Wildscreen launches first ever study into the UK Wildlife Film and TV industry

UK charity, Wildscreen, has launched the UK’s first ever industry-wide research to benchmark the UK’s Natural History Film and TV genre. Wildscreen are calling for all Production Companies and Freelancers who power the sector across the UK, to contribute and add their voices to the study.  

The two surveys, Wildscreen Industry Insight: UK Freelancers and Wildscreen Industry Insight: UK Companies will gather unique data, establishing the genre’s size, economic value and workforce, helping to raise the profile of the genre within the creative sector here in the UK and internationally.

The anonymous surveys will run until May 3rd. The outcomes will be revealed in the first ever Wildscreen Industry Insight Report (WIIR) this Autumn. The findings will also be used to inform content and themes for the upcoming Wildscreen Festival taking place live in Bristol and streamed online from 10-14 October 2022. 

The first installation of the Wildscreen Industry Insight series will provide the largest and most complete review of the natural history industry film and TV industry within the UK with the benchmark report providing; key information on sector-specific revenues; a breakdown of funding sources and commissions globally for natural history programming; an overview of the natural history film and TV workforce in the UK, including freelancers, emerging talent and collaboration with in-country talent; a baseline for workforce diversity across the sector; an insight into impact of the pandemic on the industry; identification of the key challenges facing the sector over the next five years; an insight into how freelancers within the industry can be supported.

Lucie Muir, Wildscreen’s CEO said: “For many, the idea of travelling the world documenting wildlife is a dream job but for those working in it, there are some unique, genre-specific opportunities and challenges. This study will not only help us understand the contribution wildlife film and TV makes to the creative economy here in the UK, but most importantly, for the first time ever, we will know more about the people behind the camera. It’s a unique opportunity for the industry’s workforce to have their voices heard and for the industry to come together and build a more inclusive, supportive and equitable natural world storytelling genre here in the UK.”

The research is being conducted in partnership with the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol).  

To find out more about Wildscreen Industry Insight visit here.