Wildscreen Festival unveils lineup to celebrate the best in natural world storytelling

Wildscreen Festival has announced the programme for their 2022 event, which will explore “The Future of Natural World Storytelling for a Better Planet” with the BBC Studios Natural History Unit as Headline Sponsor. The star-studded lineup includes Imogen Heap, Pattie Gonia, Chief Dadȧ and Steve Backshall among many other agents of change, to provide an inclusive platform for the LGTBQIA+, indigenous and underrepresented communities. Taking place from 10th – 14th October in Bristol UK, this year marks the Festival’s 40th birthday and first-ever hybrid online and real life event which is already drawing a global audience.

The selected speakers are joined by their passion for the natural world through storytelling, climate change action and environmental protection. Grammy award-winning, Imogen Heap, discusses her passion for the environment and how she has combined this with her music career. Pattie Gonia, an environmentalist US Drag Queen will share their mission to build an inclusive outdoor community and climate action. Well renowned wildlife TV presenter, Steve Backshall will talk about the importance of reaching young audiences with nature content.

Amazon forest defender, Chief Dadá, will provide a rare opportunity to hear directly from indigenious people fighting on the frontline for environmental justice and exclusive clips from his film with Pope Francis The Letter: A Message to our Earth.

The lineup includes Jack Harries, a social media influencer turned environmentalist and filmmaker, Bertie Gregory who will share his experiences of storytelling as well as his new NatGeo series.

Tom McDonald, Executive Vice President Global Factual/Unscripted Content for Disney’s National Geographic will be interviewed by TV presenter, Liz Bonin, to discuss how natural world storytelling can innovate.

Lucie Muir, CEO of Wildscreen, said: “Our 2022 event will explore the future of natural world storytelling to create a better planet and its power in connecting people with the environment. This year’s lineup features industry giants alongside musicians, indigenous leaders, underrepresented voices, social media influencers and TV presenters for a jam-packed event filled with unique insight, premiere film screenings and ample networking opportunities. With climate change and biodiversity loss an ever present and increasing threat, it’s critical that stories about nature not only reflect its beauty and brilliance, but amplify how essential it is for survival and the urgent solutions we all must implement to protect and restore our planet for the sakes of all our futures – humanity and the natural world. There are no excuses for not attending Wildscreen and we are delighted with the worldwide response so far.”

Across the world, Wildscreen Festival is considered the biggest event in the wildlife film and TV industry calendar, allowing delegates to join 2,000 storytellers from over 40 countries. This year, the programme will centre on four key elements: Craft, Industry, Global Voices, and Planetary Crisis. This year, delegates can travel to Bristol or join in online in a festival first as the organisers ramp up inclusivity and accessibility for all across the globe and to reduce the environmental impact of the event.

The 2022 event will also see a series of exclusive film premieres and screenings including:

• Frozen Planet II, Episode 6 (Industry premiere)
• Lynx (UK Premiere)
• My Garden of a Thousand Bees
• Jaguaretê (International Premiere)
• Panteras (UK Premiere)
• Mother of the Sea & Miwene (European Premiere)
• I Am Capable & Exposure (World Premiere)

Tickets start from £81, with day passes now on general release. In a new move, each ticket sold will automatically have a carbon offsetting fee included in the price to reduce the environmental impact of the event.

Purchase tickets here.