Wildscreen Festival Tanzania Filmmaker Case Studies: Jigar Ganatra
In the first in a series of Tanzanian filmmaker case studies, we meet Jigar Ganatra, Co-founder and Chair of AFRISOS.
News archive
Tanzania: The next generation of wildlife filmmaking talent
Why Tanzania is one of the world’s richest sources of untapped potential when it comes to wildlife filmmaking.
BBC Studios Natural History Unit Announced As Headline Sponsor for Wildscreen Festival 2024
The broadcaster is lending its support to the world’s biggest wildlife film festival.
Meet Georgia – Our Outreach & Sustainability Coordinator!
1. Tell us a bit about your role!
As Outreach and Sustainability Coordinator, I work hard to develop and deliver charitable programs which support the next generation of natural world storytellers and connect people with nature. My role also includes making sure everything we do as a charity has a minimal impact on the environment and puts nature first.
2. How did you get to where you are today?
Before I worked at Wildscreen I was in the hospitality sector for 5 years. I worked in sustainable dining, things like nose-to-tail eating, sourcing everything locally, and trying to encourage people to make and provide food that has minimal impact on the planet. I also used to run a festival food truck which was really, really fun. We got to make veggie and vegan food and at festivals all around the UK. I decided I couldn’t do all the late nights anymore in hospitality so I went back to university. I had originally done my undergrad in Events Management and, after a six-year break from education, I went back to do a master’s in Environmental Policy and Management and then I ended up here at Wildscreen.
3. What motivates you?
As with all my other roles, doing my bit to move towards a more sustainable future is really key as well as helping to spread awareness about how amazing nature is and the subsequent climate and biodiversity crises. Promoting passion and care for nature is something I really care about as well as removing barriers to the natural world storytelling community, making sure it’s accessible to everyone. Overall, just inspiring people to protect and care for nature by platforming incredible stories from around the world and democratising nature and natural world storytelling.
4. If you could change one thing about the natural history industry, what would it be?
More transparency about how to get in and the different roles that are available in the sector, I think only a few roles are really highlighted and spoken about. And, also, alleviation of the barriers to entry, so making sure it’s an accessible career path for everyone all around the world rather than just people who may not be disproportionately impacted like others are.
5. What are your career goals?
I’ve been with Wildscreen now for about two and a half years and I’m really excited about helping to facilitate the evolution of the charity, connecting more people to nature around the world, and supporting individuals globally to tell stories and share their passion for amazing species, habitats, and ecosystems.
6. Favourite moment working at Wildscreen?
My favourite moment was getting to meet all the bursary recipients at the festival. We provided a few different bursaries so people could come and enjoy the festival and it was really brilliant after speaking to them for so long to finally see them in person. They’d traveled from all corners of the globe so it was brilliant to meet them and get to know them.
7. What’s your favourite story from nature?
My favourite ever story is a film called The Serengeti Rules (2018) Dir. Nicolas Brown, and if you haven’t ever seen it, watch it. It’s just incredible. I think Wildscreen was actually screening it in 2018 and I went to watch it at the Watershed. It’s just the most incredible documentary about a group of scientists from all across the planet who worked out they were all doing the same research and its all about ecosystems having a key-stone species and if you take that keystone species out the whole ecosystem will just collapse, they are so important and it was so interesting.
8. Describe working for Wildscreen in three words!
Passion For Storytelling.
9. If you could turn into any animal for a day, what would you be?
My favourite animal is an Orangutan but I think I would rather be under the sea than up high so something like an Orca would be really cool. I could swim and go see everything that way but an Orangutan would also be nice, I feel like they would have really good naps.
10. What’s a fun fact about you?
My favourite place in the world is the west coast of Ireland and I’ve been there over 30 times. I love it. Even when it rains. Actually especially when it rains!
