Jackson Wild and Hollywood Climate Summit Unite to Expand Nature and Climate Storytelling Awards
[JACKSON, Wyo. | LOS ANGELES, Ca.] - Jackson Wild, the global leader in nature and conservation media, and Hollywood Climate Summit (HCS), the community and event hub connecting entertainment and climate leaders, have announced a landmark partnership to launch an expanded awards program recognizing excellence in nature and climate storytelling across all formats and genres. The joint awards ceremony will take place in Los Angeles in November 2026, as the closing to a special industry event.
The collaboration unites Jackson Wild's long-standing recognition of documentary and nonfiction storytelling with new categories championed by HCS, spanning narrative short and feature film, scripted and unscripted series, comedy special, video games, and digital media. A distinguished judging committee will evaluate entries on both storytelling excellence, dynamic nature, climate thematic integration.
"Climate and nature stories are being told across every medium, and excellence deserves recognition everywhere," said Christie Quinn, Executive Director of Jackson Wild. "Bringing a special edition to Los Angeles and expanding our awards alongside Hollywood Climate Summit lets us honor the full range of creators shaping how audiences understand and connect to the natural world."
"The stories that draw our attention to the crisis we're in and the world we could build are some of the most important ones being told right now, and creators across every medium are rising to meet that moment. From the films that hold a mirror to how we got here to the games that imagine where we go next, these stories connect us to these issues and to each other at a scale and depth we've never seen. This partnership expands that creative spectrum, connects the communities making it happen, and puts a shared vision of a better world at the center," said Heather Fipps, Executive Director of the Hollywood Climate Summit.
Together, the organizations aim to elevate the full spectrum of climate and nature narratives reaching global audiences, from groundbreaking documentaries and narrative film to prestige television and immersive games. By convening top talent across these fields, the partnership aims to strengthen both sectors, spark new collaborations and advance bold work that deepens our connection to the natural world. Submissions now open at jacksonwild.org/2026-media-awards.
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About Jackson Wild For over 35 years, Jackson Wild has been a catalyst for accelerating and elevating impactful storytelling at the nexus of nature, science, and conservation. Through innovative and collaborative community gatherings, skill-building initiatives, and mentorship programs, Jackson Wild creates an inclusive forum for storytellers to more deeply illuminate connections to the natural world and our collective responsibility to the wild. Jackson Wild's international board members include ARTE France, Blue Ant Media / Love Nature, Conservation International, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Doclights, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, Humane World For Animals, Jane Goodall Institute, Lucky8, NHK Enterprises, National Geographic Content, National Geographic Society, Nature/WNET, Netflix, NEWF, Off the Fence Productions, ORF Universum, PBS, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Terra Mater Studios, Wildstar Films, and World Wildlife Fund.
About Hollywood Climate Summit The Hollywood Climate Summit organizes year-round convenings, creative labs, and collaborative programming that connects entertainment industry professionals with the climate knowledge, tools, and communities they need to create more impactful stories. The annual conference, hosted at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, brings together writers, directors, producers, executives, scientists, and advocates to accelerate climate context across film, television, gaming, and beyond. Hollywood Climate Summit is supported by Netflix, Paramount Global, NBCUniversal, NRDC, Minderoo Pictures, Climate Power, CAA Foundation, UTA Foundation, and more.
