Wildscreen

What Wildscreen does

Wildscreen is a UK-registered conservation charity (No. 299450) founded in 1982 and headquartered in Bristol, England, with wholly-owned subsidiary companies Wildscreen Trading Ltd and Wildscreen Network Ltd. It operates the world's largest international festival celebrating natural world storytelling, attracting over 2,000 delegates from more than 60 countries, alongside the Panda Awards — the industry's highest honours for wildlife film, television, and content (70 nominees across 18 categories in 2026). The charity serves wildlife filmmakers, photographers, broadcasters, conservationists, and emerging storytellers by convening the global natural world storytelling community through events, awards, and digital platforms.

The organization's core technology platforms include NatureStory (an online professional community with tiered Pro Membership), Wildscreen Network (a professional community platform from £60/year providing monthly webinars and networking events), and Wildscreen ARK (a youth education platform launched in 2024 as the successor to the offline Arkive archive, which once held multimedia fact-files for 16,000+ endangered species and 100,000+ images and videos). It also operates a hybrid event delivery system enabling in-person attendance alongside 3-month on-demand access via virtual passes on the Eventive platform, an image library (Wildscreen Exchange), and talent schemes in partnership with WWF-UK and ScreenSkills. Regional African editions have been held in Kenya (2023, 2026), Tanzania (2024), and Botswana (2025), with a Cape Town international hub supported by Save Our Seas Foundation.

Wildscreen's revenue is generated through a diversified mix: event ticket sales (Full Hybrid Pass at £510 plus VAT, Online Pass at £135 plus VAT, with concessional, NGO, freelancer, and group-booking discounts), recurring membership subscriptions (NatureStory Pro, Wildscreen Network from £60/year), corporate sponsorship from headline partners (BBC Studios Natural History Unit, National Geographic, Wildstar Foundation) and principal partners (Save Our Seas Foundation), charitable donations and matched-giving campaigns, and grant funding from foundations including Garfield Weston, Linbury Trust, Nisbet Trust, Creative Scotland, and WECA. The charity is an accredited Real Living Wage Employer, has ICO data controller registration, and has no venture capital or private equity backing.

Name

Wildscreen

Legal name

Wildscreen

Website

https://wildscreen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wildscreen is a Bristol-based conservation charity (founded 1982) that operates the world's largest natural world storytelling festival, the Panda Awards, and professional community platforms (NatureStory, Wildscreen Network) serving wildlife filmmakers, photographers, broadcasters, and conservationists globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation media and events

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Interpretation & Ranger-Led Education Programs (Visitor Education) (THAAAOAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nature, Science & Wildlife Documentaries (MPADADAF), Conservation, Research & Volunteer Experiences (THAJAIAJ)

Keywords

• Natural world storytelling
• Conservation media events
• Wildlife film festival
• Charity event programming
• Professional community platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Tickets and Passes: Revenue from Wildscreen Festival hybrid passes (in-person + online), online-only passes, concession pricing, NGO passes, group bookings, and individual event tickets for ceremonies, screenings, and workshops.
2. NatureStory Membership: Pro Membership subscription for the natural world storytelling industry community providing exclusive networking, learning, development opportunities, and priority event access.
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Headline sponsors (e.g., BBC Studios NHU, Wildstar Foundation, National Geographic), principal sponsors (e.g., Save Our Seas Foundation), category sponsors for Panda Awards, and travel partners (e.g., Clarity Entertainment & Media).
4. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations including the Big Give Earth Raise campaign (matching £5,000 to £10,000). Wildscreen is a registered charity (No. 299450) accepting donations.
5. Wildscreen Network Membership: Professional community membership for wildlife film and TV professionals providing monthly webinars, networking events, and discounted festival access from £60/year.
6. Talent Scheme Fees: Paid internship programs in partnership with WWF-UK, BBC Studios, and other organizations. Includes International Storytelling Internship Scheme providing 12 internships globally.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Wildscreen is a conservation charity that convenes the natural world storytelling industry through the biennial Wildscreen Festival, the Panda Awards, regional African festivals, and supporting professional community platforms (NatureStory, Wildscreen Network, Wildscreen ARK). It delivers hybrid events, awards programmes, talent development schemes, and educational content that connect wildlife filmmakers, broadcasters, conservationists, and emerging storytellers across 60+ countries. Revenue is generated through event passes, membership subscriptions, corporate sponsorship, charitable donations, and grants.

Product overview

Wildscreen is a conservation charity operating a multi-product platform centred on natural world storytelling. Its core offerings include the biennial Wildscreen Festival (the world's largest global gathering of natural world storytellers) and the Panda Awards (the industry's highest honours). The platform spans film competitions (Official Selection, WildPitch), professional community (Wildscreen Network), youth education (Wildscreen ARK, Educational Resources), photography events (WildPhotos), talent development programmes (Internship Scheme, Mentorship Scheme), and grant funding (EDGE of Nature Short Film Fund). NatureStory serves as the online membership community tying together the professional and emerging talent ecosystem. The organization also maintains the legacy Arkive collection (offline since 2019) and hosts regional Festival editions across Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ARKive: Wildscreen's Arkive project was launched in 2003 and grew to become the world's biggest encyclopaedia of life on Earth. Featured multi-media fact-files for more than 16,000 endangered species. Taken offline in February 2019.
• Wildscreen ARK
• NatureStory

Products and services

• Wildscreen Festival World's leading international festival celebrating and advancing natural world storytelling, bringing together wildlife filmmakers, conservationists, and academics from around the globe. Features film screenings, panel discussions, networking events, and the Panda Awards ceremony, with hybrid in-person and online access and 3-month on-demand content post-event.
• Panda Awards The highest honours in the international natural world storytelling film, TV and content industry, featuring 18 award categories including Behaviour, Cinematography, Editing, Music, Series, and the Golden Panda Award. 70 nominees announced for 2026 across 18 categories.
• Official Selection Programme Film competition programme designed to discover and honour bold, authentic and diverse stories about the natural world. Open to independents and first-time filmmakers with more relaxed entry criteria than Panda Awards. Selected films screened at festival with cash prizes up to £3,000.
• NatureStory Online community platform connecting natural world storytellers to develop and share their craft, access unique Wildscreen content, and network with professionals. Offers Pro Membership with learning and development opportunities and priority event access.
• Wildscreen Network World's biggest professional community for the wildlife film and TV genre. Provides monthly webinars, industry insights, networking events, and free/discounted exclusive invitations to members, with membership from £60/year.
• Wildscreen ARK Youth education and inspiration platform co-created with young people, educators, photographers, and filmmakers. Designed for young people to discover and grow their passion for nature and find ways to support it, featuring wildlife and conservation content.
• WildPhotos One-day nature photography symposium created in partnership with Wildlife Photographer of the Year, featuring world-class photographers sharing stories, craft and impact behind iconic wildlife photography.
• Science in Storytelling Annual hybrid event bringing together world-renowned scientists and filmmakers for a science communications summit featuring talks, panels, and networking.
• Wildscreen Industry Summit Three-day event designed to help the industry navigate challenges in wildlife storytelling, featuring workshops, panels, and networking opportunities.
• Wildscreen Festival Africa Regional edition of the Wildscreen Festival celebrating natural world storytelling in Africa. Editions have been held in Kenya (2023, 2026), Tanzania (2024), and Botswana (2025), with the Kenya 2026 online pass priced at £40/£20 concession.
• WildPitch Competition Live pitching competition showcasing emerging storytellers competing for funding, mentorship, and industry exposure. Features a $5,000 prize pot for African storytellers and panels of industry professional judges at Wildscreen Festival Kenya.
• EDGE of Nature: Short Film Fund Short film fund supporting and nurturing emerging natural world storytellers to create fresh approaches to engage GenZ audiences and spotlight EDGE species and habitats. Delivered in partnership with On the Edge.
• International Storytelling Internship Scheme Partnership with WWF providing paid internships for 12 individuals (6 UK-based, 6 internationally-based) aged 18-35, pursuing careers in natural world storytelling with mentoring and Wildscreen Network membership.
• Emerging Talent Mentorship Scheme Mentorship programme in partnership with ScreenSkills supporting emerging talent within the natural history filmmaking and storytelling industry.
• Wildscreen Exchange Image library within the Wildscreen community providing free educational resources and connecting people who care about protecting the natural world.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 industry delegates from 60+ countries attend the annual festival
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Wildstar FoundationflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Headline Sponsor for Wildscreen Festival Kenya 2026. The foundation supports the event celebrating one of the most actively filmed parts of the natural world, bringing together African filmmakers and worldwide industry professionals.
• University of the West of England (UWE)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Major Sponsor for Wildscreen Festival Kenya 2026. Presents On-Screen Talent Panda Award. Assistant Vice-Chancellor Lynn Barlow serves on Wildscreen Board. Internship host through Storytelling Intern program.
• The Wilderness ProjectminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Sponsor for WildPitch live pitching competition at Wildscreen Festival Kenya 2026, providing $5,000 prize pot for emerging African storytellers.
• The Fable FundminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Sponsor for Wildscreen Festival Kenya 2026 supporting the festival celebrating African wildlife filmmaking talent.
• Wildlife Photographer of the YearcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner for WildPhotos annual nature photography symposium held at Natural History Museum, London. Jointly creates world-class photography event featuring award-winning photographers.
• On the EdgecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for EDGE of Nature: Short Film Fund supporting emerging natural world storytellers to create fresh storytelling approaches for GenZ audiences, spotlighting EDGE species and habitats.
• BBC Studios Natural History UnitflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Headline Sponsor for Wildscreen Festival Botswana 2025 and past sponsor for Wildscreen Festival 2024 and Wildscreen Festival Nairobi 2023. Major Sponsor for Wildscreen Festival Kenya 2026. BBC Studios NHU Head Jonny Keeling serves on Wildscreen Board.
• Into FilmminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership to launch 'Every Child a Filmmaker Project' supporting young creatives in Bristol with film-making education and resources.
• Botswana IgniteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025In-country partner for Wildscreen Festival Botswana 2025, supporting local delivery and engagement in Maun, Botswana.
• Clarity Entertainment & MediaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Official Travel Partner to Wildscreen providing business travel, meetings and event programmes for the organization.
• National GeographiccoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Sponsor of International Talent Bursaries providing fully funded access to Wildscreen Festival for 4 international in-person and 20 online participants. Partner on Expanded Field Ready Program nurturing next generation of natural history storytellers. Top nomination recipient for Panda Awards.
• Save Our Seas FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Principal Sponsor of Wildscreen Festival 2022, the first marine-focused NGO to be a Principal Sponsor. Presents Panda Awards Impact category recognizing productions delivering tangible conservation impacts. Driving force behind Cape Town international hub.
• WWF-UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership for International Storytelling Internship Scheme providing 12 paid internships (6 UK-based, 6 internationally-based) for 18-35 year olds. Scheme aims to tackle systematic barriers for underrepresented groups entering natural world storytelling and conservation industry.
• ScreenSkillsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for ScreenSkills Natural History Mentorship Scheme providing career development opportunities in natural history filmmaking industry.
• New to Nature ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Groundwork, The Prince's Trust, Disability Rights UK, and Mission Diverse providing green work placements to increase diversity in the environmental sector. Wildscreen selected for first wave.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Terra Mater Studios: Vienna-based wildlife and natural history production and distribution company with strong Panda Awards presence. Comparable as a wildlife film production house participating in the Wildscreen ecosystem while operating its own content production and distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Silverback Films: Leading independent wildlife production company behind award-winning natural world content. Comparable as a primary participant and beneficiary of Wildscreen Panda Awards while operating at the production company tier rather than festival tier.
• Fremantle: Global media company with major documentary production capabilities. Mark Reynolds (Global Head of Documentaries at Fremantle) sits on Wildscreen's Board, making Fremantle a strategic adjacency as both sponsor ecosystem participant and content commissioning peer.
• National Geographic Society: Global nonprofit committed to exploration, science, and conservation storytelling. Much larger incumbent in the same conservation storytelling space; serves as both sponsor (Panda Awards, talent bursaries) and adjacent programmatic peer to Wildscreen.
• BBC Studios Natural History Unit: World-leading wildlife production unit producing landmark natural world content (Planet Earth, Dynasties, Green Planet). Functions as headline sponsor and Panda Awards partner while being the dominant commercial producer of the content Wildscreen celebrates.

Others

• Save Our Seas Foundation: Marine conservation foundation serving as Principal Sponsor of Wildscreen Festival 2022 and Impact Award presenter. Adjacent peer as a conservation funder and Cape Town international hub partner, deeply embedded in Wildscreen's commercial ecosystem.
• WWF-UK: Major UK conservation NGO partnering with Wildscreen on the International Storytelling Internship Scheme. Adjacent as a conservation nonprofit that funds and co-develops talent programs rather than competing in the festival space.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Global conservation NGO with wildlife media operations and field storytelling programs. Adjacent peer as a conservation organisation that uses natural world storytelling to drive impact, overlapping with Wildscreen's audience and sponsor ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival: The leading US-based wildlife film festival and Conservation Media Summit. Directly comparable to Wildscreen as a wildlife film and natural world storytelling festival with awards, networking, and conservation storytelling mission, though operating primarily in North America.
• Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Natural History Museum's flagship annual wildlife photography competition and exhibition. Directly comparable to Wildscreen Panda Awards as a top-tier wildlife content awards program; Wildscreen partners with Wildlife Photographer of the Year on the WildPhotos symposium.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/WildscreenOrg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wildscreen
• Instagraminstagram.com/wildscreenorg
• TikToktiktok.com/@wildscreen?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
• Xx.com/WildscreenFest
• Facebookfacebook.com/wildscreenfest

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wildscreen