International Wildlife Film Festival (IWFF)
The world's oldest wildlife and natural history film festival, held annually in April in Missoula, Montana, celebrating the best in wildlife filmmaking and nature documentary.
Overview
The International Wildlife Film Festival (IWFF) is the world's oldest film festival dedicated to wildlife and natural history filmmaking. Founded in 1977 in Missoula, Montana -- a city surrounded by wilderness and home to the University of Montana -- the festival screens approximately 150 films during its week-long run each April and attracts wildlife filmmakers, naturalists, and nature enthusiasts from around the world.
IWFF was founded at a time when wildlife filmmaking was establishing itself as a distinct and important genre, and the festival has been central to the development of wildlife and natural history documentary as a professional discipline. The festival's competitive program evaluates films on scientific accuracy, artistic quality, and storytelling effectiveness.
The festival's Missoula location, surrounded by some of the most spectacular wilderness in North America, creates an environment where the subject matter of wildlife filmmaking is immediately present. Filmmakers and audiences share a connection to the natural world that gives the event a distinctive character.
Key Sections
- Feature Documentary Competition -- wildlife and natural history features
- Short Film Competition -- wildlife short films and segments
- Student Film Competition -- wildlife films by students
- Educator Competition -- films designed for educational use
- Best of Festival -- the most awarded films screening together
- Filmmaker Workshops -- professional development for wildlife filmmakers
What Filmmakers Should Know
IWFF accepts open submissions. Films are evaluated by a jury that includes both filmmakers and scientists, reflecting the festival's commitment to scientific accuracy alongside artistic quality. For wildlife and natural history filmmakers, IWFF provides the most targeted competitive platform available.
The festival's connection to conservation organizations, natural history broadcasters, and wildlife research institutions creates networking opportunities that are unique to this specialized community.
Major Awards
- Best of Festival -- the top award across all categories
- Best Feature Documentary
- Best Short Film
- Best Student Film
- Best Cinematography -- for wildlife footage
- Best Science Communication
Festival History
IWFF was founded in 1977 by wildlife biologist Charles Jonkel and has operated continuously since then. The festival predates the widespread popularity of natural history programming on television and helped establish the professional infrastructure for wildlife filmmaking as a serious discipline.
See Also
For documentary filmmaking guidance, see Documentary Filmmaking Guide. For environmental film strategy, see Film Festival Strategy.
