monkeys swimming underwater, tribal warfare between monkey groups and the rare spectacle of all the forest’s animals feasting on the nuptial flights of termites. The detailed portrayal of the monkey class system makes the film stand out. To capture this, the filmmakers relied on the longest running monkey study of all time. Wolfgang Dittus and his assistants have been studying the monkeys at Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka for over 50 years; they have chartered not only the detailed behavior of individuals but the rise and fall of lineages in a way never before achieved with a population of monkeys. By working closely with the researchers, the film crew was able to anticipate what their subjects might do next and also correctly interpret the behavior they filmed. This collaboration, together with over 1000 camera days in the field, resulted in a never-before-seen portrait of macaque life.

Life Story: First Steps The opening scene in which barnacle goslings leap down cliffs is one of the most extreme introductions to life that any animal experiences. Some chicks do not make it down alive, and yet the crew was witnessing what is, in reality, one of the most extraordinary survival strategies in nature.

BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery, France TV and The Open University

The holy grail in making Life Story was to find an unknown animal species that behaves in an interesting way. The Long-eared jerboa, a rodent on kangaroo legs with enormous, dumbo ears, is like something from an animation film. Assistant Producers Sophie Lanfear persuaded the Russian scientist out of retirement and joined a Russian expedition to the remote region in the Gobi desert. At the end of a four-day journey across the desert, the film team arrived at the place where the scientists had last seen the Jerboa. That same night, to their delight, they saw one hopping around on the desert sand.

46 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

CONTENT CATEGORIES - FINALIST PROFILES

WILDLIFE HABITAT SPONSORED BY NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) Awarded to the program that most effectively explores a unique habitat or ecosystem.

Africa’s Giant Killers

Icon Films in association with Natural History Film Unit Botswana, BBC and Animal Planet

Africa’s largest herd of elephants and a fearless pride of young lions come face to face in an epic fight for survival. Rarely do their worlds collide, until now. Drought has weakened the elephants, and the lions are desperately hungry. With the drought, the elephants’ journeys to the interior to access food and return to the marsh for water grew longer in the unbearable heat. Their exhaustion was palpable, their movements slower. Frequently, the babies collapsed, giving the lion’s their first opportunity to attack. The dawn of the giant killers has arrived. Lions hunting elephants is not new or unknown, just unusual. It occurs when a number of variables converge. This time, it was not the effect of mega-prides with no alternative food source as it had been in the past. It was simply bad rains one year with late rains the next year, decades of growing elephant populations in this area thrust into a time of intense struggle, and the sons and daughters of the mega-prides whose genetic heritage somehow retained a memory of the times their ancestors killed these giants. “For Richard and I, these were the most difficult moments,” said Filmmaker Brad Bestelink, who spent two years in Botswana with the lions and elephants. “When lions hunt elephants, it ignites an unusual sense of horror and desperation. We lived surrounded by these scenes of horror and desperation for so long that we became numb to it, just as we became immune to the smell of death that permeated everything.”

Congo - Deep and Dangerous (Ep. 1)

Doclights GmbH/NDR Naturfilm; Blue Planet Film, NDR, ARTE, ORF, WDR and National Geographic WILD

More powerful and dangerous than any other river, yet a sanctuary and home for some of the most wonderful creatures on our Earth. Congo follows the second largest river on Earth from it’s source in Zambia on its journey through marshland areas and rainforests stretching over a distance of 5,000 kilometres, starting as a small stream and developing into a raging river that engulfs everything in its path. Biologists consider it to be the cradle of evolution: an experimental location for the emergence of new species. Fish with lungs or wings and fish that are able to hunt on land are all prime examples of some of the species The Congo team encountered – many of them only live in or nearby the Congo River. Thomas Behrend, director Blue Planet Film, said the Congo project may have been his biggest challenge ever. “It wasn’t that dangerous in terms of animals, but definitely in terms of people - not the ‘normal local people,’ more the rebels and poachers who are hidden and kill everywhere in the DR Congo,” he said. “There was not a single person in my team that didn’t at least once fear for his or her life at some point.” The film team went to great lengths to access remote areas through thick mosquito-ridden bush, risking malaria and other diseases, and convincing locals to allow them to film. Blue Planet Producer Heike Grebe had a harder time with the elements than the people. “They were friendly, curious and always wanted to see pictures of themselves, especially the children,” he said.

Vanishing Kings Filmed over more than two years, Vanishing Kings shows the secret lives of desert lions as they roam the rugged mountains, majestic sand dunes, gravel plains, scrublands and the beaches of Namibia’s Skeleton Coast. In this place of constant danger, everlasting hunger and thirst, and inevitable suffering, five young lions must conquer the desert and establish their own kingdom.

A co-production by ORF, Interspot Film, ARTE, Smithsonian Networks, Into Nature Productions and Boksdocs

Blasting sandstorms, freezing cold and thick fog create a harsh climate, and a respect for the pristine landscape forces the film crew to watch as the lion pride walks off across the immense gravel plains. New tracks could scar the sensitive landscape for decades. Another challenge was keeping up with the elusive pride on it’s enormous home range. But the intimate moments that reveal the lions resilience to survive in one of the world’s most desolate places was the ultimate wildlife experience.

CONTENT CATEGORIES - FINALIST PROFILES

CONSERVATION SPONSORED BY TANGLED BANK STUDIOS Awarded to the program that most effectively contributes to an awareness of timely and relevant conservation issues and/or solutions.

I Bought a Rainforest

KEO Films/The Open University for BBC Two

Wildlife Cameraman Charlie Hamilton James bought himself 100 acres of Peruvian Rainforest for 10,000 dollars. The plan was to create a buffer zone along the border of the world famous Manu National Park as a way of keeping illegal loggers out. Nine months later, the project hit rock-bottom. He is unable to secure his land because of a squatter called Elias. Charlie had planned to evict him. But having now met his family and his disabled daughter, Heidi, Charlie is fast learning that if you want to protect the rainforest you need to include the local people. Living among illegal gold-miners, cattle ranchers and cocaine farmers challenges Charlie’s perceptions, and forces him to examine what he really thinks about the environment. His skills as a natural history cameraman combine in an interesting way with traditional documentary making, unraveling the complexities of rainforest conservation.

Racing Extinction

Oceanic Preservation Society, Presented by Okeanos - Foundation for the Sea and the Discovery Channel. In association with Vulcan Productions, Earth Day Texas, JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation, Diamond Docs, and Insurgent Media

In Racing Extinction, a team of artists and activists expose the hidden world of extinction with never-before-seen images that will change the way we see the planet. Two worlds drive extinction across the globe, potentially resulting in the loss of half of all species. The international wildlife trade creates bogus markets at the expense of creatures that have survived on this planet for millions of years. And the other surrounds us, hiding in plain sight — a world that the oil and gas companies don’t want the rest of us to see. Using covert tactics and state-of-the-art technology, the “Racing Extinction” team reveals these two worlds in an inspiring affirmation to preserve life as we know it. Academy Award winning Director Louie Psihoyos has crafted an ambitious mission to clearly and artfully pull into focus our impact on the planet, while inspiring us all to embrace the solutions that will ensure a thriving, biodiverse world for future generations. “With this project, I want to tackle the most important problem the world has ever faced,” he said. “The epic loss of biodiversity. By combining a compelling film and a groundbreaking activation campaign, we want to create a movement for change.”

The Messenger

Songbirdsos Productions Inc. and Films À Cinq/ARTE France

The Messenger is a visually thrilling ode to the beauty and importance of the imperiled songbird, and what it will mean to all of us, on both a global and human level, if we lose them. Warblers, Buntings, Swallows, Thrushes — are just some of the many songbirds that fill our skies, yards and parks. For thousands of years these affecting songsters have been embarking on an incredible migratory journey across continents and oceans. But today, they are threatened by climate change, pesticides, predators and city lights. In this rapidly changing world, songbirds are disappearing at an alarming rate, and their decline is a message to us all. Moving from the northern point of the Boreal Forest, to the base of Turkey’s Mount Ararat, to ground zero in New York City, we meet an engaging cast of ecologists, enthusiasts and everyday people who are exposing the very real threats to these amazing creatures, and working for change. The scene is set to music by German composer, DJ and bird-watching enthusiast Dominik Eulberg, who incorporates birdsounds seamlessly into techno music and introduces us to the role of bird songs in Wagnerian opera. “Humans share an ageless bond with birds, their song, and their persistent presence in our lives,” says Director Su Rynard. “In the past, humans looked to the flights and songs of birds to predict the future. Today, once again, the birds have something to tell us.”

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CONTENT CATEGORIES - FINALIST PROFILES

PEOPLE & NATURE SPONSORED BY THE NATURE CONSERVANCY Awarded to the program that most effectively explores the interdependent relationship between humans and animals or the environment.

I Bought a Rainforest

KEO Films/The Open University for BBC Two

India’s Wandering Lions

Ammonite Ltd., Kosmik Global Pvt. Ltd., Earth Touch and Discovery Communications India

This isn’t, as it may first appear, a case of lion-human conflict. These big cats have found a way to coexist alongside people: acting as pest control predators, their presence in and around agricultural crops deters and reduces the number of cropeating animals, much to the joy of local farmers. An open-ended ‘experiment,’ there is hope that the lions and people of Gujarat represent a model for a bright future where predators and humans can truly live together. At the heart of the film is a truly positive message that can change perceptions and that is what the film is most proud of. Magical moments include a lion waiting for villagers to go to bed before he returns to his Ox kill, and farmers alerting a pride to a herd of deer. Much of the film was captured at night on a range of world-renowned technology including the Colour Starlight Camera and Frankencam.

Natural World: The Bat Man of Mexico

Windfall Films

Director Tom Mustill and his small team spent three months with ‘the Bat Man’ Conservation Hero Rodrigo, crawling through guano (bat excrement)-filled caves to tell the unknown but inspiring story of his lifelong passion and success in saving one of the world’s most important but least popular animals. Surviving being hit by two hurricanes, losing the bats and the relentless guano, the team, and the film was charmed by Rodrigo’s great sense of humor, and excellent taste in Tequila. For Tom, a former conservation biologist turned producer/director, it was an unusual opportunity: to tell a story of hope and excitement in conservation, and to follow a leader whose second language was english. The timing was also key - Tom joined Rodrigo at the moment his long career had finally produced one of the world’s great conservation success stories, a light for the rest of the field to follow. And Rodrigo isn’t done yet.

Racing Extinction

CONTENT CATEGORIES - FINALIST PROFILES

SCIENCE & NATURE SPONSORED BY MARCO POLO FILMS Awarded to the program that most effectively incorporates science, the scientific method and scientific discovery into an understanding of some aspect of the natural world.

License to Krill

DOX Productions Ltd, Films á Cinq, Arte France in association with NOVA/WGBH

Antarctic krill are small animals with a big problem. The food of whales, penguins and seals, their numbers have been in dramatic decline. License to Krill follows an international scientific expedition deep into the pack ice as scientists search for the reason why. It unfolds a dramatic detective story set in a dangerous and unexplored environment, which reveals the forces that now conspire to threaten all life in Antarctica. The film project began when Emmanuel Laurent invited David Sington to lunch in Paris to ask if he would be interested in returning to the Southern continent to make a film about the effects of human activity there. “In my chequered career I have been fortunate to film on all seven continents, but to me Antarctica is the most fascinating place on Earth, and so I leapt at the chance,” Sington said. “The great sadness was that Emmanuel did not live to see the film completed – it is dedicated to his memory. “We were privileged to show the process of science in an unusually intimate way, and I will be forever grateful to Prof Bettina Meyer for the invitation to join her expedition, and to Emmanuel and his colleague Martin de la Fouchardière for thinking of me in the first place.”

Racing Extinction

THIN ICE - The Inside Story of Climate Change

DOX Productions, Oxford University and Victoria University, Wellington

In recent years, climate science has come under increasing attack. So concerned Geologist Simon Lamb grabbed his camera and set out to explore the inside story of climate research. For three years he followed scientists from a wide range of disciplines at work in the Arctic, Antarctic, Southern Ocean, New Zealand, Europe and the United States. They talk about their work, their hopes and their fears, with rare candor and directness. The resulting is an intimate portrait of the global community of researchers racing to understand our planet’s changing climate and provide a compelling case for rising CO2 as the main cause. The project began over a cup of coffee at a Climate Change and Governance conference in Wellington in March 2006. Simon Lamb (then at Oxford) was concerned by attacks being made on the integrity of climate scientists and wondered just how good their science really was, and so Peter Barrett (Victoria) suggested that he make a film about climate science with the help of his friend David Sington (DOX Productions). “The film is almost entirely in the words of the scientists, and I am really only the ‘glue’ that holds what they say together,” Lamb says. “However, by watching the film, you not only find out what the scientists think, you also see for yourself the research being carried out, whether it be on the polar plateau in Antarctica, at -40°C, or in a storm on the Southern Ocean, or back in the laboratory.”

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CONSERVATION HERO SPONSORED BY WORLD WILDLIFE FUND Awarded to the film that most effectively celebrates the impact of individuals or groups committed to enhance the protection, awareness or understanding of a species, ecosystem or some other aspect of the natural world.

E.O. Wilson - Of Ants and Men

Shining Red Productions, Inc. for PBS

An exploration of the remarkable life and groundbreaking ideas of biologist E.O Wilson, founder of the discipline of sociobiology, world authority on insects and Pulitzer Prize winning writer on the subject of human nature. E.O. Wilson - Of Ants and Men is an endearing portrait of one of the great scientists of our time. It inspires viewers with Wilson’s revolutionary ideas and joyful exploration of the natural world, painting an engaging portrait of an extraordinary man often called “a Darwin for the modern day.” Through engaging interviews and investigations around the globe, the film brings together three great themes of Wilson’s life and work: the wonder of nature; the evolution of human social behavior; and humanity’s need to come to terms with our place in the natural world. Wilson’s life-long passion for insects and the natural world led him from his Alabama childhood to become one of the world’s foremost experts on ants, which led him to study human nature. Sparked by his observations of ant and other insects communities, Wilson has made ground-breaking contributions to human evolutionary theory and population dynamics.

Natural World: The Bat Man of Mexico

Windfall Films

Racing Extinction

Tiger Tiger

George Butler/White Mountain Films

Schooled on the rough streets of the Bronx in his youth and afflicted with a potentially devastating speech impediment, Alan found salvation in his communication with and passion for animals. And like the tiger he faces his own diminishing timeline. Diagnosed with leukemia, Alan makes what may be the last expedition in his long career in search of the last wild tigers of the Sundarbans. In remote forests of menacing beauty, the tiger is not only the feared lord of the jungle, but also of the water, for the Sundarbans tiger has adapted to become a powerful swimmer and aquatic hunter. On land and in water, the Sundarbans tigers have a reputation for being man-eating, and our film follows Alan as he explores the relationship between local people who live on the margins of the forest and the fearsome, but threatened predator. He seeks the answer to the question: ‘How do we save the last wild tigers?’

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EDUCATIONAL/INSTITUTIONAL SPONSORED BY NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES Awarded to the non-broadcast or commercially distributed program that most successfully educates its audience on some aspect of the natural world. This includes projects created by government agencies, NGOs, universities and other institutions.

An Elephant’s Tale: The Matriarch

Wildlife Conservation Society

The Matriarch was inspired by field scientists Fiona “Boo” Maisels and Samantha Strindberg who authored a study showing a 63% decline in forest elephants over a single decade and a passionate op-ed published in the New York Times alongside the study that captured in stark terms the tragedy of an elephant mother unable to protect her herd. Filmed at the Mpala Research Centre in Laikipia, Kenya and on the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust where filmmakers were able to roll around with baby elephants, the short conveys the similarities we as humans share with the largest mammal on the planet, from a complex emotional life to language to self-awareness.

Disneynature Monkey Kingdom - A Conservation Story

Disneynature

Conservation International’s Dr. M. Sanjayan travels to South East Asia to visit the set of Disneynature Monkey Kingdom and explore the conservation issues facing wildlife and habitats across the region. He discovers how human populations are increasingly encroaching on natural habitats and reveals the practical ways that conservationists are protecting forests in order to build a better future where animal and human populations can live side by side. Disneynature Monkey Kingdom: A Conservation Story aims to give audiences an in-depth look at the conservation work their support has made possible, to thank and inspire audiences and show them the conservation impact they have had. Through donations tied to opening week ticket sales, Monkey Kingdom went on to support specific conservation programs across one million acres in Cambodia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The projects are significant as they protect forests and thousands of species, support the operation of a gibbon rescueand-rehabilitation center, train rangers, educate local communities, and plant thousands of trees to help protect water sources for millions of people.

Great Transitions: The Origins of Birds

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

In the long history of life on earth, few transitions capture the imagination more than animals gaining the ability to fly. University of Texas paleontologist, and bird enthusiast, Julia Clarke hosts this journey to discover what may seem the unlikely origin of birds. The journey starts just two years after Darwin publishes On the Origin of Species, when paleontologist Christian Erich Hermann von Meyer obtains a single perfectly fossilized feather from a limestone deposit in southern Germany, and then in short order, a nearly complete fossil skeleton of a feathered animal named Archaeopteryx, is found in the same limestone formation. Archaeopteryx was just the kind of transitional organism that Darwin had predicted. It had feathered wings, a wishbone, and other features in common with living birds, but also teeth, a long bony tail, and claws, like living reptiles. So what kind of reptile became the question. Today many school children know that the stunning answer is dinosaurs, but few people know the whole fascinating story of discovery and stunning new findings in China of a myriad fossils of feathered dinosaurs. In the last 40 years, scientists have uncovered many shared features between birds and two-legged carnivorous dinosaurs called theropods—a group that included T. rex and Velocirapotor.

Great Transitions: The Origins of Tetrapods

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Stunning fossil finds have revealed the fascinating stories of major transitions in the history of life on our planet – from fish that gained the land, to reptiles that took to the air, and primates that walked on two legs. The Great Transitions film trilogy features leading evolutionary paleontologists as they show us how they find rocks of the right ages, discover transitional forms, and reconstruct the environments in which they lived. In the search for so-called transitional forms, few discoveries have generated as much excitement as Tiktaalik, a creature with a mix of features common to fish and four-legged animals, or tetrapods. Almost as stunning as the discovery itself, is the story of the search for Tiktaalik, with setbacks, calculated risks, and high adventure in the Arctic.

CONTENT CATEGORIES - FINALIST PROFILES

LIMITED SERIES - LONG FORM SPONSORED BY UNIVERSUM/ORF Awarded to the mini-series with episodes longer than 20 minutes in length, that most effectively advances a natural history theme.

Hidden Kingdoms

BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery Channel, France TV, CCTV

Hidden Kingdoms vividly brings the dramas of the world’s smaller creatures to life. By doing so, it also reveals biology and behavior – and a whole miniature world – in an insightful new way. The films are based in six of the planet’s most iconic landscapes: the open plains of Africa’s savannah, Arizona’s desert, the forests of Borneo, the woodlands of north America and the urban jungles of Rio and Tokyo. Pushing between blades of grass will feel like journeying deep into the densest jungle, while running from a hunting lizard will feel like a visit to Jurassic Park. From chipmunks to beetles, from marmosets to elephant shrews, these are animals who live life at an intensity that’s hard to imagine. They hunt food, but are themselves hunted; they face the forces of the world that, to them, can be catastrophic. Based entirely on real behaviour, the film employs a unique range of filming techniques and constructed storytelling to recreate these animals’ own distinctive perspectives and to illustrate the dynamism of their lives. This approach broke down barriers and reached a wide audience.

Life Story

BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery, France TV and The Open University

Life Story takes us on the greatest of all adventures - the journey through life. It’s a journey of six crucial stages: growing up, becoming independent, finding a home, gaining power, winning a mate and succeeding as a parent. The film brings a new level of storytelling to the natural history genre, creating an experience that is both intimate and intense. The film follows the struggles and triumphs of individual animals, drawing the viewer into their worlds, to sense the danger, the challenges and the decisions they must face. Life Story is the first BBC Natural History Unit series to be filmed at 4K (ultra-high definition), offering unprecedented image quality. The opening scene in which barnacle goslings leap down cliffs is one of the most extreme introductions to life that any animal experiences. Some chicks do not make it down alive, and yet the crew was witnessing what is, in reality, one of the most extraordinary survival strategies in nature. The holy grail in making Life Story was to find an unknown animal species that behaves in an interesting way. The Long-eared jerboa, a rodent on kangaroo legs with enormous, dumbo ears, is like something from an animation film. Assistant Producers Sophie Lanfear persuaded the Russian scientist out of retirement and joined a Russian expedition to the remote region in the Gobi desert. At the end of a four-day journey across the desert, the film team arrived at the place where the scientists had last seen the Jerboa. That same night, to their delight, they saw one hopping around on the desert sand.

Your Inner Fish

Tangled Bank Studios, Windfall Films for PBS

Your Inner Fish is a three-part series that takes a fresh look at human evolution. How did the human body become the complicated, quirky and amazing machine it is today? This cutting-edge scientific adventure reveals a startling truth: hidden within the human body is the story of life on Earth, and the legacy of our animal ancestors that lived hundreds of millions of years ago. Based on the best-selling book by Neil Shubin, the series travels from Africa to the Arctic Circle to uncover the deep history of the human body — and how a colorful cast of ancient characters made us who we are today. Shubin has spent much of his life studying our ancient ancestors — searching for the deep pedigree of Homo sapiens. Using both the fossil record and DNA evidence, he traces various parts of our body’s structure to creatures that lived long, long ago. Along the way, he makes it clear that we can thank our fishy origins for many human characteristics. The series is both an epic saga and a modern-day detective story — by turns surprising, funny and deeply profound. Come face-to-face with your “inner fish” in this completely new take on the human body.

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LIMITED SERIES - SHORT FORM SPONSORED BY DISCOVERY Awarded to the mini-series with episodes shorter than 20 minutes in length, that most effectively advances a natural history theme. Individual episodes may be entered into other categories.

Deep Look

KQED, PBS Digital Studios

See the unseen at the very edge of our visible world. Get a new perspective on our place in the universe and meet extraordinary new friends. Explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small with Deep Look a new ultra-HD (4K), short video series Twice a month the short series zooms in on something very small. For example, what happens when researchers put a hummingbird into a wind tunnel, or how paper clip-sized pygmy seahorses make themselves nearly invisible on a piece of coral? Using macro cinematography and microscopy the series reveals the amazing architecture of a morpho butterfly wing and the sticky marvel of banana slug slime. Rooted in a deep curiosity and sense of wonder about the natural world, Deep Look presents science up close and personal.

If Not Us Then Who?

Handcrafted Films

If Not Us Then Who? communicates firsthand the unique personal stories of an inconspicuous yet vital people, as they battle to protect their lives, their cultures and the mysteries of our forests. Forests cover almost a third of the Earth’s land surface and play a major role in stemming the effects of our rapidly changing climate by absorbing an estimated 2.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year. Within these forests, live traditional and indigenous people who have a deep spiritual connection and understanding of their ancestral homes. This connection is being threatened by a resource hungry modern world. As a result, the people who call the forest their home, are now engaged in a constant and frequently violent struggle. The films are a culmination of over two years of participatory filming from Indonesia to Peru, working with local partners to articulate individual stories through film. The film crew experienced shared dreams and spiritual spaces alongside indigenous peoples who were seeing a legend from their oral history for the first time. “It is only when we feel we truly belong do we start to feel responsible for our impact on our home, this fragile earth,” said Paul Redman, Director, lighting cameraman, editor and activist.

Power of Nature

BBC Earth Productions

The aesthetic worth of nature is easily appreciated. But it also provides vital services for humans, all free of charge. This series reveals key roles animals play in creating and sustaining our planet’s wildernesses. We discover how generations of hungry bears have helped build the largest temperate forest on Earth – providing clean water for millions. Also how elephants have been tending the world’s greatest tropical rainforests – providing rain from California to New Zealand. These are just two examples that remind us of the value of nature to our everyday lives, and how we cannot think of ourselves as separate from the natural world. Landscapes don’t exist in isolation. In this series, we unravel the complex web of lives that help maintain them, like the relationship between wolves and Yellowstone National Park. Their presence changes the course of rivers and provides space for a huge diversity of others plants, birds and mammals. Relationships between plants and animals, and between animal and animal that help preserve the delicate balance of life on earth. There are more than 10 million species on Earth – each is unique, but each exists only because it is connected to others.

PROGRAM CATEGORIES - FINALIST PROFILES

CHILDREN’S SPONSORED BY BORÉALES Awarded to the program that most effectively inspires an appreciation of the natural world, or issues associated with animals and the environment to young people 6-12 years of age.

Naomi’s Nightmares of Nature Series 2 Centra American Coast Naomi Wilkinson is terrified of sharks, spiders, crocodiles and things that go bump in the night. But she’s out to show children that everyone has things they are scared of and that the best thing to do is face the fear and have a go. Naomi usually discovers nothing is a scary as she first thought! This series features a wide range of sequences from thrilling adventures to emotional animal encounters. It has been well received by children who are entertained, challenged and ultimately inspired to go out and face their own worst nightmares.

BBC

NATURE - A Sloth Named Velcro

BelugaSmile Productions, LLC & THIRTEEN Productions LLC for the PBS Nature series

This is the story of Ana’s return to the Central and South Americas to see how much has changed since Velcro came into her life. Sloths, once largely ignored, have become a hot topic for scientific researchers and illegal wildlife traders. New studies show that they’re not so sloth-like after all. Ana learns that despite their reputation, sloths in fact sleep only about as much as humans do and are much more active in the wild than they are in captivity. Research into the gait of sloths has revealed another surprise. X-ray images and photographic analysis show that sloths actually move just like primates, only upside-down. In Columbia, Ana discovers a black market where baby sloths are sold to unsuspecting tourists. And in Panama we meet a loosely organized group of concerned citizens who make up a “sloth patrol” of individuals who rescue sloths crossing dangerous roads in search of a new home. Shot on location and featuring a unique mix of home movies, natural history and new science, the journey that Ana began with Velcro becomes the story of a growing network of dedicated individuals working hard to learn more about these charming creatures in order to protect them.

Secrets of Bumblebees

A co-production by ORF and Power of Earth Productions in association with ORF-Enterprise, bm:ukk and Kultur NÖ

They are chubbier, fuzzier and more leisurely than their sisters, the bees. They are a lot less aggressive and awe-inspiring than their cousins, the wasps. Compared to honey bees, these social insects have long been poorly researched, even though they’re at home in temperate regions throughout the Northern Hemisphere and South America. A few tropical species form colonies lasting several years, but elsewhere, only the summer’s new queens survive into next spring. Macro and high-speed cinematography allow us to witness their behavior, understand their biology, experience their unique abilities and leave us in awe of these droll little harbingers of spring. Secrets unveil both the light and dark side of bumblebees. Wherever a bumblebee flies, there’ll be flowers. They use all the daylight there is, working about 18 hours a day all the way through the summer, much longer than their honeybee cousins. But some are still a complete mystery - their nests, hidden underground, have never been filmed. This film follows a young bumblebee queen through a year, to experience with her the life of the bees’ furry sisters.

The Marvelous Musical Report (of the Marine National Monuments)

Open Boat Films, LLC, Sisbro Studios

Laura and Robert Sams, a sister and brother duo, were sought after by filmmaker Stephani Gordon for their imaginative approach to communicating science in The Shark Riddle. The comedic scenes they created in this film bemused and delighted the locals on the atolls, islands, and reefs of the Monuments, where the lack of shade and the surge of the sea presented obstacles. Respecting the Monuments and their culture was paramount to Gordon. “These places are all so wild, it was very important to me to be there with a feather-light presence, to leave no trace, and to give back more than I took, in terms of getting the film out there to be seen,” Gordon said.

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MountainKhakis.com

HOSTED/PRESENTER-LED SPONSORED BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC STUDIOS Awarded to the program that makes the most effective use of a host or presenter in communicating an appreciation and understanding of the natural world.

David Attenborough’s Natural History Alive Museum 3D

Colossus Productions, Sky and Atlantic Productions Host: David Attenborough

Partnering with Atlantic Productions this is “David Attenborough’s most exciting adventure yet” – The Sunday Times. It’s pure Attenborough, but not as he has ever been seen before. This is an Attenborough playfully reacting to, and interacting with extinct creatures. Attenborough’s involvement with the subjects and content of the film is evident through his ability to engage audiences throughout the magical journey. This is a new approach for Attenborough and his performance is extraordinarily believable and entertaining on all fronts. Composer Ilan Eshkeri worked closely with director Dan smith, Ilan and his team to create a truly magical cinematic score matching the scale and ambition of this unique film. Designing themes for each creature, from cute baby dinosaurs to sinister monster apes and curious giant birds, not to mention the characterful Natural History Museum itself, Ilan brought a team of immensely talented and experienced musicians together in Abbey Road Studio 1 to record it live. The result is a score as lush, epic and memorable as the film itself – best heard in a cinema environment.

The Secret Life of Your House

The Garden Productions Presenter: Dr. George McGavin

The Secret Life of Your House is a unique and entertaining natural history experiment, in which leading Entomologist George McGavin deliberately infests a house with thousands of animals, normally considered ‘pests.’ The experiment gives us an incredible insight into the ecology that exists right under our noses, living off of and around us. George thinks that these house pests are misunderstood and wants us to marvel in their glory and see what they’d do if we didn’t intervene. “You don’t need to go the plains of Africa to witness fascinating wildlife, it’s right here in your kitchen,” he says. Using high tech natural history filming techniques and macro photography to delve into unseen territory, we watch mice breed inside sofas, beetles devour carpets, weevils and cockroaches raid the larder and bed bugs disturb George’s sleep as they feast on his blood. George shows us that there’s no need to go the Plains of Africa to see fascinating wildlife – it exists in our homes... whether we like it or not. Infesting’ a real house with animals in the middle of winter was challenging - the team had to heat the house and seal it to create optimum conditions. But the biggest challenge was finding a house they could ‘infest’ - eventually they found a house used as a film location on a country estate in rural England. The owners liked the idea and let the team in. The mice proved to be the most entertaining residents - making a home inside the sofa.

Your Inner Fish, Episode 1

Tangled Bank Studios, Windfall Films for PBS Presenter: Neil Shubin

How did the human body become the complicated, quirky and amazing machine it is today? This cutting-edge scientific adventure reveals a startling truth: hidden within the human body is the story of life on Earth, and the legacy of our animal ancestors that lived hundreds of millions of years ago. Based on the best-selling book by Neil Shubin, this series travels from Africa to the Arctic Circle to uncover the deep history of the human body — and how a colorful cast of ancient characters made us who we are today. Episode One looks at how our arms, legs, necks and lungs were bequeathed to us by fish that lumbered onto land some 375 million years ago. The genetic legacy of this creature can be seen today in our own DNA, including genes used to build our quintessentially human feature – our hands.

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PROGRAM CATEGORIES - FINALIST PROFILES

SHORT SPONSORED BY MFA IN SCIENCE & NATURAL HISTORY FILMMAKING, MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY Awarded to the program, between five and 20 minutes in length (including PSAs, music videos, and campaigns), that best advances an appreciation or understanding of the natural world.

Animated Life: Pangea

Howard Hughes Medical Institute & Sweet Fern Productions

This animated short tells the story of Alfred Wegener, a German astronomer and atmospheric scientist, who came up with the idea that continents once formed a single landmass and had drifted apart. Continental drift explained why continents’ shapes fit together like pieces of a puzzle and why distant continents had the same fossils. During Wegener’s time, the idea was met with hostility. But after his death, a large body of evidence showed that continents do indeed move. Today the theory of plate tectonics is a fundamental principle in geology. Pangea is meant to share the joy of scientific discovery and the story of an unlikely scientist-adventurer in a creative animation format that appeals to diverse audiences. The film is part of an ongoing series of stories that use whimsy and emotional resonance to illustrate how scientific discoveries alter our view of the world. The collaboration illustrates among other things how thoughtfully crafted stories about scientific discovery and the scientific process can reach and delight multiple audiences.

Galapagos: Nature’s Wonderland

Colossus Productions film in association with SKY 3D

In the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, there is a paradise unlike any other: the Galapagos. Amongst these fascinating and remote volcanic islands, life has played out over millions of years in relative isolation. The result is a wonderland of nature, with a remarkable collection of plants and charismatic animals that have all adapted to this unique environment. Meet giant half-ton tortoises and marine iguanas that spit sea-salt from their noses. Dance with the tropical albatrosses and hunt fishes with the colorful blue-footed boobies. Dive into the ocean with flightless cormorants and swim with tiny penguins thousands of miles away from their natural habitats. Around the archipelago, converging crosswinds and deep, cold, nutrient-rich currents have made possible a unique and biodiverse marine oasis, which boasts everything from abundant microscopic plankton to Galapagos sharks. Narrated by Emmy award winning Wildlife Conservationist Jeff Corwin, this is a story of discovery, of survival against the odds and of nature’s ingenuity, all brought to to life in stunning 4K 3D. Explore these extraordinary and enchanted islands, whose remarkable inhabitants helped change the way we understand nature. “When you bring nature’s wonder to this medium in a powerful and compelling way, it engages and inspires the audience,” Corwin said.

Return of the Cicadas

Samuel Orr

The Periodical Cicadas are unique in the insect world. They live underground for 17 years and emerge together in the billions. Nearly 10 years ago, Samuel Orr was sidetracked from PhD-oriented research in forest ecology to a career in time-lapse photography and natural history filmmaking. For the past seven years he has been working on a full-length documentary film that looks at the Periodical Cicadas of the United States: a unique group of insects that appear in the billions once every 17 years. Cicadas are found worldwide from mountaintops to deserts to ocean beaches. In addition to those of North America, the full documentary also looks at cicadas in Australia and New Zealand and the landscapes in which they live. Orr filmed hours of unique cicada species, some never before seen on film. The short film Return of the Cicadas is an introduction into their world.

SHORT SHORT SPONSORED BY CONSERVATION MEDIA GROUP Awarded to the most effective and compelling project under five minutes in length (including PSAs, music videos, and campaigns), that best advances an appreciation or understanding of the natural world.

An Elephant’s Tale: The Matriarch

Wildlife Conservation Society

Power of Nature: Elephants

BBC Earth Productions

The aesthetic worth of nature is easily appreciated, but it also provides vital services for humans, free of charge. Elephants is part of a series of shorts that reveal key roles animals play in creating and sustaining our planet’s wildernesses. We discover how elephants have been tending the world’s greatest tropical rainforests – providing rain from California to New Zealand. Elephants are expert gardeners, spreading more seeds further than any other animal. Many seeds are so big that only elephants can swallow them. Some seeds only germinate if they have been through an elephant. They are a great example that reminds us of the value of nature to our everyday lives, and how we cannot think of ourselves as separate from the natural world.

Pygmy Seahorses: Masters of Camouflage

KQED and PBS Digital Studios

Tiny and delicate, pygmy seahorses depend on camouflage for their survival. Just days after they’re born, they attach themselves to vibrant orange or purple corals where they become nearly invisible to both predators and researchers. Now, biologists at the California Academy of Science have successfully bred them in captivity for the first time. Finally, they’re able to study the seahorses’ amazing act of camouflage up close. In this episode of Deep Look, a mystery at the core of seahorse survival is solved: Do pygmies change color to match their coral? Or drift until they find a place they can hide? Shooting in UltraHD, Lead Producer Josh Cassidy captured breathtaking footage of an animal that’s both almost impossible to see and averse to light. In this piece, viewers witness seahorse behavior never before captured on film. Pygmy Seahorses: Masters of Camouflage is the premiere episode KQED’s Ultra HD web video series Deep Look.

Why Bears

Wildlife Media & TriFilm

This 3-minute film explains why bears make perfect conservation ambassadors. It is not for any one organization, but for anyone dedicated to bears and what they bring to the health of our planet. The intention was to fast-track the bear conservation messaging that so many biologists try to convey when talking about their work. Logo-free, the film was created for anyone to download, use, share, or own. But mostly it was created for our planet’s eight bear species, and all dedicated to them and their wild habitats around the world. “What’s good for bears is good for people and the planet.” It’s a mantra used often by ecologist and bear specialist Chris Morgan and the team at Wildlife Media, the non-profit organization behind the film short.

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PROGRAM CATEGORIES - FINALIST PROFILES

THEATRICAL SPONSORED BY TERRA MATER FACTUAL STUDIOS Awarded to the program created for commercial distribution that best advances an appreciation or understanding of the natural world. This category includes programs distributed in theaters, BluRay/DVD or streamed via the internet.

Disneynature Monkey Kingdom

Disneynature

Racing Extinction

Unbranded

Fin & Fur Films, Cedar Creek Productions, Implement Productions

Three thousand miles, 16 horses, 4 men, 1 goal: to complete a five-month journey that proves the value of people, wild horses and the undeveloped environment. Unbranded follows four young men as they take on a monumental challenge to ride horses from Mexico to Canada through the American West. Recently graduated from college, the four young men delay their “responsible “ adult lives for the adventure of a lifetime. They travel on horseback through our majestic public lands, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, and Glacier National Park. For their trail horses, the riders choose wild mustangs. This tough breed is perfect for the Unbranded team. The riders also hope to draw attention to the threats facing these horses because of decreased public lands and uncontrolled development. The young men and horses overcome natural and human-made challenges on the trail and prove their mutual strength and resilience. The film team was united in a desire to draw public attention to the complex environmental and political issues that led to tens of thousands of wild horses spending most of their lives in the captivity of holding pens. Because of permitting restrictions, there could never be more than two film crew members with the riders at any one time. With more than 500 hours of footage, editorial was a major challenge after the ride was completed. 61

62 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

IMMERSIVE SPONSORED BY SKY-SKAN Awarded to the program created for distribution in an immersive theater environment that best uses its technology and resources to advance an appreciation or understanding of the natural world. This category includes Large Format, 3-D program, virtual reality, and Full Dome programs.

David Attenborough’s Natural History Alive Museum 3D Partnering with Atlantic Productions this is “David Attenborough’s most exciting adventure yet” – The Sunday Times. It’s pure Attenborough, but not as he has ever been seen before. This is an Attenborough playfully reacting to, and interacting with extinct creatures. Attenborough’s involvement with the subjects and content of the film is evident through his ability to engage audiences throughout the magical journey. This is a new approach for Attenborough and his performance is extraordinarily believable and entertaining on all fronts.

Colossus Productions, Sky and Atlantic Productions

Habitat Earth

California Academy of Sciences

Narrated by Frances McDormand, the film dives below the ocean’s surface to explore the dynamic relationships found in kelp forest ecosystems, travels beneath the forest floor to see how Earth’s tallest trees rely on tiny fungi to survive, and witnesses the intricate intersection between human and ecological networks. Data visualizations contrast avian and whale migrations with human air travel and shipping patterns. Historical land use data drives an animation revealing 10,000 years of agricultural impact, and research on the San Francisco Bay food web informs a highly complex visualization of species feeding relationships. Valuable reference from the Academy’s living and specimen collections allowed the filmmaking team to recreate the unique environments visited, the species inhabiting them and the networks that connect all of us.

Humpback Whales

MacGillivray Freeman Films, Pacific Life

Narrated by two-time Golden Globe® nominee Ewan McGregor, Humpback Whales explores the world of nature’s most awe-inspiring mammals. Set in Alaska, Hawaii and Tonga, and captured for the first time with IMAX® 3D cameras, this ocean adventure offers an up-close look at how humpbacks sing, feed, play and raise their young. Found across the globe, humpbacks were nearly extinct 50 years ago, but are making a comeback. Join researchers as they find out why humpbacks are so acrobatic, why they sing, and why these 55-foot, 50-ton animals migrate 10,000 miles every year. Some of the highlights for Greg MacGillivray and underwater cinematographers Howard and Michelle Hall were capturing whales as they sang their deep, mysterious songs, a courtship scene that scientists see only about once every 10 years, and assisting a whale disentanglement with the help of the filming helicopter. “The more people fall for whales, the more strongly they will feel about protecting them. It’s a substantial goal, and we hope the film delivers on that,” MacGillivray said.

Tiny Giants 3D

BBC Earth Productions

Unusual filming angles and unexpected perspectives allow us to enter small corners of these worlds that have never seen before. In collaboration with Oscar-winning technical innovator Peter Parks, the film crew used a revolutionary 3D snorkel system to film small creatures in a completely new way. These snorkel optics allow the combination of a very short distance to subject and a wide angle lens. This makes the viewer feel truly immersed in each enchanted kingdom and heralds a breakthrough in 3D filmmaking with small creatures. Adopting a new approach to storytelling, this is a dramatized natural history film, underpinned by rigorous science, recreates the most extraordinary moments in these tiny creatures lives combining the latest visual FXs with ground-breaking 3D photography.

PROGRAM CATEGORIES - FINALIST PROFILES

EMERGING FILMMAKER SPONSORED BY DISNEYNATURE Presented in recognition of the achievement of the best first-time filmmaker in the field of natural history production. This award is intended for filmmakers who, while they may have worked on other natural history films, are making the first film for which they have creative control.

16 Legs: Spider Love

Bookend Trust

Giant prehistoric spiders the size of dinner plates seek kinky love in the dark, and a biologist and a cameraman put everything on the line to catch them in the act. At seven inches, the Tasmanian Cave Spider is a holdover from the first age of the dinosaurs with a very kinky love life. The quirks of over 200 million years of evolution are shown via a 24-year research project and two years of subterranean filming of arachnid love. 16 Legs: Spider Love looks at the challenge, humor and science of capturing something never before filmed, against all the odds. The story of the species, which was originally revealed in a research paper published half a decade earlier, had to wait for improved camera resolution, and equipment that could better cope with the darkness and extreme environments of deep, wet caves to be told. But the prehistoric spiders did not give up their secrets easily. In producing the story of this spectacular spider, the film crew realized there was an equally compelling story of behind-the-scenes challenges that deserved its own telling.

Return of the River

Elwafilm LLC

Return of the River explores an unlikely victory for environmental justice and restoration. The film follows a group of committed people as they attempt the impossible: to change the public opinion of a town and eventually the nation to bring two dams down. Ultimately a divided community comes to consensus, launching the largest dam removal in history. Filmed in exquisite HD footage on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, Return of the River offers hope and inspiration amid grim environmental news, showing how an idea moved from ‘crazy’ to celebrated reality. It’s hard for filmmaker Jessica Plumb to say which was more thrilling to witness: the resilience of the Elwha River and its salmon, or the tenacity of the people who fought for them. The film conceived and created by Plumb and cinematographer John Gussman, two first-time feature filmmakers who live on the Olympic Peninsula and have a deep connection to the heart of the story. The project began in 2010 when Gussman decided to drop his still photography work, and focus on documenting a story unfolding in a valley he has hiked, fished and photographed for decades. Seeing people work to repair nature, rather than exploit it, inspired him to document the healing of a river he loves.

Sirocco - How a Dud Became a Stud

Ashwika Kapur, Centre for Science Communication- Otago University

There are only 125 Kakapo parrots left on planet Earth today. So few, that all of them have been individually named. And one name is world famous – Sirocco. A parrot so popular, that the government of New Zealand gave him a job. Kakapo are flightless, nocturnal parrots that are so heavy they look like teddy bears and are known to live up to a 100 years. Today this bizarre New Zealand bird has his own PR team that manages his public image. He has a social media following (more than 160,000) that has surpassed that of many human celebrities. He even gets his own VIP seat in the airplane that flies him on official tours. Natural History Student Filmmaker Ash Kapur chose the story of Sirocco as her final project at Otago University, New Zealand and pursued it singlehandedly on a $800 budget and was only able to film the nocturnal bird for two days. The Calcutta born filmmaker’s love of animals began at age 4 when she brought a duckling up to her 12th floor apartment. A few years later she became a child actor. She melded her two passions in 2010, when she traveled from India to South Africa for a brief course in wildlife filmmaking at the Wildlife Filmmaking Academy. It was then that she knew there was no turning back.

64 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

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3 Million trees planted in Brazilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most endangered forest. bears

40,000 Acres of protected area established to conserve coral reefs in The Bahamas. Monkey Kingdom

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PROGRAM CATEGORIES - FINALIST PROFILES

SOUND SPONSORED BY DOLBY LABORATORIES Awarded for the combined contribution of production mixing, sound editing, and post production mixing that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part.

Special thanks to our Blue Ribbon Panel of Judges: Bob Bronow, Todd Grace, Ed Greene and Frank Morrone

Disneynature Monkey Kingdom

Disneynature

Gorongosa Park: Rebirth of Paradise - New Blood

Off the Fence

Experience the incredible and inspiring rebirth of an African wilderness through the eyes of an Emmy-winning wildlife cameraman. American-born, African-raised Bob Poole embarks on an amazing adventure: spending two years living in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, Southern Africa, joining scientists and conservationists in the battle to re-wild this once-legendary national park. The fabric of life across this million-acre paradise was shredded during a long civil war. Now, an international team of scientists and conservationists has assembled to repair it. It’s one of the most ambitious wilderness restoration projects ever attempted. Bob and the lion team find one of the female cubs with a life-threatening wound and face a race against time to save her. A massive relocation mission is launched to bring zebra and eland - Africa’s largest antelope - back. And a surprising hero that kept Gorongosa alive after the war is discovered.

Racing Extinction

66 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

CINEMATOGRAPHY SPONSORED BY SONY ELECTRONICS Awarded for the cinematography and/or computer generated visual imaging, modeling and other visual storytelling that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part. If sufficient entries are submitted, organizers/ judges may create separate categories.

Hidden Kingdoms: Under Open Skies

BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery Channel, France TV, and CCTV Cinematography: Rod Clarke, Jonathan Jones, Alastair MacEwen, Mark Payne-Gill and Keith Brust

Hidden Kingdoms vividly brings the dramas of the world’s smaller creatures to life. By doing so, it also reveals biology and behavior – and a whole miniature world – in an insightful new way. “We wanted to transport the audience into the Hidden Kingdoms and as far as it is possible give the audience the experience of what it is like to be only six inches tall, living alongside our little heroes. To achieve this became an enormous technical challenge and required the development of specialist lenses and a whole lot of patience getting close to our remarkable subjects,” said Series Producer Mark Brownlow. Immersing the audience in the dramatic lives of the world’s smaller creatures required new technology, including designing groundbreaking new camera systems (with the help of multiple-Oscar-winning British engineer Peter Parks). The team embraced cuttingedge techniques sometimes seen in Hollywood movies. By using the same ‘4K’ cameras used to film blockbusters such as The Hobbit, and incorporating blue screen and digital effects, the team were able to portray the world from a small animal’s perspective, revealing the truly dramatic lives of these creatures in a way impossible to capture in any other way.

Life Story - First Steps

BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide, Discovery, France TV and The Open University Cinematography: Mateo Willis, Mark Payne-Gill and Jamie McPherson

Life Story takes us on the greatest of all adventures - the journey through life. It’s a journey of six crucial stages: growing up, becoming independent, finding a home, gaining power, winning a mate and succeeding as a parent. The opening scene in which barnacle goslings leap down cliffs is one of the most extreme introductions to life that any animal experiences. Some chicks do not make it down alive, and yet the crew was witnessing what is, in reality, one of the most extraordinary survival strategies in nature. The holy grail in making Life Story was to find an unknown animal species that behaves in an interesting way. The Long-eared jerboa, a rodent on kangaroo legs with enormous, dumbo ears, is like something from an animation film. Assistant Producers Sophie Lanfear persuaded the Russian scientist out of retirement and joined a Russian expedition to the remote region in the Gobi desert. At the end of a four-day journey across the desert, the film team arrived at the place where the scientists had last seen the Jerboa. That same night, to their delight, they saw one hopping around on the desert sand.

WILD Yellowstone - Frozen Frontier

Cinematography: John Shier, Dawson Dunning, Curt Morgan. Aerial Cinematography: Nel Boshoff, Richard Burton, Greg Wheeler, Nick Wolcott; Additional Cinematography: Howard Bourne, Jeff Hogan, Theo Jebb

There is nowhere on Earth quite like Yellowstone. The park is a frozen world of savage temperatures and scalding heat. Wild Yellowstone: Frozen Frontier, takes the audience into the depths of the incredible winter inside Yellowstone National Park. Filmed in the often extremely harsh conditions of negative 40 degrees, Brain Farm set out to capture America’s oldest national park in ways never seen before. Utilizing camera techniques developed in action sports filmmaking, this was an entirely new take on natural history that aims to immerse the viewer in character lead stories set in the most spectacular of landscapes. High-end cameras added weight and complexity but allowed cinematographers to capture stunning images in the most challenging of conditions. The result takes you on a journey through this infamous land through new eyes. “My challenge was transforming the cinematic Brain Farm ‘action sports’ style into the Natural History genre,” said Editor James Taggart. “I knew we were onto something when I would hear a whoop from behind me and turn around to find people looking through the window of the edit room door, jaw dropped and in awe, followed by ‘DUDE, THAT’S SICK!’”

68 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

INTERACTIVE MEDIA SPONSORED BY BBC EARTH Awarded to the project that best integrates the interactive potential of digital media to engage awareness and understanding of the natural world in distribution methods that include apps, games, web-based, mobile, and downloaded personal media.

David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive App

Atlantic Productions

The NHM Alive App is a unique and exciting interactive journey, bringing the user face to face with the museum’s extinct specimens. By day, the user can delve into the history and science of these fascinating creatures up close. In night mode, via CCTV surveillance, the museum truly comes to life. Utilizing cinematic, photo-real CGI creatures from animation studio zoo, you can search for creatures in the darkness with a tactile torchlight device. As you illuminate them, David provides a specially written audio guide to tell the stories of these creatures.

PLUM LANDING

WGBH Educational Foundation

At the Plum Landing website, kids can watch the characters bushwhack, float, trek and “bubble” their way across four ecosystems while modeling scientific investigation. Kids can then explore the same ecosystems and science concepts through an array of rich and exciting online games. They are also encouraged to investigate nature closer to home, aided by live-action videos and hands-on activities designed to get them thinking like scientists. And, they can document their investigations via a free mobile app that lets them take photos, describe their findings, and send them to Plum. Characters and storyline are featured in all media components, which are designed to work together to create an interactive learning loop. By inviting children to watch, play, investigate, and document, Plum Landing offers children diverse and repeated opportunities to explore the science and systems of the natural world.

The Evolution Lab

NOVA/WGBH

Players use “Build a Tree” to work their way through six missions, using DNA and physical traits to build out portions of the family tree. Along the way, players can watch short animated videos that explain the evidence for evolution and illustrate it with specific examples. In “Deep Tree,” players can evaluate similarities in the traits and DNA of species and conduct their own investigations in a virtual tree of life. One major challenge in creating it was finding a way to take the field of evolutionary biology and condense it into a multi-level game format. An additional difficulty is that this Lab taps into a massive dataset that is often being updated. The payoff was was seeing a group of teens break out in spontaneous applause after watching the intro video for the Lab.

ZooMoo App

ZooMoo Networks

The app is synchronized to the Zoomoo channel’s broadcast, thanks to an acoustic watermark (inaudible to our ears, but easily detected by the microphone on the tablet). This remarkable technology transforms ZooMoo from a channel, into a gateway to an interactive world of ZooMoo Island! When the ZooMoo app is turned on, the channel sends original and complementary content to the child’s tablet. This content can be opened and explored at any time by the child and parent. The app requires no Wifi or Internet connection, it is free and available for both mac and android systems. ZooMoo is a collaboration between some of the world’s foremost wildlife filmmakers and world renowned early childhood educationalists from the University of Otago, New Zealand’s premier university. Together, they have created a powerful package: a catalyst for learning that engages both children and their parents. The App’s Parent Page offers personalized support for things parents can do with their children to help their learning.

CODYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S AD

70 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

ORIGINAL MUSICAL SCORE SPONSORED BY PBS Awarded for the original musical score that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part.

David Attenborough’s Natural History Alive Museum 3D

Colossus Productions, Sky and Atlantic Productions Composer: Ilan Eshkeri

Attenborough’s idea was ambitious: to bring the extinct creatures of London’s Natural History Museum back to life. Partnering with Atlantic Productions this is “David Attenborough’s most exciting adventure yet” – The Sunday Times. It’s pure Attenborough, but not as he has ever been seen before. This is an Attenborough playfully reacting to, and interacting with extinct creatures. Attenborough’s involvement with the subjects and content of the film is evident through his ability to engage audiences throughout the magical journey. This is a new approach for Attenborough and his performance is extraordinarily believable and entertaining on all fronts. Composer Ilan Eshkeri worked closely with director Dan smith, Ilan and his team to create a truly magical cinematic score matching the scale and ambition of this unique film. Designing themes for each creature, from cute baby dinosaurs to sinister monster apes and curious giant birds, not to mention the characterful Natural History Museum itself, Ilan brought a team of immensely talented and experienced musicians together in Abbey Road Studio 1 to record it live. The result is a score as lush, epic and memorable as the film itself – best heard in a cinema environment.

Disneynature Monkey Kingdom

Disneynature Composer: Harry Gregson-Williams

Monkey Kingdom is a behavioral film about our primate relatives – and is therefore like a human drama with no dialogue! Harry Gregson-Williams’ skillful score gives a voice to the monkeys and an emotional heart to the film. Harry has captured some of the flavor and atmosphere of the location using local instruments and voice but has kept the grammar of the composition largely western so as not to dilute the music’s ability to support the story for western audiences. The key monkey characters have their own themes – some of them very subtle – making it easier to identify the characters quickly and this takes pressure away from narration to do all the work in this area. The score also contributes enormously to the films’ sense of pacing - enhancing periods of energy or slower reflectiveness as required.

Poached

Ignite Channel and Doc Life Films Composer: Mark Orton

The challenge in creating the musical score was striking the right tone between the seriousness of the subject and the humor of the eccentric film subjects. Director Timothy Wheeler was meditating one day when he connected one of the songs from Alexander Payne’s Nebraska to one of the scenes in Poached. This led him to composer Mark Orton who is no stranger to guiding the audience back and forth across the razor thin line between comedy and darkness. “He is one of the most brilliant creatives I have ever worked with and he made a stunning score that is very unique to the wildlife documentary genre,” Wheeler said.

Wonders of the Monsoon: The Drought

BBC Natural History Unit, BBC Worldwide and Discovery Composer: Nitin Sawhney

During the part of the year that the monsoon doesn’t bring rain, the winds reverse, bringing instead, dry air and even drought to large parts of the region. Composer Nitin Sawhney said: “I remember first reading the synopsis treatment of Wonders of the Monsoon on my way to Bristol, UK, to meet the production team. I was immediately transported to far-away lands and beautiful imagery by just the words alone. It struck me there and then that this would be a truly breathtaking series.” It’s hard to find anything that Nitin Sawhney hasn’t done. He is one of the most distinctive and versatile musical voices around today. Firmly established as a world-class producer, songwriter, DJ, multi-instrumentalist, orchestral composer and cultural pioneer, in the worlds of music, film, videogames, dance and theatre.

CRAFT CATEGORIES - FINALIST PROFILES

WRITING SPONSORED BY NAT GEO WILD Awarded for the writing that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part through the union of imagery, storyline, dialog and narration.

E.O. Wilson - Of Ants and Men

Shining Red Productions, Inc. for PBS Writer: Graham Townsley

Return of the River

Elwafilm LLC Writer: Jessica Plumb

Your Inner Fish, Episode 1

Tangled Bank Studios, Windfall Films for PBS Writer: David Dugan

72 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival & Conservation Summit

EDITING SPONSORED BY PANASONIC Awarded to forthe theproject editingthat thatbest most enhancesthe theinteractive natural history program of which it is part. Awarded integrates potential of digital media toaadvance understanding of science and scientific principles (including apps, games, video podcasts and websites).

Jago: A Life Underwater Jago is the life story of of an 80 year old Bajau hunter who lives in a stilted bamboo hut in Sulawesi. The events of his life are voiced entirely by the yodalike Rohani and recreated with existing Bajau people from local communities. Although Rohanis story is a very personal one, it explores every facet of our relationship with the ocean and each other.

Underdog Films Production in association with James Morgan Films, Fantomline Pictures and Vistaar Productions Editor: Sam Rogers

NATURE - Touching the Wild

NATURE—Touching the Wild Passion Planet & THIRTEEN Productions LLC for PBS Nature series Editor: Charles Davies

Hutto’s remarkable ability to interact with wild creatures was previously portrayed in the award-winning NATURE documentary, My Life as a Turkey. His new wild family is made up of mule deer living high in the mountains near his home in Wyoming, and the extraordinary story of how he became one of them pushes once again at the boundaries of how wild animals are perceived. The program develops a connection with the deer, learning individual and group dynamics as well. But what overwhelmingly emerges from is the enormous respect Hutto has for all wild things and the recognition that there is so much to learn from them about their world, ourselves, and the fragile planet we share. The editing seamlessly combines two simultaneous timelines, interweaving present day images with a past narrative. The editing style also reflects a combination of storytelling styles to provide a coherent understanding of how Joe Hutto built a unique relationship with a herd of wild mule deer over the course of seven years combined with the tricky task of getting inside the heads of the deer themselves.

WILD Yellowstone - Frozen Frontier

Brain Farm Digital Cinema for Nat Geo WILD and Terra Mater Studios Editor: James Taggart

CRAFT CATEGORIES - FINALIST PROFILES

SPECIAL JURY Dolphins - Spy in the Pod New state of the art spy creatures with cameras for eyes, including spy dolphin, spy n nautilus, spy turtle uncover the secret life of the cleverest animal in the ocean. Following the story of a newborn bottlenose dolphin and other dolphin species including the orca they show what it’s like to grow up in a dolphin pod - experiencing never before seen animal gatherings, hunting with sonar, making friends, having fun, wooing the ladies with seaweed and how to deal with enemies.

John Downer Productions BBC, BBC Worldwide, Discovery Channel

Shark Girl

Kaufmann Productions Pty Ltd In Association with ABC Australia, Screen Australia, Smithsonian Channel & Terra Mater

Shark Girl is the inspiring story of 19-year-old Madison Stewart and her passionate fight to save the creature most of us fear - sharks. Growing up by the Great Barrier Reef, Madison soon realised the animal she loves most is disappearing fast. Every year up to 80,000 sharks are killed in this UNESCO World Heritage Site for cheap fish steaks and luxury shark fin soup, yet few people seem to know or care. So turning passion into action, she put her studies on hold, grabbed a camera and set out to stop the slaughter and shatter our perception of these alleged man-eaters. Madison’s journey is a powerful wake-up call and a moving record of one determined young woman to save these incredible, misunderstood creatures. Why did we want to make this film? There are so many, often sensationalised shark films out there, we never thought we would enter these murky waters. Yet meeting Madison changed all this. Here was a remarkable young person: instantly engaging, free-spirited yet fully focused, and deadly serious about her life’s mission to save her ‘family’, as she calls sharks. With Madison we could tell an entirely different story, a very personal one that would be thought provoking and have an impact on people who might not care about these animals and their cruel fate.

The Secret Garden: Spring Awakening

Doclights GmbH / NDR Naturfilm, nautilusfilm GmbH, NDR, NDR/ ARTE, ORF

The garden has long epitomized paradise, and many of us derive great pleasure in creating our own Garden of Eden. With the help of nature, we fashion a world of beguiling scents and colors. But many of the creatures that live here go unnoticed, leading secretive and mysterious lives. Small field voles make a network of tunnels under the vegetable plot, and a shy weasel hides in the woodpile. Mason bees wallpaper their nest with colorful petals, and tiny ants form partnerships with some of our most gorgeous flowers. As winter gives way to spring and summer, this program reveals in stunning detail the beauty and intimate moments of our garden residents.

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CRAFT CATEGORIES - FINALIST PROFILES

PROJECT IMPACT AWARD SPONSORED BY EMERGING WILDLIFE CONSERVATION LEADERS Films nominated for the identifiable conservation impact of the projects or initiatives they portray.

Return of the River

Elwafilm LLC

Shark Girl

Kaufmann Productions Pty Ltd In Association with ABC Australia, Screen Australia, Smithsonian Channel & Terra Mater

What’s the Catch? When Matthew Evans leaves his Tasmanian farm to discover where the seafood on Australian plates comes from, he’s quickly dragged hook, line and sinker into the complex world of Australia’s love affair with its seafood.

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