Jackson WildTM has announced the 2022 winners for the World Wildlife Day Film Showcase, which features films that align with this year’s World Wildlife Day Theme: Recovering Key Species for Ecosystem Restoration. The showcase was organized by the Jackson Wild, The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“As we live in a world that has become increasingly isolated over the past two years, powerful stories can connect us with each other, as well as ignite the spirit of sustainability and conservation in new audiences,” said Lisa Samford, Executive Director of Jackson Wild. “Our hope is that these stories demonstrate that despite the immense challenges we face, there are ongoing efforts and successful models to look to, as communities work to build a sustainable, conservation-driven future.”

“In 2022, we must finally dispel the false dichotomy that there is a ‘zero-sum game’ of wildlife versus livelihoods; or protecting ecosystems versus the economy, “ said Midori Paxton, Head of Biodiversity and Ecosystems, UNDP. “This year's World Wildlife Day theme, and this showcase of powerful films, is an opportunity to reinforce the message that we must invest in the protection and restoration of ecosystems as part of effective solutions to respond to closely linked crises of poverty, global health, biodiversity loss, and the changing climate."

“At its best, film has the ability to provoke our emotions and move us to action,” says CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero, “In these captivating films, each of our winners has shown they can do that in the service of conservation. I congratulate them and urge them to keep working to meet our shared goals of ecosystem restoration.”

Finalist films are available to screen for free until May 15th in the hopes of continuing to spread the message that species restoration is essential to human’s social and economic well-being, in addition to the planet’s environmental health.

World Wildlife Day 2022 Film Showcase Winners:

The Web of Life (Long Form) Sponsored by: HHMI Tangled Bank Studios
The Otter, A Legend Returns
Hilco Jansma Productions, EO (Evangelische Omroep), In cooperation with Ispida
Wildlife Productions

The Web of Life (Short Form) Sponsored by: HHMI Tangled Bank Studios
The Common Ground
Conor Ferris, National Film and Television School

Stories of Hope (Long Form) Sponsored by: Terra Mater Factual Studios
Endangered
The Natural History Unit BBC Studios and A Very Good Production for Discovery+

Stories of Hope (Short Form) Sponsored by: Terra Mater Factual Studios
Mexico City and its Sacred Salamanders
bioGraphic, Katie Garrett

Species in Crisis (Long Form) Sponsored by: Discovery
Sea of Shadows
Terra Mater Factual Studios in association with Appian Way, Malaika Pictures, The
Wild Lens Collective for National Geographic Documentary Films

Species in Crisis (Short Form) Sponsored by: Discovery
Last Wild Places: Majete
National Geographic Society Impact Media Lab

People & Threatened Species (Long Form) Sponsored by: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
The Witness is a Whale
A co-production of Spindrift Images, Terra Mater Factual Studios and Mark
Fletcher Productions

People & Threatened Species (Short Form) Sponsored by: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Wild Innovators: Beyond the Boma
Wild Elements Studios

Micro Movie Sponsored by: Burgenland
The Turtleman
Jigar Ganatra, African School Of Storytelling

Wake Up & Smell the Flowers
Yaz Ellis

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About CITES

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
was signed on 3 March 1973 and entered into force on 1 July 1975. With 183 Parties (182
countries + the European Union), it remains one of the world's most powerful tools for wildlife
conservation through the regulation of international trade in over 38,000 species of wild animals
and plants. CITES-listed species are used by people around the world in their daily lives for
food, health care, furniture, housing, tourist souvenirs, cosmetics or fashion. CITES seeks to
ensure that international trade in such species is sustainable, legal and traceable and contributes
to both the livelihoods of the communities that live closest to them and to national economies for
a healthy planet and the prosperity of the people in support of UN Sustainable Development
Goals.

About Jackson Wild

For 30 years, the Jackson Wild Summit has grown a reputation for hosting extraordinary
convenings of storytellers, scientists, conservationists, innovators and media stakeholders. The
annual Jackson Wild Summit convening fosters an environment where collaboration and
innovation thrive, ideas are launched, and strategic partnerships are forged as participants work
together to address critical conservation and environmental challenges facing our planet.
Jackson Wild’s international board members include African Wildlife Foundation, Arte France,
BBC Studios, Blue Ant Media|Love Nature, Boréales, Conservation International, Discovery,
Doclights, GBH, Gorongosa Restoration Project, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, Humane Society
International, International Fund for Animal Welfare, National Geographic Partners, National
Geographic Society, Nature/WNET, Netflix, NEWF - Nature, Environment & Wildlife
Filmmakers, Off the Fence Productions, ORF/Universum, PBS, Saint Thomas Productions, San
Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Seeker, Smithsonian Channel, Sony Electronics, SVT (Swedish
Television) The Nature Conservancy, Terra Mater Factual Studios, Wanda Films and World
Wildlife Fund US.

About UNDP

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty,
inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170
countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Learn
more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.

About the United Nations World Wildlife Day

On 20 December 2013, the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 3
March as World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and
flora. The date is the day of the signature of the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973. World Wildlife Day has quickly
become the most prominent global annual event dedicated to wildlife. It is an opportunity to
celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora and to raise awareness of
the various challenges faced by these species. The day also reminds us of the urgent need to step
up the fight against wildlife crime, which has wide-ranging economic, environmental and social
impacts