Program areas at Jackson Wild
The Jackson Wild summit is an extraordinary convening where collaboration and innovation thrive, ideas are launched, and strategic partnerships are forged. Cross-discipline conversations on the critical issues facing our planet set the stage for strategic partnerships that happen nowhere else, as participants work together to address critical conservation and environmental challenges. In 2023, the summit gathered 750 nature, science and conservation media industry professionals from over 40 countries motivated by deep reverence and urgent concern for the natural world for four days of keynote sessions, workshops, gear demos and film screenings. The summit culminated in the announcement of the winners of the annual Jackson Wild media awards, recognizing 30 films selected by a jury from over 450 entries representing 70+ countries into the annual competition.
The world wildlife day film showcase is part of worldwide public engagement efforts to empower action and inspire a sense of personal responsibility and stewardship for Wild species conservation and in creating an equitable and sustainable future. In partnership with the united nations and cites, world wildlife day promotes free educational screenings available to embassies, universities, schools, libraries, ngos and other partner film festivals from around the world. In 2023, 26 films were selected from 200 entries representing 77 different countries, with 2480 films streamed for free globally throughout the year.
The Jackson Wild media lab is an immersive, cross-disciplinary science filmmaking workshop funded by hhmi tangled bank studios that brings scientists and media creators together to learn from leaders in the profession and work together to develop effective tools to communicate about science, nature and conservation with diverse audiences across the worlds evolving media platforms. For ten days, media lab fellows work side-by-side with instructors and industry-leading mentors to gain intensive hands-on film making experience, learn the art of science communication, get a crash course using professional-grade tools and equipment provided by sony, and expand professional networks with peers and industry professionals. Sixteen global fellows were selected to participate in this rigorous workshop, with 4 group film projects premiering live to international commissioners and streamed audiences. In addition to the media lab, the summit hosted 33 fellows from partnering organizations from around the world, including the prince albert ii of monaco foundation, vision maker media, gorongosa national park and the nature environment wildlife filmmakers congress in south africa. These fellows participated in capacity building workshops and a one-on-one mentorship program.
The Jackson Wild collective is the year-round virtual home for over 1,000 members of the Jackson Wild global storytelling community to connect, collaborate and inspire change, supported by the national geographic society, cornell douglas foundation and hhmi tangled bank studios. Through ongoing mentorship, an international production database, an up-to-date jobs board and career-building programs, the collective provides resources for storytellers at all levels to elevate their impact and expand their opportunities. In 2023, the collective hosted virtual and in-person events for collective members to provide opportunities for networking and capacity building.