Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival
The world's most prestigious wildlife film festival, held biennially in October in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, celebrating the best in natural history and wildlife filmmaking with the coveted Grand Teton Award.
Overview
The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival is the world's most prestigious wildlife film festival. Founded in 1991 and held biennially in October in Jackson Hole, Wyoming -- surrounded by Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone -- the festival celebrates the best in natural history and wildlife filmmaking with the coveted Grand Teton Award.
Jackson Hole's extraordinary natural setting -- the Teton Range, the elk herds migrating through the valley in October, the bison of Yellowstone -- provides an incomparable backdrop for a festival devoted to wildlife cinema. The conference format (the festival is as much industry conference as public festival) brings together the world's leading wildlife cinematographers, natural history producers, scientists, and broadcasters.
The Grand Teton Award is widely considered the most prestigious prize in wildlife and natural history filmmaking, and winning it represents the highest recognition available in the field.
Key Sections
- Grand Teton Award Competition -- the world's most prestigious wildlife film competition
- Natural History Program -- curated natural history films
- Conservation Film Section -- films addressing environmental and wildlife conservation
- Innovation Awards -- recognizing technical innovation in wildlife cinematography
- Industry Conference -- professional sessions for natural history broadcasters and producers
What Filmmakers Should Know
The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival accepts industry submissions. The festival is primarily industry-oriented -- it is as much a professional conference as a public festival. The Grand Teton Award competition is the most rigorous and prestigious wildlife film competition in the world, judged by experienced wildlife filmmakers and natural history broadcasters.
Major Awards
- Grand Teton Award -- Best Natural History Film (various categories)
- Innovation Award -- technical achievement in wildlife filmmaking
- Best Short Film
- Conservation Award
Festival History
Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival was founded in 1991 and has operated biennially for over three decades, maintaining its position as the world's most prestigious natural history film event.
See Also
For wildlife filmmaking, see Documentary Filmmaking Guide. For the IWFF Missoula, see International Wildlife Film Festival.
