Museum to show winning films from 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival
For immediate release ‐ October 28, 2015
Contact: Jon Pishney, 919.707.8083. Images available upon request
RALEIGH — From the “Monkey Kingdom” to the “Bat Man of Mexico,” the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences presents the best of the 2015 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, on Friday and Saturday, November 20 and 21. The Museum is the first venue to showcase the award-winning films from the 2015 Festival, considered the world’s premier event for the nature and conservation film genre. Donations are encouraged.
“The Museum and its new parent organization, the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, look forward to introducing the people of North Carolina and Raleigh to these beautiful and powerful wildlife films,” says Museum Director Emlyn Koster.
Schedule
Friday, November 20 – Recommended for audiences 14 and above.
7:00 p.m.
“Shark Girl” — Special Jury Award — (58 mins)
For 20-year-old Madison Stewart, nothing feels safer or more natural than diving straight into shark-infested waters. Since childhood, growing up by the Great Barrier Reef, she’s treated these predators as family. But they’re vanishing from existence, and because of their bad reputation, few people seem to care. Follow Madison on her mission to protect our sharks, a battle that began when she put her studies on hold, grabbed a camera, and set out to save these incredible, misunderstood creatures.
8:30 p.m.
“Natural World: The Bat Man of Mexico” — Best People & Nature Program — (60 mins)
When Rodrigo Medellin was a child, he kept vampire bats as pets, but now his favorite bat is the lesser long-nosed bat, which doesn’t drink blood at all. It doesn’t drink tequila either, but nicknaming it the Tequila bat might be the masterstroke that saves it from extinction, because these little animals are responsible for pollinating the agave plants that tequila is made from. Without tequila, Mexico’s economy would crumble and, when Rodrigo tells people that, they suddenly take a whole new interest in bat welfare.
10:00 a.m.
Disneynature “Monkey Kingdom” — Best Sound — (81 mins)
From Disneynature studio, this spectacular tale is set among ancient ruins in the storied Jungles of South Asia. Maya, a clever and resourceful monkey, finds her world forever changed when she welcomes her son Kip into her colorful extended family. As Maya strives to keep Kip safe through unexpected and sometimes perilous adventures, amazing footage captures all the magic and surprises of their magnificent world. Maya and her family will make you laugh and warm your heart as she realizes her dreams for her son’s future.
12 noon
“Life Story” (Series) — Best Limited Series — Long Form
Life Story takes us on the greatest of all adventures – the journey through life. It is a story that unites each of us with every animal on the planet, because we all set out on this journey from the moment we are born. For animals there is just one goal in life – to continue their bloodline in the form of offspring. This series follows that journey through its six crucial stages: infancy, growing-up, finding a home, gaining power, winning a mate and succeeding as a parent. Narrated by David Attenborough.
1:30 p.m.
“The Secret Garden: Spring Awakening” — Special Jury Award
The garden has long epitomized paradise, and many of us derive great pleasure in creating our own Garden of Eden. With the help of nature, we fashion a world of beguiling scents and colors. But many of the creatures that live here go unnoticed, leading secretive and mysterious lives. Small field voles make a network of tunnels under the vegetable plot, and a shy weasel hides in the woodpile. Mason bees wallpaper their nest with colorful petals, and tiny ants form partnerships with some of our most gorgeous flowers. As winter gives way to spring and summer, this program reveals in stunning detail the beauty and intimate moments of our garden residents.
3:00 p.m.
“Wild Yellowstone: Frozen Frontier” — Best Cinematography and Best Editing
After two years, 260 days of shooting and working in conditions as freezing as negative 40°F, the crew at Brain Farm Digital Cinema took it to the next level in our country’s oldest National Park. Covering the brutal winters and burning summers of Yellowstone, they captured game-changing images of America’s most iconic wildlife to tell new stories in their own cinematic style.
Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival
This was the 13th biennial Festival. Winners were unveiled at the Grand Teton Awards Gala on October 1, 2015. The awards celebration concludes the five-day industry conference that draws leading filmmakers, organizations, scientists, broadcasters and visionaries engaged in conservation and wildlife media to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Submissions in the prestigious competition included a record 1,000 category entries competing for 23 special awards. This year’s winners were selected by a distinguished panel of international judges.