Congratulations to all of the finalists! This year's submissions included over 1,000 category entries - a record number - competing for more than 30 awards. We are deeply grateful to our more than 250 international preliminary judges who together reviewed over 5,000 hours of media. 

Best Animal Behavior Film - Long Form

Awarded to the program that most effectively explores animal behavior in a new, fresh, imaginative or authoritative way.
Sponsored by Disneynature

Blue Planet II: One Ocean
BBC Studios Natural History Unit

Dynasties: Painted Wolves
BBC Studios Natural History Unit, BBC America, Tencent, France Télévisions, CCTV9

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Our Planet: Jungles
​A Silverback Films Production for Netflix

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Best Animal Behavior Film - Short Form 

Awarded to the program that most effectively explores animal behavior in a new, fresh, imaginative or authoritative way.
Sponsored by Animal Planet

The Great Pretender
A film by Nardine Groch, Produced as part of the UWE Masters of Wildlife Filmmaking course.

Unraveling the Monarch Butterfly Migration Mystery | It's Okay to be Smart
PBS Digital Studios, Spotzen

Whales and SETI
A Rebel Media Productions film, made in partnership with Long Story Short Media, in association with The Templeton World Charity Foundation.

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Best Ecosystem Film 

Awarded to the program that most effectively explores a unique habitat and its wildlife. 
Sponsored by Terra Mater

Backyard Wilderness
Archipelago Films, Arise Media, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, SK Films and Reconsider

Kingdoms of the Sky: Himalaya
PBS, BBC Earth

Mighty Rivers: The Ganges
Icon Films for Animal Planet

Our Planet: High Seas
A Silverback Films Production for Netflix

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Best Earth & Sky Film 

Awarded to the film that best explores the science of planet earth and the cosmos beyond. Relevant disciplines include Geology, Paleontology, Oceanography, Astronomy and Meteorology.
Sponsored by: WGBH

Above and Beyond: NASA's Journey To Tomorrow
Discovery presents a Moxie Firecracker Films Production

Living Universe: The Explorers
Essential Media Entertainment, ZED, CuriosityStream, ARTE France

Space's Deepest Secrets: Cassini's Grand Finale
BBC Worldwide and Science Channel

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Best Conservation Film - Long Form 

Awarded to the program that most effectively contributes to an awareness of timely and relevant conservation issues and/or solutions. 
Sponsored by International Fund for Animal Welfare

Blue Planet II: Our Blue Planet
BBC Studios Natural History Unit

Kifaru
Vs. Goliath Visual, Ragtag Tribe Films

Sea of Shadows
Terra Mater Factual Studios in association with Appian Way, Malaika Pictures, The Wild Lens Collective for National Geographic Documentary Films

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Best Conservation Film - Short Form 

Awarded to the program that most effectively contributes to an awareness of timely and relevant conservation issues and/or solutions. 
Sponsored by Conservation International

From Asia to Antarctica 
Eco-Business 

Nigerians fight to protect the world's most trafficked mammal
Katie Schuler, Mike Olcott, Dan Steinmetz, National Geographic Partners

Sides of a Horn
Whirlow Park Pictures, Broad River Productions, YKMD Productions, The Televisionaries, Frame 48

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Best People & Nature Film - Long Form 

Awarded to the program that most effectively explores the interdependent relationship between humans and animals or the environment. ​​
​​Sponsored by: The Nature Conservancy

Sea of Shadows
Terra Mater Factual Studios in association with Appian Way, Malaika Pictures, The Wild Lens Collective for National Geographic Documentary Films

The Biggest Little Farm
NEON and LD Entertainment present a FarmLore Films production in association with Diamond Docs and Impact Partners & Artemis Rising

The Serengeti Rules
Passion Planet/HHMI Tangled Bank Studios

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Best People & Nature Film - Short Form 

Awarded to the program that most effectively explores the interdependent relationship between humans and animals or the environment. ​​
​​Sponsored by: BBC Studios

Last Wild Places: Gorongosa
National Geographic Society

Nigerians fight to protect the world's most trafficked mammal
Katie Schuler, Mike Olcott, Dan Steinmetz, National Geographic Partners

Where Life Begins
Katie Schuler, Coral & Oak Studios, The Wilderness Society

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Best Changing Planet Film - Long Form

Awarded for the best examination of our changing planet, including human impact, the environment, sustainability and climate change.
Sponsored by Love Nature

Our Planet: Frozen Worlds
​A Silverback Films Production for Netflix

The Human Element
Earth Vision Film 

The Serengeti Rules
Passion Planet/HHMI Tangled Bank Studios

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Best Changing Planet Film - Short Form 

Awarded for the best examination of our changing planet, including human impact, the environment, sustainability and climate change.
Sponsored by: Smithsonian Channel

Cowboys & Scientists
Grizzly Creek Films, Archbold Biological Station

How to Save Our Planet
Silverback Films, Netflix, WWF UK

The Last Green Thread
Grizzly Creek Films, Danny Schmidt Films

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Best Science in Nature Film - Long Form 

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. ​
Sponsored by Marco Polo Film AG

700 SHARKS
ARTE France, Le cinquième rêve, Andromède Océanologie, Les gens bien productions, Filmin'Tahiti, CNRS Images, with the participation of FranceTélévisions, National Geographic Wild, Ushuaia TV, Ici Explora, ARTE Distribution, Le CNC, La Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, La Polynésie française.

Laws of the Lizard
Day's Edge Productions for Smithsonian Channel

The Kingdom: How Fungi Made Our World
Smith & Nasht, Real to Reel Productions In association with CuriosityStream, The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, ZDF/ARTE, SVT Sweden

The Serengeti Rules
Passion Planet/HHMI Tangled Bank Studios

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Best Science in Nature Film - Short Form 

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. ​
Sponsored by National Geographic Society

Second Genesis
HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and Market Road Films for PBS

Sounds of Survival
Katie Garrett and bioGraphic

The Anomalies: Venom Race
Day's Edge Productions for bioGraphic

The Lizard's Tale: Anoles In The City
Day's Edge Productions for Smithsonian Network

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Best Impact Film - Long Form 

Awarded to the film that most effectively celebrates the impact of individuals, groups, organizations or movements committed to the protection, awareness or understanding of a species, ecosystem or some other aspect of the natural world. 
Sponsored by ORF

Kifaru
Vs. Goliath Visual, Ragtag Tribe Films

Ghost Fleet
Vulcan Productions, Seahorse Productions

STROOP - journey into the rhino horn war
SDBFilms

The Serengeti Rules
Passion Planet/HHMI Tangled Bank Studios

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Best Impact Film - Short Form 

Awarded to the film that most effectively celebrates the impact of individuals, groups, organizations or movements committed to the protection, awareness or understanding of a species, ecosystem or some other aspect of the natural world. 
​​Sponsored by: Netflix

Anointed
Mainspring Media, PREL

Blood Island
Lindsey Parietti in association with the University of the West of England

Last Wild Places: Gorongosa
National Geographic Society

Saving Grayling
Pioneer Studios, USFW, NFWF

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Best Educational/Institutional Film 

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.
Sponsored by: PBS

Hidden Rivers of Southern Appalachia
Freshwaters Illustrated

M6NTHS
Eline Helena Film in association with the University of the West of England

The Disappeared
Artists in Motion Ltd, Sound Off Films

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating
Elisabeth Tova Bailey

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Best Limited Series Film - Long Form 

Awarded to the mini-series with episodes longer than 20 minutes in length, that most effectively advances a natural history theme. 
Sponsored by: RED Digital Cinema

Blue Planet II
BBC Studios Natural History Unit

Okavango - River of Dreams
A TERRA MATER FACTUAL STUDIOS / WILDLIFE FILMS production in co-production with THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC, DOCLIGHTS/NDR NATURFILM in association with PBS, CPB, ARTE FRANCE / Unité Découverte et Connaissance and SVT

Our Planet
A Silverback Films Production for Netflix

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Best Limited Series Film - Short Form 

Awarded to the mini-series with episodes shorter than 20 minutes in length, that most effectively advances a natural history theme.
Sponsored by: ARRI

Deep Look
KQED, PBS Digital Studios

How to Save Our Planet
Silverback Films, Netflix, WWF UK

Wild_Life: Resurrection Island
The Front and Bertie Gregory for National Geographic

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Best Engaging Youth Film 

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. 
Sponsored by: Discovery

Backyard Wilderness
Archipelago Films, Arise Media, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, SK Films and Reconsider

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Great Bear Rainforest
Spirit Bear Entertainment

Superpower Dogs
IMAX & Cosmic Picture

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Best Host/Presenter Led Film 

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.
Sponsored by: Vulcan Productions

Judi Dench: My Passion for Trees
Atlantic Productions, Host: Judi Dench

Mighty Rivers: The Ganges
Icon Films for Animal Planet, Host: Jeremy Wade

STROOP - journey into the rhino horn war
SDBFilms, Host: Bonné de Bod

Wild_Life : Resurrection Island
The Front for National Geographic, Host: Bertie Gregory

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Best Micro-Movie Film 

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. 
Sponsored by: Seeker

Expand the Field
National Geographic Society

Finding Captain Nemo
Popular Science

March of the Newts
Freshwaters Illustrated

Not A Pet
Triangle Monday, The Big Sky

What is Biodiversity?
Silverback Films, Netflix, WWF UK

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Best Theatrical Film 

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. 
Sponsored by: Off the Fence

Free Solo
National Geographic Documentary Films Presents A Little Monster Films Production, an Itinerant Media Production and a Parkes+MacDonald/Image Nation Production

Human Nature
Wonder Collaborative, News & Guts Films, Sandbox Films

Sea of Shadows
Terra Mater Factual Studios in association with Appian Way, Malaika Pictures, The Wild Lens Collective for National Geographic Documentary Films

The Serengeti Rules 
Passion Planet/HHMI Tangled Bank Studios

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Best Student & Emerging Film 

Presented in recognition of the best program produced by either a first-time filmmaker in the field of natural history production, or a student currently enrolled or no more than 2 years out of an academic program.
Sponsored by: HHMI Tangled Bank Studios

A Voice Above Nature
Annie Moir in association with the ​University of the West of England

Bears of Durango 
​Test Area North 

Blood Island
Lindsey Parietti in association with the University of the West of England ​

Chungungo: A Mentor's Tale
Visionhawk Films, Aquaterrafilms, Nedo Producciones Ltda.

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Best 360° Storytelling 

Awarded to the best natural history program created for the immersive platform of Virtual Reality. 
Sponsored by: USC Cinematic Arts

Everest VR: The Movie Experience
Jonathan Griffith Productions, Legend 3D, Vulcan Productions

Greenland Melting
FRONTLINE, Emblematic Group, NOVA, xRez Studio, Realtra

My Africa
A Passion Planet Production in association with Vision 3 for Conservation International

Polar Obsession
Black Dot Films VR for National Geographic

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Best Visualization Film 

Awarded for the cinematography or computer generated visual storytelling that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part. 
Sponsored by: Fujifilm and Fujinon Lenses

Blue Planet II: The Deep
BBC Studios Natural History Unit, Cinematographer: Gavin Thurston

Dynasties: Chimpanzee
BBC Studios Natural History Unit, BBC America, Tencent, France Télévisions, CCTV9, Cinematographers: John Brown, Mark MacEwen

Our Planet: One Planet
A Silverback Films Production for Netflix

The Serengeti Rules
Passion Planet/HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, Cinematographer: Tim Cragg

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Best Editing Film 

Awarded for the editing that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part. 
Sponsored by: Sony Electronics

Blue Planet II: One Ocean
BBC Studios Natural History Unit, Editor: Matthew Meech

Dynasties: Chimpanzee
BBC Studios Natural History Unit, BBC America, Tencent, France Télévisions, CCTV9, Editor: Nigel Buck

Kifaru
Vs. Goliath Visual, Ragtag Tribe Films, Editor: Andrew Harrison Brown

The Biggest Little Farm
NEON and LD Entertainment present a FarmLore Films production in association with Diamond Docs and Impact Partners & Artemis Rising, Editor: Amy Overbeck

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Best Writing Film 

Awarded for the writing that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part through the union of imagery, story line, dialog and narration.
Sponsored by: National Geographic

Attenborough´s Ant Mountain
A production of TERRA MATER FACTUAL STUDIOS in association with BBC and ABC Australia produced by AMMONITE LTD., Writers: Martin Dohrn, Joe Loncraine

Cute little Killers
A TERRA MATER FACTUAL STUDIOS production, Writer: Ruth Berry

Sex, Lies and Butterflies
A Production of TERRA MATER FACTUAL STUDIOS and CONEFLOWER PRODUCTIONS in co-production with THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET, Writer: Janet Hess

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Best Audioscape

Awarded for the combined contribution of sound editing, musical score, production mixing and post-production mixing that most enhances the natural history program of which it is a part. 
Sponsored by: Television Academy Sound Peer Group

Cuba's Wild Revolution
A Crossing the Line Film for ORF Universum, PBS Nature, France Télévisions, BBC, SVT, RTÉ, ORF-Enterprise and WNET/Thirteen Productions LLC Sound Mixer: Paul Finan, Original Music: Badhands

Epic Yellowstone: Life on the Wing
Grizzly Creek Films for Smithsonian Channel, Composer: David Majzlin, Sound Design: Brian Eimer

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating
Elisabeth Tova Bailey
Snail Sound Substrate Recordings: JT Bullitt; Traditional Sound Recordists: ​JT Bullitt, Col Anderson, Lang Elliott, Steve Wilkes, The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and their individual recordists Sound Design: Luke Dunn Gielmuda Sound Editors: Caleb Townsend, Rachel Wardell Sound Mixer: Skip Lievsay, Warner Bros-NY​

Wild Shetland: Scotland's Viking Frontier​
​Maramedia, Sound Editors: Kate Hopkins, Owen Shirley, Mitch Dorf, Original Music: Fraser Purdie

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Special Jury

Special Jury Nominations honor programs that stood out to our preliminary judges as worthy of special recognition for some aspect or strength outside of the standard category criteria. 

Artifishal
Liars & Thieves

Disneynature Penguins
Disneynature / Silverback Films

Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy
The Film Crew, Inc.

Hostile Planet: Oceans
Plimsoll Productions for National Geographic Channels

Inventing Tomorrow
A Fishbowl Films Production in association with Motto Pictures, 19340 Productions, Shark Island Institute, HHMI | Tangled Bank Studios.

Our Gorongosa
Gorongosa Media and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios

The Most Unknown
Sandbox Films, VICE Media, Wicked Delicate

The River and The Wall
Rio Grande Film

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Special Jury: Foreign Language

Special Jury Nominations honor programs that stood out to our preliminary judges as worthy of special recognition for some aspect or strength outside of the standard category criteria — Produced by people local to the area of focus addressed by the film for a local audience in the local language.

白海豚失樂園 Breathing Room
Daphne Wong

The Fisherman and the Forest
NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)

The River Gives
Liberty NPO, Untitled Entertainment

The Southern Right Whale
Lyra Films

Traces
Alchimie Productions, Sébastien Pins