2023 Media Awards
Winners were announced during the Grand Teton Awards Gala on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at the Jackson Wild Summit in Grand Teton National Park, WY.
Over 450 films entered the competition in 2023, with over 1,100 category entries from 74 different countries around the world. Finalists were selected by more than 200 international judges who together screened over 1,000 hours of media.
2023 Jackson Wild Media Awards Finalists & Winners
2023 Jackson Wild Media Awards Finalists & Winners
Grand Teton Award
Silverback
An Off the Fence Production for BBC In co production with France Télévision in association with Featuristic Films
"A film that explores the complexities at the intersection of communities, conservation and ecotourism . Outstanding cinematography, dramatic storytelling, and a deeply compelling main character made this film stand out among a very strong field of category winners." - Final Jury
Special Jury Awards
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Deep Rising
A film by Matthieu Rytz
"Awarded for raising the alarm on a poorly understood and urgent threat to the ecological well being of our planet, this compelling film follows a charismatic, controversial character to explore the conflict between our need for green energy solutions and the grave potential risks of an experimental new gold rush that will happen in the deep ocean." - Final Jury
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Wildcat
Amazon Studios
"An intense and powerful psychological exploration of the impact of trauma on the human spirit that falls outside of the norm of natural history storytelling, by forcing the audience to confront hard questions about where we draw the line when we look to nature as a place for our own healing." - Final Jury
Animal Behavior - Long Form
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[WINNER] Our Planet II: World on the Move
Silverback Films, Netflix
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NATURE: The Hummingbird Effect
A Production of Coneflower Productions and The WNET Group in Co-Production with Terra Mater Studios
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Once Upon a Time in Tsavo
A Deeble & Stone Film
Co-producers Waterhole Films, Terra Mater Studios, The WNET Group in association with PBS and CPB
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Super/Natural: The Mating Game
National Geographic, Earthship Productions and Plimsoll Productions
Animal Behavior - Short Form
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[WINNER] KAPPE RAAGA The song of Kumbara - A Night Frog
Creative Capture Pvt Ltd, Goutham Shankar, Prashanth S Nayaka, Pradeep K Sastry, Ashwin P Kumar
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How Does the Mussel Grow its Beard? | Deep Look
KQED, PBS Digital Studios
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Kingdom of Ice: Antarctica's Leopard Seals
SeaLegacy
Ecosystem - Long Form
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[WINNER] Once Upon a Time in Tsavo
A Deeble & Stone Film
Co-producers Waterhole Films, Terra Mater Studios, The WNET Group in association with PBS and CPB
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Deep Rising
Deep Rising PTE. LTD.
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Mollie's Pack
Grizzly Creek Films and IMAX Original Documentaries
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NATURE: Treasure of the Caribbean
A Production of the The WNET Group, Terra Mater Studios, Belugasmile Productions and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios in Co-Production with Doclights/NDR NATURFILM
Ecosystem - Short Form
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[WINNER] Heart of Maui
National Park Service, Harpers Ferry Center for Interpretive Design
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Dawn Wright's Historic Expedition
Esri Creative Lab: Video Storytelling Studio
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The Tundra
Build Films Inc.
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Redwoods Shouldn't Be So Tall. Here's Why They Are
PBS Digital Studios, PBS Nature, Atlas Obscura
Conservation - Long Form
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[WINNER] Mollie's Pack
Grizzly Creek Films and IMAX Original Documentaries
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RHINO MAN
Global Conservation Corps and Friendly Human with support from Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, Southern African Wildlife College, Thin Green Line, United for Wildlife and Tanglewood Foundation.
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Wild Hope: Does Nature Have Rights?
An HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and Part2 Pictures production in co-production with Wild Elements. Worldwide distribution by Off the Fence B.V.; U.S. distribution by APT.
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Wild Life
Little Monster Films, National Geographic Documentary Films
Conservation - Short Form
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[WINNER] Batsies
Fin and Fur Films Productions; Presented by H-E-B
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A Disappearing Forest
The Nature Conservancy and Tyler Schiffman Productions
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Curupira
A Box Brownie film for WaterBear Network
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Older Than Trees
A Good Story film, presented by Save Our Seas Foundation in collaboration with Sea Change Project.
Climate Stories - Long Form
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[WINNER] The Last of the Nightingales
Colorfool Films, Blind Films
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Chasing Carbon Zero
A NOVA Production by MOBIAS Media, Inc. for GBH
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Razing Liberty Square
RLS Film, LLC funded by LinLay Productions, ITVS, Just Films I Ford Foundation, Shorelight Productions, the Redford Center, IDA, Black Public Media, Sundance, Kendeda, Vulcan, Catapult, Threshold Foundation, Fork Films, Chicken & Egg.
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The Letter: A Message for our Earth
An Off The Fence Productions and Laudato Si Movement Co-production for Youtube Originals, Earth X and PBS
Climate Stories - Short Form
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[WINNER] Dream to Cure Water
TENT Film, National Geographic Society
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Groundwork: A Family Journey into Regenerative Cotton
Presented by: The North Face & gnarly bay
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Where the Sun Always Shines
Limpet Films Doc Society BFI Made of Truth Fund
People & Nature - Long Form
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[WINNER] Silverback
An Off the Fence Production for BBC In co production with France Télévision in association with Featuristic Films.
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Mollie's Pack
Grizzly Creek Films and IMAX Original Documentaries
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Rhino Man
Global Conservation Corps and Friendly Human with support from Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, Southern African Wildlife College, Thin Green Line, United for Wildlife and Tanglewood Foundation.
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The Elephant Whisperers
A Netflix Documentary and A Sikhya Entertainment Production
People & Nature - Short Form
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[WINNER] Daughter of the Sea
Backroads Pictures, Patagonia
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Dahican
A film by Boogs Rosales in association with Manila Media
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Judith: Porter, Protector, Pioneer
African Wildlife Foundation, Jackson Wild
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Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area: Africa's first Marine TFCA
A Makhulu Production in association with The German Agency for International Cooperation
Natural Science - Long Form
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[WINNER] The Last of the Nightingales
Colorfool Films, Blind Films
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Ancient Earth: Dinosaurs of the Frozen Continent
NHNZ Worldwide and Giant Screen Films for Curiosity Stream in association with Blue Ant Media
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Deep Rising
Deep Rising PTE. LTD.
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Prehistoric Planet 2 - Islands
BBC Studios Natural History Unit, Apple TV+
Natural Science - Short Form
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[WINNER] The Reservoir
Day's Edge Productions for Illumina
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Breakthrough: Immortal Alligators
Curiosity Stream
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Healy
Basecamp Creative in association with National Geographic Society and Silver Fir Media
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Neon Nights | Diving into the World of Biofluorescence
SeaLegacy
Limited Series
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[WINNER] Chimp Empire
Keo Films and Underdog Films for Netflix
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Frozen Planet II
A BBC Studios Natural History Unit Production for BBC & BBC America co-produced with ZDF and France Televisions. A BBC Open University Partnership
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Super/Natural
National Geographic, Earthship Productions and Plimsoll Productions
Global Voices
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[WINNER] Goni
Untamed Planet, Drik Picture Library
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Keepers of the Land
Kitasoo Xai'xais Nation with Moonfish Media Inc.
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Nkashi: Race for the Okavango
A National Geographic Society Impact Story Lab production, with support from Okavango Eternal
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The Elephant Whisperers
A Netflix Documentary and A Sikhya Entertainment Production
Onscreen Personality
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[WINNER] Silverback
An Off the Fence Production for BBC In co production with France Télévision in association with Featuristic Films
Featuring Vianet Djenguet
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Epic Adventures with Bertie Gregory: Tracking Ocean Giants
National Geographic/Wildstar Films
Featuring Bertie Gregory
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Human Footprint: The Urban Jungle
Day's Edge Productions for PBS
Featuring Shane Campbell-Staton
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Maddie's Urban Jungles
SEETREE Gmbh, Pier to Pier Media
Featuring Maddie Moate
This film's green production strategy has been recognized by Jackson Wild.
Micro-Movie
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[WINNER] Roots Will Remain
The Allotment Studio
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Animals in Therapy: Self-care ft. Kakapo
On The Edge and Passion Planet
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The Tundra
Build Films Inc.
Feature
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[WINNER] Orca - Black & White Gold
Terra Mater Studios GmbH
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Once Upon a Time in Tsavo
A Deeble & Stone Film
Co-producers Waterhole Films, Terra Mater Studios, The WNET Group in association with PBS and CPB
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Silverback
An Off the Fence Production for BBC In co production with France Télévision in association with Featuristic Films
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Wildcat
Amazon Studios
Student
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[WINNER] The Guardians of Mukogodo Forest
Daniel Green, National Film and Television School
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Requiem for a Whale
Ido Weisman, The Steve Tisch School Of Film and Television, Tel-Aviv University
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The Thin Green Line
Hugh Allen, National Film and Television School
Cinematogaphy
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[WINNER] Super/Natural: The Mating Game
National Geographic, Earthship Productions and Plimsoll Productions
Cinematography: Chris Watts, Jon Shaw, Jeff Hester, Graham Hatherly, Alfredo Barroso, Matthew Hood, Simon De Glanville, Robert Hollingworth, Matthew Norman, Mark Ó Fearghaíl, Mark Payne-Gill
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America the Beautiful: Land of Heroes
Wildstar Films, National Geographic and Disney Branded Television
Cinematography: Jake Davis, Dawson Dunning, Alex Jones, Neil Anderson, Mark Emery, Nick Hawkins, Jeff Hester, Jonathan Jones, Justin Maguire, Pete Matthews, Kyle McBurnie, Florian Shulz, Greg Wilson
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Chimp Empire: Others
Keo Films and Underdog Films for Netflix
Cinematography: Benjamin Cherry, Janna Deeble, Ewan Dryburgh, Lauren Muchan, Benjamin Sadd, Stuart Trowell, Callum Webster, Diana Kanweri, Kevin Lee
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Our Planet II: World on the Move
Silverback Films, Netflix Cinematography: Tom Beldam, Brad Bestelink, Ralph Bower, Matthew Conor Robinson, Noah Falklind, Kyle McBurnie, Jesse Wilkinson, George Woodcock
Editing
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[WINNER] Frozen Planet II: Frozen Worlds
A BBC Studios Natural History Unit Production for BBC & BBC America co-produced with ZDF and France Televisions. A BBC Open University Partnership
Editors: Matt Meech and David Warner
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Chimp Empire: Paradise
Keo Films and Underdog Films for Netflix
Editors: Sam Rogers, Gary Thomas, Dan Schwalm, Rupert Troskie, Matt Tickner
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Human Footprint: The Ground Below
Day's Edge Productions for PBS
Editors: Angel Morris, Andy Laub, Adam Moffatt, Samantha Van Praet
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Our Planet II: World on the Move
Silverback Films, Netflix
Editors: Paul Kiff, Robbie Garlands
Original Music Score
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[WINNER] Nkashi: Race for the Okavango
A National Geographic Society Impact Story Lab production, with support from Okavango Eternal
Original Music: Koolkat Motyiko (Mr. Seronga), Mikael Rosen, NEWF Compose Yourself Lab
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Frozen Planet II: Frozen Worlds
A BBC Studios Natural History Unit Production for BBC & BBC America co-produced with ZDF and France Televisions. A BBC Open University Partnership
Original Music: Hans Zimmer and Bleeding Fingers
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The Elephant Whisperers
A Netflix Documentary and A Sikhya Entertainment Production
Original Music: Sven Faulconer
Writing
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[WINNER] Mollie's Pack
Grizzly Creek Films and IMAX Original Documentaries
Writers: Avela Grenier and Thomas Winston
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Human Footprint: The Urban Jungle
Day's Edge Productions for PBS
Writers: Neil Losin, Nathan Dappen, Andy Laub, Page Buono, David Hutchinson
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Ireland's Wild Islands: Edge of the Abyss
Produced by Crossing The Line Productions for Love Nature in co-production with RTÉ, ARTE, and SVT. Produced with the support of incentives for the Irish film industry provided by the Government of Ireland.
Writer: John Murray
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Once Upon a Time in Tsavo
A Deeble & Stone Film Co-producers Waterhole Films, Terra Mater Studios, The WNET Group in association with PBS and CPB Writer: Mark Deeble
Sound
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[WINNER] Big Beasts: The Elephant Seal
Plimsoll Productions production company for Apple TV+
Dubbing Mixer: Chris Domaille
Dubbing Editor: Roy Noy
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Frozen Planet II: Frozen Worlds
A BBC Studios Natural History Unit Production for BBC & BBC America co-produced with ZDF and France Televisions. A BBC Open University Partnership
Sound: Wounded Buffalo
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Our Universe: Chasing Starlight
A Netflix Documentary Series and A BBC Studios Production
Wounded Buffalo Sound Editors: Kate Hopkins, Tim Owens. Halo Post Production. Dubbing Mixer: Sam Castleton. Supervising Sound Editor: Jay Price. Sound Editor: Adam Johnson
Breakthrough Film
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[WINNER] PATROL
Juli Films and Perpetuo Films in collaboration with Re:wild
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Between Earth & Sky
By the Creek Productions. Co-produced by It Doesn't Suck Productions. In association with American Documentary, IF/Then Shorts. Supported by The Redford Center, BRIClab, and Mountainfilm.
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Tigereyes
Martina Trepczyk & Kyle Armstrong Roepke
Special Jury Award Winner for Impact Campaign
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The Territory
National Geographic Documentary Films, Protozoa Pictures, Passion Pictures, Real Lava, Documist and Associação Jupaú. In association with Time Studios, XTR Doc Society Climate Story Fund
Impact Producers: Marianna Olinger, Will Miller, Alex Pritz, Gabriel Uchida, Txai Surui, Sarah Sparkman
Special Jury Award Winner for Innovation in Green Production
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Jane Goodall - Reasons for Hope
Science North, Jane Goodall Institute, Cosmic Picture Distribution, FedNor, NOHFC, Arizona Science Center, City of Sudbury, Greater Grand Sudbury, Rivian
Honorable Mention
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A Note for Nature
Crossing the Line Productions, RTÉ, BAI, Creative Ireland, National Parks and Wildlife Service
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Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper: Alabama
Nat Geo WILD and Lucky 8
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Hellbent
Wild Lens Collective, Running Wild Media
This film's green production strategy has been recognized by Jackson Wild.
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Mongolia, Valley of the Bears
ARTE France, Lato Sensu Productions, YN Productions - La Cuisine aux Images, DCMP DreamCatcherMotionPictures, ZED
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Tahlequah the Whale: A Dance of Grief
Meinart Animation Studio, Higher Purpose Productions
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Wading for Change
Sofia Jaramillo & Jr Rodríguez
El Sol Productions
Orvis, New Belgium Brewing, Ford Bronco Wild Fund, Trout Unlimited
