Media Awards
Nature film’s equivalent to the Oscars®
The 2026 Media Awards is now open for entry!
EARLY BIRD deadline to enter is April 1st, 2026 11:59PM MT
New in 2026, Jackson Wild is proud to partner with Hollywood Climate Summit to elevate climate storytelling across both unscripted and scripted formats:
This partnership brings together two complementary creative communities to celebrate powerful climate storytelling across genres and mediums.
Winners from both Jackson Wild and Hollywood Climate Summit will be announced at a joint awards gala in Los Angeles in November, as the closing to a special industry event — stay tuned for more information!
Jackson Wild will continue to recognize films and media focused on nature, wildlife, conservation, climate science, and environmental impact with the Jackson Wild Media Awards.
Hollywood Climate Summit will spotlight innovative and narrative-driven (including fiction) climate content with the Hollywood Climate Summit Awards.
Submissions for both awards are made through a single shared entry portal, making it easy for creators and filmmakers to submit their work and be considered for the most relevant program. Each organization maintains its own categories, judging process, and final selections.
Have any questions about the awards this year? Check out our FAQ!
The Jackson Wild Media Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in nature, science, and conservation storytelling.
Jackson Wild Media Awards films and content must have been completed after June 1, 2025 (with the exception of Impact Campaign and Narration entrants - see below for more information)
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded to the film that most effectively examines animal behavior in an innovative and illuminating way.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $155
ECOSYSTEM
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded to the film that best examines a habitat and its unique web of life.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $155
CONSERVATION
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded to the film that most effectively shines a light on a species or habitat in peril and efforts to protect it.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $155
PLANET IN CRISIS
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded to the film that most effectively highlights the environmental issues of our time, such as climate change, pollution, social inequity and environmental justice.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $155
PEOPLE & NATURE
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded to the film that best portrays our bond with nature and its ability to nurture the human soul.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $155
LIMITED SERIES
Each episode longer than 22 minutes
Awarded to the limited series that most effectively advances a natural history theme.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $205
FEATURE
Feature-Length (75 minutes or longer)
Awarded to the feature-length film, 75 minutes or longer in runtime, factual or narrative, that best advances an understanding or appreciation of the natural world.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $205
INVESTIGATIVE
No Length Restriction
Honoring outstanding, in-depth reporting and powerful storytelling that expose critical truths and inspire meaningful change.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $155
GLOBAL Stories
No Length Restriction
For excellence in wildlife, conservation, science, social or cultural storytelling from less represented geographical and cultural perspectives. Prioritizing productions led by media makers in non-Western regions including but not limited to Asia, Africa, Central and South America, the Middle East, Micronesia and Indigenous communities around the world.
Films produced in any language are encouraged to submit, English subtitles must be provided for judging.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $42
NEW! documentary Short
Films must be under 40 minutes in length
Awarded to an exceptional short-form documentary film that demonstrates strong nonfiction storytelling, cinematic craft, and a clear creative vision within a condensed runtime.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $125
NEW! Digital Short
Films must be under 22 minutes in length
Awarded to an outstanding short-form nonfiction work created specifically for digital platforms, online audiences, or emerging distribution formats.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $85
STUDENT
No Length Restriction
For outstanding wildlife, environmental or natural science film produced by a student currently enrolled or no more than 2 years out of an academic program. Films created in association with a Film Lab or Fellowship program also qualify.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $42
ONSCREEN PERSONALITY
No Length Restriction
Awarded to the host, presenter, journalist or collection of expert onscreen commentators or characters who best engage the viewer while communicating the knowledge, message, mission and spirit of a film related to our natural world.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $155
NEW! NARRATION
No Length Restriction, films and content completed after June 1, 2024
This award recognizes exceptional voice narration that enhances nature-based storytelling, whose vocal performance deepens audience connection and entertainment without appearing on screen.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $155
SHARED CATEGORIES
Shared Categories recognize work that strongly aligns with the missions of both Jackson Wild and Hollywood Climate Summit. Submissions will be determined by a combined jury composed of Jackson Wild Media Awards judges and Hollywood Climate Summit Awards judges.
*Submission to these categories are on the shared entry form under the Jackson Wild Media Awards category selection.
CONTENT CREATOR AWARD
Three samples of content
Recognizes an individual in the new media space— including social media, YouTube, and podcasts—who uses their platform to create influential content related to the natural world. Any length of content is eligible.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $42
SOCIAL MEDIA
Under three minutes
Awarded to the most compelling content created for social media under three minutes that best advances an understanding or appreciation of the natural world.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $42
BRANDED CONTENT
No Length Restriction
Recognizes films made in partnership with corporate or NGO brands that authentically integrate themes of nature, sustainability, or environmental appreciation. This award celebrates collaborations where brand alignment enables meaningful storytelling that aligns with Jackson Wild’s planet-forward ethos.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $100
IMPACT CAMPAIGN
No Length Restriction, no film completion date requirement, but impact campaign must have been active since June 1st, 2025
Jackson Wild recognizes innovative approaches to a film's active impact campaign that extend conservation beyond the screen to inspire measurable on-the-ground change through education, policy change and engagement and outreach.
Impact campaigns must have been active between June 2025 and June 2026 in order to be eligible, regardless of the film's release date.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $42
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded for the cinematography that most enhances the nature related film or episode of which it is a part.
Judged by the American Society of Cinematographers
Early Bird Entry Fee: $155
EDITING
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded for the editing that most enhances the nature related film or episode of which it is a part of.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $155
ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded for the original musical score that most enhances the natural history story of which it is a part. At least 80% of the film's score needs to be original.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $155
WRITING
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded for the written narration that most enriches the natural history story it describes.
Entrants are required to submit a .pdf of the script.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $155
SOUND
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded for the combined contribution of sound editing, production mixing and post-production mixing that most enhances the nature-related film or episode of which it is a part.
Judged by Television Sound Peer Group
Early Bird Entry Fee: $155
The Hollywood Climate Summit Awards recognize excellence in creative work that brings courage and clarity to our changing world.
Projects completed after June 1, 2024 are eligible for consideration.
Judges evaluate each submission using our Climate Context Framework:
Climate change is the story of humanity's past choices, the shifting realities of our present, and a catalyst for visions of a brighter future. We celebrate creative work that engages with nature and climate in any tone (earnest or comedic, grounded or fantastical), offering context for the challenges we face or illuminating paths toward what's possible. Climate does not need to be the central focus, but it should be meaningfully woven into the fabric of the work.
What we're looking for:
Storytelling & Artistic Excellence: Does the work demonstrate narrative clarity, emotional resonance, and creative ambition? We're looking for work where structure, voice, and creative choices feel purposeful and vibrant.
Depth & Integrity of Climate or Nature as Context: Does the work engage with our environmental moment in a way that feels genuine rather than incidental? This might illuminate the systems at play shaping our world, demonstrate genuine human responses to a changing planet (grief, humor, conflict, joy), or evoke a sense of shared stakes across species, generations, or geographies.
Looking for more information? We recommend all entrants, especially those submitting fictional work, review these resources before submitting:Good Energy Playbook, NRDC Rewrite the Future Tip Sheet, SEA Climate On-Screen Sizzle
Narrative Feature FICTION
75 minutes or Longer
This category honors narrative feature films (75 minutes or longer) that demonstrate exceptional narrative craft, emotional ambition, and creative risk-taking. We're looking for stories that trust their audiences, take their world seriously, and leave a lasting impression.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $50
Narrative Short FICTION
Under 40 minutes
This award recognizes scripted films under 40 minutes with a strong creative voice, a clear point of view, and the confidence to say something meaningful in a compressed runtime.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $30
Television Series Scripted Drama FICTION
Any Length
This category honors scripted drama series that incorporate climate context.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $50
Television Series Scripted Comedy
Any Length
This category recognizes scripted comedy series that incorporate climate context.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $50
Television Series Unscripted
Any Length
This category honors reality or unscripted series of any length. All types of formats will be considered, from game/competition shows and home-renovation to dating/lifestyle.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $50
Video Game
Games launched after July 1st, 2024
This category recognizes video games that explore climate context through gameplay, world-building, narrative design, or player interaction. Elements may be central to the experience or embedded within the broader game environment.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $30
Comedy Special
Any Length
This award recognizes comedy specials with a strong point of view, sharp material, and the courage to get wild. The best specials leave you laughing and thinking in equal measure. Climate context may be woven throughout the performance or featured in specific segments.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $30
Digital Series
Under 22 minutes
This category recognizes scripted or unscripted episodic content created for these social media platforms. (YouTube, Facebook, Web Series or Verticals, etc.)
Early Bird Entry Fee: $30
Podcast
Any Length, 2 episode entry (must have been published since July 1st 2024)
This category honors audio storytelling of any genre or format (investigative, scripted, interview). We’re looking for strong narrative structure, compelling voices, and a genuine point of view.
Early Bird Entry Fee: $30
FAQs
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Nope! All categories (both Jackson Wild Media Awards and Hollywood Climate Awards) use the same entry form.
The ONLY difference are deadlines - keep an eye out as JWMA and HCSA differ for regular and late entry.
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Shared Categories recognize work that strongly aligns with the missions of both Jackson Wild and the Hollywood Climate Summit.
The submission process is exactly the same as for all other categories. Entrants simply submit their work through the entry portal, and films that align with these areas of focus may be considered within the Shared Categories.
Like all other awards, winners in Shared Categories will be recognized at the conclusion of the awards season and celebrated alongside all selected films and creators.
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For inquiries related to Jackson Wild Media Awards, contact info@jacksonwild.org
For inquiries related Hollywood Climate Summit, contact info@hollywoodclimatesummit.com -
Winners will be announced at a joint Awards Gala in November of 2026 - more info to come!
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Yes! The joint awards ceremony will take place in Los Angeles in November 2026, as the closing to a special industry gathering — stay tuned for more information!