The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival is pleased to announce the selection of film finalists for its 2009 competition. Judges from around the world representing the Festival's Board of Directors viewed 425 films entered into some 750 categories from more than 25 countries, for a record number of submissions.           

Considered the highest honor of the "nature and environment" genre, the 2009 award winners will be selected during the media industry conference held in Grand Teton Park at the Jackson Lake Lodge Sept 28-Oct 2, and will be announced at the Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner Thursday, October 1st.  Peer-judged craft categories including Special Venue, Cinematography, Editing, Original Score, Sound & Writing will be announced July 20th.

Best Animal Behavior Program

CRIMSON WING

Natural Lights Films, Kudos Pictures Productions, Disneynature

GORILLA KING

Tigress Productions, Ltd, Nature/THIRTEEN, BBC

WHAT FEMALES WANT AND WHAT MALES WILL DO, Episode 2

Pangolin Pictures, Nature/THIRTEEN

Best Wildlife Habitat Program

CRIMSON WING

Natural Lights Films, Kudos Pictures Productions, Disneynature

THE FOREST: FIGHT FOR LIGHT

Nautilus Film, Studio Hamburg GmbH Documentaries, NDR Naturfilm, Arte, ORF

YELLOWSTONE: WINTER

BBC Natural History Unit, Animal Planet

Best Conservation Program

COAL COUNTRY

Evening Star Productions, Norman Star Media

DIVISION STREET

Frogpondia Films

GREEN

Tawak Pictures

Best People & Nature Program

GORILLA MURDERS

National Geographic Television

LEGEND OF PALE MALE

Birdjail Productions

SNOW LEOPARD: BEYOND THE MYTH

BBC Natural History Unit, Animal Planet

THERE'S A RHINO IN MY HOUSE
Oxford Scientific Films, Animal Planet

Best Limited Series

NATURE'S GREAT EVENTS

BBC Natural History Unit, Discovery, Wanda Vision

THE SECRET LIFE OF ELEPHANTS

BBC Natural History Unit, Animal Planet

YELLOWSTONE

BBC Natural History Unit, Animal Planet

Best Children's Program  

ARCTIC TALE

National Geographic, Paramount Vantage, Visionbox Films

FROG, CHEMICAL, WATER, YOU

Jennifer Grace, MSU

ONCE UPON A TIDE

Center for Health and the Global Environment/Harvard Medical School, Sea Studios Foundation, Laika/house, Funjacket Enterprises

Best Presenter-led Program

CHARLES DARWIN & THE TREE OF LIFE

Sir David Attenborough

BBC Natural History Unit, Open University

THE HUMAN SPARK

Alan Alda

Chedd-Angier-Lewis Productions, THIRTEEN

THE REAL GREMLIN

Nick Baker

Icon Films, Animal Planet International, Five, ITV Global Entertainment

Best Short Program

A CORAL GARDENER

BBC Natural History Unit

RETHINK THE SHARK

Save Our Seas Foundation, Saatchi & Saatchi

SMALL TALK DIARIES: CHANGELING

Ammonite, Off the Fence, CBBC, Big Squid New Media

Marian Zunz Newcomer Award

DIVISION STREET

Eric Bendick, Frogpondia Films

SWAMP TROOP

Adrian Bailey, Road Media

National Geographic Channel, National Geographic Channels International

THE WHITE WOOD

Lou Astbury

Best Theatrical Program

CRIMSON WING

Natural Lights Films, Kudos Pictures Productions, Disneynature

EARTH

BBC Natural History Unit, Disneynature, BBC Worldwide, Greenlight Media, B8 Media, Discovery Channel

WILD OPERA

Images Studio, Studio Saint Antoine, Inc., Animal Planet International, Marathon International

Best Nonbroadcast Program

AMUR RIVER BASIN

Craig Miller Productions, Inc., World Wildlife Fund

FROG, CHEMICAL, WATER, YOU

Jennifer Grace, MSU

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: RESTORING BALANCE

The Ocean Channel

Best Earth Sciences Program

ARE WE ALONE

Optomen Productions

LANDSLIDE DETECTIVES

KQED-QUEST

O2: THE MOLECULE THAT MADE OUR WORLD

ORF Universum / NHU; Burning Gold Productions, AV Dokumenta, BMUKK, BBC 

Best 360 Campaign

DIRTY SECRETS

National Geographic Television, Sea Studios Foundation

RETHINK THE SHARK

Save Our Seas Foundation

SPRINGWATCH

BBC Natural History Unit

Best Web Presence

BIG CAT LIVE  www.bbc.co.uk/bigcat/BIG CAT LIVE

BBC Natural History Unit

www.alexandracousteau.com

EXPEDITION: BLUE PLANET

Blue Legacy, International

www.SAVEOURSEAS.COM

Save Our Seas Foundation

Best Use of Web 2.0/New Media

www.alexandracousteau.com

EXPEDITION: BLUE PLANET

Blue Legacy, International

www.SAVEOURSEAS.COM

Save Our Seas Foundation

www.QUEST.COM

KQED-Quest

www.WILDEARTH.TV

WildEarth Media, Hancock Wildlife Foundation, The Institute for Wildlife Studies

Outstanding Achievement

Preliminary judges selected three films to be recognized for a specific outstanding achievement through technology, innovative storytelling, use of CGI or 3-D, in-field challenge or other extraordinary accomplishment. These awards will be presented as part of the Awards Ceremony at the Festival on October 1.

EARTH

BBC Natural History Unit, Disneynature, BBC Worldwide, Greenlight Media, B8 Media, Discovery Channel

GORILLA MURDERS

National Geographic Television

WHALE WARS

Animal Planet

Biannually for the last 18 years, broadcasters, filmmakers, and other industry professionals have joined leading scientists, journalists, and conservationists in Grand Teton National Park for the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. For one remarkable week, this eclectic group of talented artists gathers from around the world to hone their skills, explore emerging media technologies and market opportunities, network and exchange ideas, and honor notable achievements within the industry. Recognized as premier in its genre, the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival is an unparalleled industry gathering. Over 650 international delegates participate in an exceptional slate of leading-edge equipment presentations, seminars and state-of-the-art screenings. JHWFF film competition honors the finest examples of natural history filmmaking. This year's event is slated for September 28-October 2 and is followed by a public Festival highlighting winning films and filmmakers October 3-4, in Jackson Hole.

Its international board members include: Animal Planet, Arete Media, BBC Natural History Unit, Disneynature, Discovery Channel, Fujinon Inc., Fusionspark Media, National Geographic Television & Film, NHK Japanese Broadcasting, NHNZ, Ltd., Off the Fence, Panasonic Broadcast, Sierra Club Productions, Sony Electronics, The Turner Foundation, Nature/THIRTEEN, UNIVERSUM/ORF Natural History Unit.