Wildscreen Panda Awards 2026 Nominees Announced

Wildscreen has revealed the 70 nominees for the Panda Awards 2026 – the highest honours in the international natural world storytelling film, TV and content industry.   

National Geographic tops the list, receiving 15 nominations spanning 11 of the 18 awards categories, across both National Geographic and National Geographic Documentary Films.

National Geographic’s Secrets of the Bees, produced by Silverback Films, uses groundbreaking filming technology to reveal the extraordinary world of bees. Executive Produced by James Cameron and hosted by National Geographic Explorer, Bertie Gregory, the show is recognised across Behaviour, Children’s, Cinematography and Editing.

National Geographic Documentary Films’, Time and Water is nominated across Cinematography, Editing, Music and Scripted Narrative. Directed by the Academy Award®-nominated Sara Dosa (Fire of Love), the documentary is a poetic love letter to glaciers. Tasked to write the eulogy for Okjökull, the first glacier to be declared dead due to climate change, Icelandic writer Andri Snær Magnason reflects on how glaciers create an archive of deep time within their ice over millions of years.  Time and Water is produced by Signpost Pictures in association with Compass Films.

Also recognised across four categories, Chameleon Corridors, tells the story of Tanzania’s Eastern Arc Mountains, narrated through the eyes of an endemic chameleon. Produced by AFRISOS, a fully Tanzanian production team, the film bends the genres between character-driven documentary and natural history storytelling and is nominated for Emerging Talent (Jigar Ganatra), Impact, Children’s and Short.

The BBC received 11 nominations across the longlist, the second most nominations for a broadcaster/platform, including commissions made to mark Sir David Attenborough’s 100^th birthday earlier in the year – Wild London (Passion Pictures) and Secret Garden (Plimsoll Studios).  

The BBC’s Tiger Island secured a total of three nods, alongside National Geographic’s Pole to Pole. Tiger Island, produced by Natural History Unit part of BBC Studios and nominated for Behaviour, Sound and On-screen talent, follows a ground-breaking team of wildlife filmmakers and big cat experts as they reveal the secret lives of tigers thriving on an extraordinary, forested island in Nepal. 

National Geographic’s Pole to Pole, produced by Nutopia, Westbrook Studios and Protozoa, follows Will Smith across all seven continents, where he faces extreme challenges, explores world-first science and reveals deep human connections to nature. It is nominated across Series, Cinematography and On-Screen Talent.

This year’s awards also sees the introduction of the Digital-First Category to recognise the importance of digital-first storytelling in diversifying the stories of nature being told, the storytellers and the audiences being reached. The inaugural nominees are: Bloomin’ Octopus, Conservation Entangled on Mongabay, Filming Madagascar’s Rarest Animals and Nature Ain’t A Luxury.

This year’s shortlist comprises productions where 60% of Directors identify as those currently underrepresented within the genre including individuals that identify as Global Majority, BIPOC, women, part of the LGBTQIA+ community, neurodiverse, or living with a disability – a record for the awards.

The winners will be announced at the Panda Awards ceremony which will takes place on 22nd October 2026 at the Apex Hotel in Bath, UK, the closing event of the Wildscreen Festival. The charity previously announced that the 2026 edition will move to the historic city of Bath from Bristol after 44 years, to ensure the Festival remains affordable for both the charity and its attendees.

The full list of nominees across the 18 categories are:

Behaviour Panda Award Nominees – Sponsored by ORF

Secrets of the Bees: The Hive

National Geographic’s SECRETS OF THE BEES, produced by Silverback Films.

UK

Tiger Island

A Natural History Unit part of BBC Studios production for BBC and PBS with the WNET group.

UK

HumanLike: The Chimps of Fongoli

Produced by Passion Planet in association with The WNET Group for Love Nature.

UK

Orangutan

A Wildstar Films production for Disneynature.

UK

Children’s Panda Award Nominees

Secrets of the Bees: The Hive

National Geographic’s SECRETS OF THE BEES, produced by Silverback Films.

UK

Wowsabout

The Jim Henson Company for PBS KIDS.

USA

Chameleon Corridors

A MyWorld Film Grant film by AFRISOS in co-production with Schoolyard Films and Amberjack Films.

Tanzania

Deadly 60 – Secretive Puma Special

A BBC Studios Natural History Unit Production for CBBC.

UK

Cinematography Panda Award Nominees

Secrets of the Bees: The Hive

National Geographic’s SECRETS OF THE BEES, produced by Silverback Films.

UK

Cinematography: John Brown, Alastair MacEwen

A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough

A Silverback Films production for Netflix in association with Appian Way.

UK

Cinematography: Ben Cherry, Ewan Dryburgh, Benjamin Sadd, Toby Strong

Pole to Pole

A Westbrook Studios, Nutopia, and Protozoa series for National Geographic.

UK

Cinematography: Lars Skree

Time and Water

National Geographic Documentary Films and Sandbox Films In Association with Ninmah Foundation, A Signpost Pictures Production, In Association with Compass Films.

USA

Cinematography: Pablo Alvarez-Mesa

Digital-First Panda Award Nominees

Nature Ain’t A Luxury

A MyAccomplice & Nature Ain’t A Luxury Ltd production in association with the The Wildlife Trusts, European Climate Foundation & DocSociety.

UK

Filming Madagascar’s Rarest Animals

Directed, filmed, edited and presented by Libby Penman. Sponsored by MPB.

UK

Bloomin’ Octopus

Directed, filmed, edited by David Palfrey.

UK

Conservation Entangled on Mongabay

Produced by Izzy Sasada for Mongabay.

UK, Malaysia

Editing Panda Award Nominees – Sponsored by HOME Post Production

Ghost Elephants

National Geographic Documentary Films in Association with Sobey Road Entertainment and A Skellig Rock Production.

Angola, Namibia

Editing: Marco Capalbo

Secrets of the Bees: The Hive

National Geographic’s SECRETS OF THE BEES, produced by Silverback Films.

UK

Editing: Matt Meech,Jacob Parish

Kingdom: Episode 1. Four Crowns, One Kingdom

A Natural History Unit part of BBC Studios production, co-produced with BBC America, for the BBC.

UK

Editing: Angela Maddick

Time and Water

National Geographic Documentary Films and Sandbox Films In Association with Ninmah Foundation, A Signpost Pictures Production, In Association with Compass Films.

USA

Editing: Erin Casper, Jocelyne Chaput, and Mark Harrison

Emerging Talent Panda Award Nominees

I’ll Need to Leave For a Little While

A collaborative project between Malaysian and Vietnamese filmmakers, supported by the Studio Bluegreen Fund.

Malaysia, Vietnam

Emerging Talent: Myles Storey

Wildermiss

An independent film by Anouk Suntjens.

Netherlands

Emerging Talent: Anouk Suntjens

A Special Little Fish

Produced by Plankton Productions for CBC Short Docs.

Canada

Emerging Talent: Sonya Lee

Chameleon Corridors

A MyWorld Film Grant film by AFRISOS in co-production with Schoolyard Films and Amberjack Films.

Tanzania

Emerging Talent: Jigar Ganatra

Impact Panda Award Nominees – Sponsored by Save Our Seas Foundation

Rhapsody on the Outlaw Ocean

An Outlaw Ocean Project Production.

USA

Chameleon Corridors

A MyWorld Film Grant film by AFRISOS in co-production with Schoolyard Films and Amberjack Films.

Tanzania

The Bottom Line

Blue Marine Foundation and Atomized Studio Production

UK

Wild East

A Maia Wikler & Sideyard Studios Production

Romania

In-Country Panda Award Nominees – Sponsored by Natural History Unit part of BBC Studios

Frost without Snow and Ice

Produced by Artic Light. In co-production with Lofoten Film Collective and Westdeutscher Rundfunk in collaboration with ARTE. Financed in collaboration with Dr Sales.

Norway

A Day on Earth

An If Not Us Then Who? production, in partnership with Earth Alliance.
Worldwide – 27 Countries

Home to Many

Nil Productions

Germany

Independent Panda Award Nominees – Sponsored by Wounded Buffalo Sound Studios

Captured

A Coral & Oak Studios Film in association with Indikate Productions.

USA

Rhapsody On the Outlaw Ocean

An Outlaw Ocean Project Production.

USA

Movers of Life

A Bravebird Film for the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, funded by the National Geographic Society, in Association with the Human Family Unity Foundation.

USA

Plant Life

A Speculative Films and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios Production

USA

Music Panda Award Nominees

The Tale of Silyan

A Ciconia Film, Concordia Studio, and The Corner Shop Film for National Geographic Documentary Films

North Macedonia

Music: Joe Wilson Davies, Hunouk Park

Parenthood: The Greatest Adventure

A Silverback Films production, for the BBC, in association with All3Media International

UK

Music: Tom Howe

Wild About Art

A Doclights and Text & Bild Production for NDR, in association with WDR, SWR, Arte and ORF.

Germany

Music: Sebastian Schmidt

Time and Water

National Geographic Documentary Films and Sandbox Films In Association with Ninmah Foundation, A Signpost Pictures Production, In Association with Compass Films.

USA

Music: Dan Deacon

On-Screen Talent Panda Award Nominees – Sponsored by University of the West of England

Tribe with Bruce Parry: Episode 1: The Waimaha

A Frank Films Production for the BBC

UK

On-Screen Talent: Bruce Parry

Tiger Island – Episode 1

A Natural History Unit part of BBC Studios production for BBC and PBS with the WNET group.

UK

On-Screen Talent: Dan O’Neill

Pole to Pole – The South Pole

A Westbrook Studios, Nutopia, and Protozoa series for National Geographic.
UK

On-Screen Talent: Will Smith

Wild London

A Passion Planet Production for BBC in association with WNET and NHK

UK

On-Screen Talent: Sir David Attenborough

Producer/Director Panda Award Nominees

The Tale of Silyan

A Ciconia Film, Concordia Studio, and The Corner Shop Film for National Geographic Documentary Films

North Macedonia

Producer/Director: Tamara Kotevska

Human Footprint: Shelf Life

A Day’s Edge Production for PBS.

Directed by: Nate Dappen, Co-Directed by: Neil Losin & Rick Smith, Produced by: Page Buono, Nate Dappen, Neil Losin, Rick Smith

Wowsabout

The Jim Henson Company for PBS KIDS.

USA

Producer/Director: John Tartaglia, Jaime Burke and Amy Kim

How to Live on Earth

An Open Planet Studios production, in association with Villars Institute Foundation and Silvania.

UK

Director & Producer: Fredi Devas
Producer & Executive Producer: Jonnie Hughes

Production Management Team Panda Award Nominees – Sponsored by Boomerang Carnets

A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough

A Silverback Films production for Netflix in association with Appian Way.

UK

Production Management Team: Rebecca Coombs – Line Producer, Matt Carr – Production Coordinator

Moon: Nature’s Secret Force: Episode 1: Dining by Moonlight

A Humble Bee Films Ltd production for Sky Nature and Blue Ant Media / Love Nature

UK

Production Management Team: Elena Wong, Esther O’Donnell, Helen Drew, Lynne Hailey, Rose Tarplee, Alexandra Morrisey

Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory

Produced by Wildstar Films for National Geographic.

UK

Production Management Team: Maria Dennett, Katie Grant, Sadie Devas, Becca Sunnucks, Linda Stephens, Becky Wootton

Deep Dive North America: Crowded Seas

A Big Wave Productions film for Love Nature.

UK

Production Management Team: Production Manager – Nina Lowes, Production Coordinator – Harry Harris, Production Secretary – Tavia Davies, Production Accountant – Peter Dunkerley

Scripted Narrative Panda Award Nominees – Sponsored by Terra Mater Studios

Time and Water

National Geographic Documentary Films and Sandbox Films In Association with Ninmah Foundation, A Signpost Pictures Production, In Association with Compass Films.

USA

Scripted Narrative: Sara Dosa, Jocelyne Chaput, Erin Casper, Andri Snær Magnason

Orangutan

A Wildstar Films production for Disneynature.

UK

Scripted Narrative: Mark Linfield, Polly Billam

March of the Jaguars

Co Produced by Duo2.tv and Bonne Pioche for Netflix.

Brazil

Scripted Narrative: Fernanda Polacow, Lawrence Wahba.

Penguin Baywatch: Tuxedo Summer Bash

A Terra Mater Studios and Saint Thomas Productions co-production with the participation of the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée and France Télévisions.

Austria

Scripted Narrative: Written, produced and directed by Bertrand Loyer

Series Panda Award Nominees – Sponsored by Doclights

Secret Garden

A Plimsoll Studios Production for BBC One, Co-Produced with The Open University and The National Trust.

UK

Pole to Pole

A Westbrook Studios, Nutopia, and Protozoa series for National Geographic.

UK

Human Footprint

A Day’s Edge Production for PBS.

USA

Kingdom

A Natural History Unit part of BBC Studios production, co-produced with BBC America, for the BBC.

UK

Short Panda Award Nominees

A Special Little Fish

Produced by Plankton Productions for CBC Short Docs.

Canada

I’ll Need to Leave For a Little While

A collaborative project between Malaysian and Vietnamese filmmakers, supported by the Studio Bluegreen Fund.

Malaysia, Vietnam

Between Breaths

A Between Breaths Production.

Norway

Chameleon Corridors

A MyWorld Film Grant film by AFRISOS in co-production with Schoolyard Films and Amberjack Films.

Tanzania

Sound Panda Award Nominees

Tiger Island – Episode 1

A Natural History Unit part of BBC Studios production for BBC and PBS with the WNET group.

UK

Sound: Matt Coster, Ben Wood

Guided by Horses

A Story About Feeling production in association with Djali House. Principal production funding from Screen Australia, financed with the assistance of Documentary Australia.

Australia

Sound: Weronika Raźna

Home to Many

Nil Productions

Germany

Sound: Tom Rees

Sustainability Panda Award Nominees

Secret Garden – Episode 2: Bristol

A Plimsoll Studios Production for BBC One, Co-Produced with The Open University and The National Trust.

UK

Wild Tamil Nadu

A Sundram Fasteners Limited Production in association with Nature In Focus.

India

Mayan Forest in Check

A production by Rescue The Planet and Macao Productions.

Guatemala

Taiwan – Blessed Life in Satoyama

Produced by NHK and PTS in Association with NHK ENTERPRISES.

Japan

Category sponsors are: ORF Behaviour Award, HOME Post Production Editing Award, Save Our Seas Foundation Impact Award, Natural History Unit part of BBC Studios In-Country Production Award, Wounded Buffalo Sound Studios Independent Award, University of the West of England On-Screen Talent Award, Boomerang Carnets Production Management Team Award, Terra Mater Studios Scripted Narrative Award, and Doclights Series Award. 

The Panda Awards will close out the 2026 Wildscreen Festival, the headline event in the natural world storytelling calendar, convening over 2,000 of the world’s leading filmmakers, broadcasters and content creators between the 19-22 October 2026.

Tickets for Wildscreen Festival and the Panda Awards Ceremony are available to buy here. 

Check out all the nominees here.