International Wildlife Film Festival (IWFF)
The world's oldest wildlife film festival, held annually in April in Missoula, Montana, celebrating the best in wildlife, nature, and environmental filmmaking with competitive programming and conservation advocacy.
Overview
The International Wildlife Film Festival (IWFF) is the world's oldest wildlife film festival. Founded in 1977 in Missoula, Montana, and held annually in April, the festival celebrates the best in wildlife, nature, and environmental filmmaking with competitive programming and a commitment to conservation advocacy.
The festival was founded by wildlife biologist Charles Jonkel as a platform for the growing art of wildlife cinematography -- the practice of filming animals in their natural habitats with the patience, skill, and technology required to reveal behavior never before seen on screen. Over five decades, the festival has tracked the extraordinary evolution of this filmmaking form from 16mm film to 8K digital capture, from static tripod shots to remote camera systems and drone cinematography.
Missoula's location in the northern Rocky Mountain West, near Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness, makes it an ideal home for a festival devoted to wild nature.
Key Sections
- Wildlife Film Competition -- wildlife and nature films competing for Panda Awards
- Conservation Film Program -- films addressing environmental and conservation themes
- Natural World Documentary -- broader ecological and environmental films
- Short Film Competition -- nature and wildlife short films
- Student Film Competition -- films by students at film and natural history programs
What Filmmakers Should Know
IWFF accepts open submissions. The Panda Award is the most prestigious prize available in wildlife filmmaking. The festival's competition is judged by working wildlife cinematographers and biologists who evaluate both cinematic quality and scientific accuracy.
Major Awards
- Panda Award -- Best Wildlife Film (various categories)
- Best Conservation Film
- Best Short Film
- Emerging Filmmaker Award
Festival History
IWFF was founded in 1977 and has operated continuously for nearly five decades, making it the world's most historically significant wildlife film festival.
See Also
For nature documentary, see Documentary Filmmaking Guide. For the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, see Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.
