We began this tradition several years ago, it started with an email that went out to companies and has developed into a yearly newsletter that is publicly available for everyone to celebrate our community members’ accomplishments and growth over the year. The industry is at a trying time, but we continue to see members working hard to grow their careers and develop into better cinematographers. This newsletter celebrates the exemplary work of the community, whose efforts have shined in blue-chip productions, independent documentaries, conservation films and more. We continue to see the stages filled with our community- whether it’s for awards, panels or talks.

The Wildlife Cinematographer Diversity Fund had an exceptional year as well. We officially became an official nonprofit. We also had our first successful fundraiser and screening thanks to the hard work from community member, Lucie Machin. We want to say a special thank you to Wildstar Academy for sponsoring the event. Brian Henderson also supported and sponsored multiple members in REDucation. We worked with both Wildscreen and Jackson as well to continue to spread the WCDF mission.

Thank you for continuing to work with us, support us and believe in what is possible for this community. We hope you grab a nice cup of tea and sit down to enjoy reading the highlights of our 2025.

AWARDS:

A Landmark Year for Recognition

2025 was a truly groundbreaking year for awards within the community, from Emmy wins and Student Academy Awards to historic firsts within professional societies.

Romilly Spiers winning the Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography with ‘Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough’

Romilly Spiers had one Emmy win for Outstanding Cinematography with ‘Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough.’ Her bumblebee sequence was used to represent the series at the Award Ceremony. She also had two other Emmy nominations for Outstanding Cinematography- one for ‘Earthsounds’ and one for ‘Tiny Heroes Down Under, A Real Bug’s Life’ (winners will be announced in 2026). Romilly also had two Gold Awards at the Australian Cinematography Society state awards for bumblebees in ‘Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough’ and ‘Madhatterpillars’ in ‘Underdogs.’

Tatiana McCabe’s short film “Tides of Life” won GOLD at the Student Academy Awards for best documentary. It also won a Panda at Wildscreen for the “Short Award” and was a finalist in the “People & Nature Short Form” category at Jackson Wild.

Anna Dimitriadis was nominated for the 'On-Screen Talent' award for BBCs 'Big Cats 24/7' series one at the RTS West Awards.

Nikki Dodd’s film One Last Farm was awarded the 2025 BAFTA Student Film Award for Documentary

Nova West (they/them) had two episodes win Emmy's: The Elephant Seals of Año Nuevo and Costa Rica's Surfing Paradise!

Erin Ranney and Rachel Ross were on the Emmy Award winning team for Outstanding Cinematography for National Geographic’s ‘National Parks: USA’

Sophie Darlington earned the spot as the first dedicated wildlife cinematographer invited to the join American Society of Cinematographers. She was also recognized with the Jackson Wild Legacy Award 2025. She was invited to join AMPAS as well.

Sugandhi Gadadhar’s film “My Otter Diary” was nominated for In-Country Production and Music at the Wildscreen Panda Awards 2025, and had a UK premiere during the Wildscreen Industry Summit 2025. It was a finalist at the Jackson Wild Media Awards 2025 (Global Voices category) and won the Best of Show award at the Accolade Global Film Competition (September 2025), along with official selections at other film festivals.

BBC Asia Series EP1 "Beneath the Waves" won Best behaviour award at Wild Oceans FilmFest 2025. ChristinaKarliczek Skoglund has been doing sequence work on this as underwater DOP & tank set macro specialist, and worked with Felicity Flashman as dive supervisor & kit technician.

"Among Orcas” (ARD) won the principal award Best Maritime Film Award at Cinemare Festival, and was nominated for Best Wildlife Award at the German Wildlife Film Festival & Best Maritime Film Award at Green Screen Festival. Christina Karliczek Skoglund is the host and shoots as underwater cinematographer on this programme, Luana Knipfer shot topside and sync.

"Kingdom of Fish” (SVT Sweden) won the Cannes- World Film Golden Award - Christina Karliczek Skoglund was involved as a camerawoman, and as a contributor with the NGO Divers Against Ghost Nets.

“Katavi- Africa’s fallen Paradise - Episode 02 Purgatory” which Luana Knipfer has worked on over the course of more than three years and filmed some major sequences of the series has won “Best Cinematography at the international Wildlife Film Festival in Eckernförde, Germany, it has received “Best Cinematography” at Mountain Film Fest in Graz and a nomination for “Best Behaviour” at the Wildscreen Film Festival and received Special Mention for “Best Cinematography” at Natur Vision Film Festival Ludwigsburg, Germany.

Claire Tomlinson won Best Environmental Film at the Toronto/Los Angeles Documentary and Short Film Festival with her student film 'Surviving Alone: The Tale of Simone'.

Nicki Meharg was part of the team for Sealions of the Galapagos who won the Behaviour Award at the Pandas

“Seeotter: Tierische Klimaschützer" ("Sea Otters: Furry Climate Warriors") won Best Short Film for Kids and the Audience award at Innsbruck Nature Film Festival 2025. Claudia Schmitt worked as underwater camera, additional topside camera, author and editor.

Laura Pennafort, Gunjan Menon, and Caitlin Bailey worked on the episode Underdogs: Total Grossout, which won the Animal Behavior award, and Underdogs won Limited Series at the Jackson Wild Media Awards.

Laura Pennafort also worked as Drone Pilot and AC on A Real Bug’s Life - Series 2 “Once a Pond a Time”, which won Children’s Award at Wildscreen Panda Awards 2025

Felicity Flashman filmed drone and underwater camera on 'Rave on for the Avon' which won Wildscreen Festival Sustainability Merit Award. A feature-length documentary film that follows a local community’s fight to save their bathing spot in unique, daring & distinctly Bristolian ways. She worked extensively with the director filming all over Bristol and beyond bringing local environmental issues to light.

A Clawsome Tale by Lucie Machin is currently in submission to festivals and so far, it's achieved the following: Sea Change Film Festival: Official Selection, International Wildlife Conservation Film Festival: Honorable Mention: Best Short Film, Cine Eco Seia (International Environmental Film Festival): Honorable Mention: International Short & Medium Length Film (in this case this means it came second ), Animal Nature Future Film Festival: Winner: Best Young Filmmaker, Currently nominated: Audience Choice award, SeeMôr Film Festival: Winner: Best Documentary and 99p Films: It's also currently being screened around Cornwall as part of 99p films Seas of Change II program.

Olivia Andrus-Drennan was selected to be added to the Marquis Who's Who in America for my work in science-based filmmaking.

Olivia Andrus-Drennan film the ‘Dolphin Dilemma’ ended its festival run attending 93 total film festivals and receiving 65 awards, including three Telly Awards: Silver Award for Best Social Impact, Bronze Awards: Best Nature & Wildlife and Best Documentary and three Taste Awards for Best Science Program, Best Nature or Animal Program, and Best Short Film or Documentary that was broadcasted on PBS.

The PBS series ‘In Her Nature’ that the all-female field crew of Jocelyn Stokes (DP & Producer), Katie Schuler (Director), Sara Matasick (Cinematographer) and Melanie Lippert (Sound) worked on won Golden Telly Awards in the categories Documentary and Education & Discovery.

Claudia Schmitt worked on “Extinction – for a bowl of soup?”which received a Special Jury Mention: "Special mention for its message of ecological awareness.“ at the CIMASUB San Sebastián International Underwater Film Festival 2025. Claudia was underwater camera, topside camera, author and editor.

In April, Jasmine Corbett received an Honourable Mention at the Oceanic Global Short Film Festival for Mantas of the Mexican Caribbean. In October, her film Proyecto Mantas Ecuador was selected as a finalist at the Big Syn Institute Film Festival, held at Curzon Mayfair, London, UK. Also in October, Mantas of the Mexican Caribbean was named a finalist at the Better World Video Awards, hosted virtually.

Kelsey Kroon’s ‘Silver Rush’ won best Environmental Film at the All Americas International Film Festival

RECENT BROADCAST CREDITS: BLUE-CHIP PRODUCTIONS

Strong Representation Across Landmark Series

We saw what may be a record number of WCDF members working on blue-chip natural history productions in 2025. From emperor penguins and coral spawning to apex predators and freshwater ecosystems, WCDF members were central to some of the most ambitious wildlife storytelling of the year.

We had what we believe to be a record number of members film on the recent Humblebee Films project for Sky Nature and Blue Ant ‘Moon: Nature’s Secret Force’- Katie Mayhew, Katie Wardle, Katie Vickers, Gail Kukula, Bruna Lucheze, Tania Escobar, Nicki Meharg, Romilly Spiers, Clare Jones and Kirsten Marhaver all filmed for this series.

Lia Nydes worked on several wildlife sequences on The American Southwest for Fin and Fur Films that premiered at Mountain Film Festival this year and was nominated for a Jackson Wild Media award.

Sophie Darlington filmed on Parenthood, BBC One, Elephant sequence and Episode 4 Freshwater.

Sara Matasick was a cinematographer on Secrets of the Penguins, Episode 1 'Heart of the Emperor' for National Geographic/Disney Plus.

Helen Hobin spent nine consecutive months overwintering in Antarctica to film emperor penguins for the National Geographic series 'Secrets of the Penguins', which premiered on Disney+ this year. Her cinematography included capturing aerials of the iconic 'march of the penguins', and long-lens behaviour showing the laying and transfers of eggs, a pair practising these techniques with a block of ice, male emperors huddling under the southern lights, and the gradual raising of the young chicks through one of the harshest winters on earth.

Erin Ranney was a Director of Photography on Secrets of the Penguins, Episode 3 and a cinematographer on Underdogs.

Helen Hobin filmed long-lens behaviour on a range of sequences for 'The Americas', which aired on NBC and BBC One this year. Her cinematography for the series included capturing in slow motion the rivalries and water dances of Yacaré caiman courting in Brazil, using tree-canopy hidework to film harpy eagles, and fieldcraft in varying environments to film Pacific walrus, sharp-tailed grouse, arctic foxes, pink salmon, manatees, and alligators. She and Justine Evans feature in a behind-the-scenes sequence in 'The Making Of The Americas'.

Laura Pennafort filmed on ‘Parenthood’ Silverback for BBC One. She filmed long lens and drone cinematography on Freshwater episode, Amazon River Turtles sequence. She also worked on ‘Underdogs’ by Wildstar for Natgeo and Disney+ as the In-house Camera Operator and AC working across all 5 episodes on a variety of conditions: jungles, deserts, savannah, rainforests and night shoots. Worked with a range of kit including RED Raptor & Gemini, CN20, Sony Venice 2 & FX6, Inspire & mavic drones, Ronin 4D, Phantom VEO, camera traps and remote PTZ systems, motorized sliders, various jibs and cable dollies.

Gail Kukula filmed a plankton sequence for Humble Bee’s ‘Moon: Nature’s Secret Force’ and has been shooting on Season 2 of Wildstar’s ‘Underdogs.’

Katie Wardle worked on every episode of ‘Parenthood.’ She also filmed on the penguin episode of Apple’s ‘Born to be wild out.’ She worked on the first episode shooting Lions hunting elephants of ‘Moon: Nature’s Secret Force.’

Luana Knipfer has worked as 2nd Unit Cinematography on “Katavi - Africa’s Fallen Paradise” over the course of more than three years embedded in the tanzanian bush for several months of Katavi and filmed some major key sequences on crocodiles, hippos and lions and flew drone.

Pooja Rathod was one of the main cinematographers on Disney Nature’s Sealions of the Galapagos by Silverback Films. She was also one of the main cinematographers on Wild Tamil Nadu - a blue-chip documentary that is due to release in theatres in India in 2026. It has premiered in multiple big cities and is now due for release in theatres.

Natalie Turner-Blackman was one of the primary underwater and topside cinematographers for Freeborne’s 'The Real Finding Nemo', utilising her skills as a rEvo rebreather diver and technical cinematography skillset. She also held a topside camera assistant position on a demanding BBC Blue Planet III shoot. Natalie demonstrated her versatility and technical proficiency by serving as drone operator, underwater safety, and camera assistant on a Plimsoll Shark/On-Screen Talent show. Natalie also worked as topside camera assistant and focus puller for a Plimsoll studio shoot.

Nicki Meharg worked on ‘Moon- Nature’s Secret Force’ by Humblebee films as UW Additional camera/ Camera Assistant. She worked on ‘The Real Finding Nemo’ by Freebourne as UW Camera assistant. And Nicki worked on ‘Sealions and Guardians of the Galapagos’ as UW Cinematographer for Silverback Films.

Romilly Spiers worked on Humble Bee’s ‘Moon: Nature’s Secret Force’ for Sky. She shot coral larvae and other macro tank elements for a coral spawning sequence.

Abi Thomas continued to expand her credits as a freelance camera operator and drone pilot, contributing to Blue Chip productions including ‘Blue Planet 3,’ ‘Secret Garden,’ and ‘The Real Finding Nemo.’

Caitlin Bailey received her first blue chip credit for work as a camera assistant on Underdogs.

Africa McMullen worked on a production of a blue-chip wildlife series (4×52) with the Spanish wildlife film company Azor Producciones for international distribution. Filming in Tanzania and Kenya, she worked as a long-lens second camera operator, drone operator, lighting technician, on-site Spanish–English interpreter, and data wrangler/footage backup. She also worked in pre and post production, including logistics coordinator.

RECENT BROADCAST CREDITS: OTHER SERIES AND DOCUMENTARIES

Versatility Beyond Blue-Chip

Alongside landmark series, members worked across presenter-led programmes, specialist documentaries, factual entertainment, online originals, and international productions.

These credits demonstrate the community’s versatility, spanning camera, drone, underwater, directing, producing, research, safety, and storytelling roles, and strong presence across both broadcast and digital platforms.

Nova West was worked as a cinematographer (topside, aerial, sync) on The Elephant Seals of Año Nuevo and as a cinematographer (topside, aerial, underwater and sync) on Costa Rica's Surfing Paradise.

Alison Hitchens had been 2nd camera as a shooting assistant producer for 16 broadcast episodes of BBC Countryfile this year with many wildlife based films as well as looking after their digital output on a weekly basis. Alison has shot drone, and a variety of Sony cameras with a highlight being filming dolphins with Hamza Yassin in Scotland.

Katie Wardle filmed on Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles as the underwater operator but was also featured in the show.

"Among Orcas” (ARD online) Original Title “Unter Orcas”. Christina Karliczek Skoglund is the host and shoots as underwater cinematographer on this programme, Luana Knipfer shot topside and sync. The film received a high volume of media attention in Germany compared to other wildlife programme releases.

Lia Nydes worked as a DP on a backcountry ski film, Forever in the mountains, a film about navigating grief and building friendship in the mountains. This film was directed by Grace Eggleston.

Anna Dimitriadis was one of the lead presenters and cinematographers on the second season of 'Big Cats 24/7' which has been released on PBS and will air on BBC Two in early 2026.

Sara Matasick was Director of Photography on Wild Hope, Episode 38 'Significant Otters' and Episode 39 'Thunder & Fire' for PBS Nature. She was a cinematographer for three In Her Nature Episodes, Episode 3 'Saving the World's Rarest Lemurs', Episode 5 'The Slowest Stampede on Earth' and Episode 6 'Camouflage Queen: Decoding Chameleons' all for PBS Nature.

Ningjing Wang received an additional photography credit for the City episode of China’s Wild Guangdong, co-produced by the BBC Science Unit and China’s Guangdong Radio and Television for BBC Earth, for filming the Chinese crocodile lizard while working as a researcher across all three episodes.

Nicki Meharg worked on Springwatch as underwater camera.

Chelsie Xavier-Blower worked as an Assistant Camera in Nova Scotia, Canada and Maine, USA on an upcoming Ocean series for Passion Pictures and River Road Films for PBS/CBC/Arte.

Chelsie Xavier-Blower working as an AC for River Road Films

Hyatt Mamoun premiered the very first season of her brand new show, Wild Wild South: Lowcountry on PBS with Soundoff Films. This show explores the South Carolina lowcountry.

Caitlin Bailey did 2 expeditions with National Geographic Pristine Seas as DIT, second shooter, photographer, and audio. She worked with Teresa Carante in Fiji. Caitlin also created a field edit in Vanuatu, which was shown to the Prime Minister of Vanuatu as well as other local policymakers, and filmed her second submersible dive. Caitlin Bailey did 2 expeditions aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer with Olivia Andrus-Drennan. Caitlin produced, edited, and shot To Pō and Back Again, a short film about exploring Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. She also produced, edited, and shot Face Value, a short film about how humans form empathy for deep sea animals, especially those with no faces.

Lucie Machin has worked on several BBC Countryfile for BBC ONE: A Cornish Christmas (Camera and Aerial Photography), The Power Of Water (Camera and Aerial Photography), Somerset Levels (Camera and Aerial Photography), Chatsworth: An Evolving Estate (Camera and Aerial Photography), Kent Riviera (Camera and Aerial Photography), Chatsworth: An Evolving Estate (Camera and Aerial Photography), The Archers (Camera and Aerial Photography), In The Wake Of Tarka (Camera and Aerial Photography)

The Dolphin Dilemma by Olivia Andrus-Drennan was premiered on different PBS stations around the US in October on a show called Short Films On, Season 3 Episode 3 and it is on TasteTV.

While Olivia Andrus-Drennan was working for the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration on the NOAA ship the Okeanos Explorer the film Game-Changer was a significant two day collaboration dive with marine archaeologists and U.S. military historians exploring the shipwreck of the USS Yorktown. This was only the third time a deep-sea exploration team has filmed the USS Yorktown and significant discoveries were made, such as the mural painted by the crew being intact and the admiral's car being found in a cargo bay. Those two discoveries went viral in news broadcasts around the world.

Felicity Flashman filmed underwater camera on 'Arabia's Best Kept Secrets with Clive Standen', Discovery Channel.

Darlien Morales led pre-production coordination and on-set execution for pickup B-roll capture of Dr. Sylvia Earle in Puerto Rico for the upcoming feature film Lasting Hope, working with a dedicated camera operator through her production studio, CREX, and receiving a Production Assistance credit.

Yaz Ellis worked as director of photography on 'Wild Hollywood' for ORF Universum, Doclights and Arte. Now wrapped after 3 months of filming wildlife across Los Angeles this year.

Melanie Lippert worked in the field for National Geographic Pristine Seas in Fiji and Ibiza as a camera operator, DIT and field AP. She also worked on the all-female field team for the PBS series 'In Her Nature,' receiving Sound & Additional Cinematography credits for this series when it premiered this year.

Claudia Schmitt led the project, TV Documentary, “Timor-Leste: In the Land of the Sleeping Crocodile” from concept to screen and she operated the underwater camera as well as additional topside camera. This film, based in Northern Australia is for ARTE / NDR / ORF Enterprises 2025.

Natalie Turner-Blackman worked as the key underwater safety diver for Lizzie Daly on 'The One Show'

Eleanor Hamilton was back on Springwatch as a Remote Camera Operator & Story Developer, for the 20th anniversary of the series.

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION & INDEPENDENT FILM:

Impact-Driven Storytelling

Conservation and independent filmmaking remains at the heart of WCDF’s mission. In 2025, members led and contributed to films that created measurable impact, from protecting rainforest corridors and endangered species to influencing policy discussions and public awareness.

Projects ranged from grassroots impact films and NGO collaborations to internationally commissioned conservation documentaries and festival-touring shorts.

Linda van Rosmalen filmed for three upcoming short films about monsoon storms in the North American Southwest, Coastal Redwoods in Northern California and Night skies in dark places.

Emily Baker had the opportunity to create two conservation documentaries in Kenya and Namibia this year. In Kenya, she directed, shot and edited the impact film ‘Where Lions Once Were’ in collaboration with local filmmakers and the LEAF charity, to help protect an ancient cave threatened by cement mining. She then documented two all-female ten day expeditions along the Ugab River in Namibia with the Matriarch Adventure and EHRA (Elephant Human Relations Aid), to track the region's threatened desert-dwelling elephants. Alongside these projects, Emily and Michelle Sander’s Scottish expedition film ‘To Know a Mountain’ has been screening across the UK on tour with Alpkit.

Sara Matasick was Director of Photography Patchwork Wild: Stitching the Last Strands for the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation.

Isabel Rogers independently shot and produced a documentary of the cross-Atlantic sailing project Flotilla4Change, where sailors, indigenous people, scientists, farmers and activists take a low-carbon voyage from Europe to COP3 in Brazil, to amplify grassroots voices and support climate justice.

Isabel Rogers filming on Flotilla4Change

Sugandhi Gadadhar’s “My Otter Diary” unravels the secret lives of otters in one of India’s rapidly changing rivers while exposing the challenges faced by fisherfolk. The film is co-produced with Oxford Scientific Films, commissioned by ZDF/ARTE, and distributed by All3Media International.

Pooja Rathod is also running an impact project called ‘Pachyderm Partnerships’ along with her elephant film where she and her team are training mahouts in Pakke Tiger reserve in India to use positive reinforcement and compassion for training their elephants. The impact work started parallel with the film in 2024 and is still going on.

Nova West completed and released National Geographic Explorer project Out in the Wild. Full project description here! They are also currently in post production for a new documentary about Queer resilience and agriculture in the American south, slated to be finished in 2026.

Michelle Sanders won the Climate Spring x Sheffield DocFest pitch competition, judged by BBC, Doc Society, and Amazon Studios which received a £10,000 prize for development. She’s recently paired up with a production company based in London to develop the film and assemble a sizzle to pitch to commissioners. She is directing, shooting, and editing an independent documentary about birth injury, colostomies, and adventure, featuring 16 women who recently climbed Kilimanjaro. The footage was featured on BBC Look North and BBC Breakfast recently, and will become a 30 minute adventure documentary released in May next year.

Michelle Sanders winning the Climate Spring x Sheffield DocFest pitch competition

Nathalie Brejner made a short doc sponsored by Sony Nordic and Odense Zoo about the plight of the native Danish black squirrel that included a nation wide campaign to save the squirrels from their path to extinction. This story has been picked up by Denmarks Radio (the Danish equivalent to the BBC) multiple times, and there are now 3 university students studying the squirrels (previously there were none). Nathalie filmed, directed, researched and produced and the film also features Emilie Ehrhardt as the presenter.

A short film Natalie Clements collaborated on as Director of Photography with Sarah-Jane Walsh (director), The Detectorists has been showing at festivals across the globe, currently still in the festival run with multiple selections. The film has already achieved runner up in Cinematography at the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival. The Detectorists is a short story told through the eyes and nose of a young detector dog in training on a mission to help in otter conservation. The film is supported by the South Wales Otter Trust and Gorilla Academy and post production.

Linda Smit turned her late-2024 fieldwork in South Africa into a series of independently produced short films for an NGO working in lion conservation.

This year Lucie Machin released her first documentary film (which she directed, produced and shot the majority of, and successfully crowdfunded some of the costs for): A Clawsome Tale.

Olivia Andrus-Drennan was on the NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer working for the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration as a video producer during their exploration season. She created nine short films that included: Depth's Perception, Medicine in the Deep, Game-Changer, It's a Trap!, Deep-Sea Underdogs, Navigating Kanaloa, Kamohoaliʻi Guides D2, Legendary Battleship, Connections to Our Past.

Yaz Ellis filmed and directed 'For Deer Life' in Austria, which was funded by the Jackson Wild x My World Film Grant. The film premiered at Jackson Wild this year. She also filmed for the City of Vienna, creating a documentary about the wildlife that has returned to a rewilded river in Vienna.

UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS AND WORK:

Looking Ahead

Members are continuing to build momentum into 2026 and beyond, with upcoming series, renewals, landmark productions, conservation initiatives, and new ambassador roles already underway. These projects reflect both career progression and growing leadership within the industry.

Anna Dimitriadis is a lead presenter and cinematographer on a new and exciting series called 'Tiger Island' which will air on PBS and BBC One in 2026. Anna also became an ambassador for the Global Conservation Force - an organisation that is dedicated to saving wildlife from extinction through education, anti-poaching and conservation efforts. She will be completing her training as a wildlife ranger in the summer 2026.

Lia Nydes is currently working on an apex predator camera trapping sequence for Coneflower Studios and PBS.

After finishing her camera bursary at the BBC in 2024, Bérénice Mathieu has been principal camera on multiple shoots for various NDA productions, shooting long lens on RED Raptor, gimbal,drone and remote operated deep-sea systems.

Erin Ranney has been filming on two new BBC Landmark Series due to air 2026-2028.

Claire Tomlinson’s student film 'Surviving Alone: The Tale of Simone' persuaded donors to fund a new rainforest corridor in Madagascar connecting Ranomafana National Park to a forest fragment. The corridor is yet to have a name but planning begins in January 2026.

Felicity Flashman has been working with the Blue Planet 3 team this year in the kit room around freelancing helping to test and develop underwater kits.

Laura Pennafort spent all of 2025 shooting long lens and drone for a new BBC NHU landmark series due to air in 2027/28.

Nicki Meharg was awarded with a scheme that will be officially announced in Jan 2026.

Clare Jones has been working on a presenter led programme for Channel 4 shooting 1st camera PTC's with FX6, FX9, gimbals and drones.

Hyatt Mamoun’s PBS show ‘Wild Wild South’ has been renewed for a second season and will premiere Earth Day, April 2026.

INDUSTRY BREAKTHROUGHS AND NEW BEGINNINGS:

Firsts That Matter

2025 marked many important milestones for our members:

Alison Hitchens has achieved her first broadcast director credit on BBC Countryfile whilst working as a shooting assistant producer. Alison took a 5 min film from the script stages, into the role of shooting PD on location and then edit produced it.

Claire Tomlinson got her first job in the industry this year - Researcher for BBC Springwatch.

Mari Peters completed her masters degree in Wildlife Filmmaking at UWE and have produced and self-shot her first short documentary "A Forest Without Her", a female-led character story about the critically endangered Northern Muriqui.

Lucie Machin started role as Camera Assistant on BBC Countryfile at the beginning of August (currently contracted until the end of March 2026)

Through Darlien Morales production company, CREX, she has contributed to a series of projects for NOAA, among other organizations.

Olivia Andrus-Drennan just received a position as a producer, shooter, and editor at NBC Universal Local in LA. She continues to grow her freelancing business as well and is currently working on her first feature film expanding the short Medicine in the Deep.

Kelsey Kroon completed her Nautilus Live Video Engineering Internship with 22 days out at sea from the Solomon Islands to the Marshall Islands. She also had her first ‘DOP’ role on ‘People Vs Politics’ for a local Alaska film company.

In June 2025, during the AFRISOS Film Expedition in the Okavango Delta, Base Monyamane stepped away from still wildlife photography and directed and shot her very first short documentary, “When Value Shifts. The film intimately follows Resemelwa Flora, a gifted basket weaver and mokoro poler who left school at Standard 6 to support her family. Premiered at Botswana Wildscreen 2025, this deeply personal 2-minute short marks her transition from photographer to filmmaker and the beginning of using moving images to amplify unheard stories.

NEW HORIZONS: BRAND & COMMERCIAL WORK

Expanding Creative Opportunities

Members continued to work with leading brands including Sony, RED, Nikon, Adobe, Ford, Suunto, and others contributing expertise across cinematography, photography, campaign storytelling, workshops, and speaking engagements.

Several members also launched new agencies, educational initiatives, and creative ventures, broadening professional pathways for wildlife storytellers.

Roxy Hemadani had the opportunity to work with many different brands this year, including: Adobe in Greece (promoting Photoshop whilst photographing the Dalmatian pelicans), Ford in Iceland (to celebrate the launch of the new Ranger PHEV), and Nikon in Norway and Mozambique (as part of the release campaign for the new Nikon x RED ZR).

Roxy Hemadani founded a talent agency, to represent other nature-focused content creators, Roxy Wild Talent. She currently has a roster of 4 talented clients, and since launching midway through this year, they have already worked with many brands from Samsung, Cotopaxi, the World Land Trust, and Holafly. Web page for agency: https://www.roxythezoologist.com/talent-agency

Nicki Meharg pitched and won an overwinter marketing opportunity for eco dive resorts. She is filming topside and underwater everyday for 2.5 months. She is building an archive of stories and improving and experimenting with multiple techniques and cameras.

Kelsey Kroon was hired as marketing camera work for Pursuit Collection’s Kenai Fjords Tours.

Claudia Schmitt worked as the underwater cinematographer, photographer, and editor for Suunto’s new Nautic and Nautic S dive computer campaigns, shaping the visual story from capture to final cut- Suunto Nautic and Suunto Nautic S.

TALKS, PANELS AND PODCASTS:

Sharing Knowledge & Shaping the Conversation

From international festivals to industry workshops, podcasts, and conservation events, WCDF members were active voices in discussions around storytelling, diversity, conservation communication, and technical craft.

Helen Hobin was asked by RED & FOWA to speak about her cinematography at the RED | Nikon Live 2025 event during the Rome Film Festival this year. She travelled to Italy to give two talks about her experiences using RED cameras to film wildlife in extreme environments, each followed by Q&A sessions.

Sophie Darlington was featured on the podcasts Visionaries with Alice Aedy and The Photography and Video Show with David McClelland. She was also featured on ‘The Ocean Cinematographer with Sophie Darlington on Wildlife Cinematography, Blue-Chip Craft & Drone Ethics’ and an interview/podcast hosted by Nini Barbaqadze.

Along with podcasts, Sophie spoke at the London Climate Week on ‘Creative Visions in Nature: Women Shaping the Narrative with Liz Bonnin & Jess Gormley', hosted by Alice Aedy. She also was part of the ‘Animal Nature Future Film Festival Panel 2025, Leading Women in Wildlife Filmmaking-Mentorship & Support.’ This was hosted by moderator; Ningjing Wang, and included the panelists; Lizzie Daley, Dr. Wendy Darke, Justine Evans & Faith Musembi.

Caitlin Bailey presented her deep sea work with NOAA Ocean Exploration and National Geographic Pristine Seas at the International League of Conservation Photographer’s WildSpeak in Washington, D.C.

Elise Gibbins gave a talk ‘Storytelling in the Wild: Brand Campaigns to Underwater Cinematography’ - sponsored by Sony UK for CVP’ at the Education Festival London 2025. She also spoke at the ‘Sony Pro Video Workshop' - sponsored by Sony Nordic & Goecker, Copenhagen 2025. And she did a talk called 'Deep Dive: Capturing The Wonders Of Underwater Wildlife' - sponsored by Sony UK on the Sony Creator Stage at The Photography Show, London 2025

Nathalie Brejner had her debut as a workshop host. It was for Sony Nordic and Goecker since 1862, wildlife filmmaking themed, and held at Copenhagen Zoo. She worked together with Sony to plan the event, she did a talk, and she helped the attendees when they were out trying the equipment at the zoo. The guest speaker was wildlife filmmaker Elise Gibbins.

Sugandhi Gadadhar was a panelist on "Shifting Frames: The Transformation of Indian Wildlife Films", a panel exploring how Indian wildlife filmmaking has transformed over the past 1–2 years at the Nature inFocus Festival & Awards 2025, Bengaluru, India.

Jasmine Corbett organised and participated as a panelist in Rays of Hope at Finisterre, London, UK. The public event was delivered in collaboration with Oceanographic Magazine, with Jasmine contributing to event organisation, panel discussion, and photography. Jasmine appeared on the podcast Communication(s) is Key by Wildscape Productions, discussing conservation communication and storytelling. (8 March 2025 – Wildscape Productions)

Erin Ranney was featured on Mandy Stark’s Natural Wanders-The Plodcast.

Amy Ashley-Mather spoke at Hope University in Liverpool, advising graduate students on entering the TV industry, and has been invited to return for next year’s intake.

Kelsey Kroon spoke on an Expedition Filmmaking Panel at the Anchorage Film Festival

PUBLICATIONS:

Writing, Photography & Thought Leadership

Members contributed articles, exhibitions, and published work across industry magazines, educational platforms, and public exhibitions further strengthening visibility and knowledge-sharing within the field.

Nova West had their explorer work published in Nat Geo Kids UK magazine!

Nova’s work being featured in Nat Geo Kids!

Elise Gibbins wrote several published articles for CVP- A Guide To Filming In Remote Locations, How To Create Animal Behaviour Sequences, Telling Stories From Above: The Art Of Meaningful Aerial Cinematography and How To Capture Cinematic Shots As A Self-Shooter. She was also featured in this article Seas the Shot with Sony.

Darlien Morales created her first solo photo exhibition, Ocean Whispers, a limited collection with proceeds supporting coral farming in the Caribbean. The project was featured in the news for its innovation and local impact on families and aspiring wildlife conservationists.

Caitlin Bailey wrote an article for Zerb Magazine from The Guild of Television Camera Professionals about filming the deep sea.

PROFESSIONAL GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT:

Bursaries, Mentorships & Grants

Romilly Spiers self-directed & shot a macro sequence for ‘Animals Even Closer with Bertie Gregory.’ Her expertise & previous experience filming this sequence’s subject was heavily called upon in order to set up the shoot and then, working with a couple of wonderful fixers, she was required to take charge on location. It’s been a number of years since she last had the opportunity to self-direct and it was a wonderful reminder of how much she enjoyed it!

Nova West wrapped up the first year of their new annual underwater storytelling mentorship program and am now in the process of selecting their second mentee for 2025-2026!

Nova West with their first year of their new annual underwater storytelling mentorship program

Sara Matasick and Erin Ranney were accepted as participants for the American Society of Cinematographers Vision Mentorship Program 2025-2026

Isabel Rogers gained a funded place on a 60hr hands-on Bootcamp -'Vitual Production with Sony VENICE 2', and was awarded a certificate of accreditation as a camera operator for Sony’s VENICE 2.

Pooja Rathod received the Jackson Wild My World Grant 2025 (30k $) for a film on elephants that she is currently directing and producing. She also received award money from Royal Enfield Social Mission (15k $) for the same film at Green Stories event in India.

Natalie Clements is now a graduate of the prestigious Women in Film TV mentoring scheme for 2025. An incredible scheme that supports mid-level career women across TV and Film. She was mentored by Sophie Darlington, with her support she has filmed a short sequence on water vole with a short behind the scenes film already online.

Nicki Meharg is currently on the Ocean Footage Mastery - Roger Horrocks course from Jan 2025.

Sugandhi Gadadhar was selected as one of iLCP’s Associate Fellows (batch of 2025)

NEW QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

Investing in Craft & Safety

Members expanded their skillsets strengthening both employability and on-location safety standards.

Hosting as a shooting underwater cinematographer - Christina Karliczek Skoglund has gained successive new experiences hosting/presenting in English other European languages across several natural history programs in the last 2 years with marine mega fauna.

Ningjing Wang, Erin Ranney and Amy Ashley-Mather have completed their Rope Access Course.

Amy Ashley-Mather also qualified as a UK Summer Mountain Leader.

Gail Kukula has logged over 1,000 nautical miles at sea, building seamanship and navigation experience as she works towards the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certification.

Laura Pennafort completed GSS Training, she put her Rope Access skills in action during a recent wildlife shoot and completed First Response Emergency Care Level 3 (FREC 3) advanced first aid training.

Nicki Meharg completed a Da Vinci - edit course that included edit & colour. She finished a Dive Medic Technician – refresh which will remain in date until 2028.

Natalie Turner-Blackman started the year by mastering the rigorous SSI Advanced Freediver course, immediately followed by securing her Powerboat Level II License and several other certifications required to work effectively as crew onboard vessels - proving she is as proficient operating production equipment as she is operating the boat itself. She further solidified her comprehensive capabilities by obtaining her European Drone License, guaranteeing legal and versatile aerial capture across the continent.

Linda van Rosmalen completed REDucation in June 2025

Mary Paquet and Chelsie Xavier-Blower attended REDUCATION training in Los Angeles where they had hands-on learning opportunities with RED cameras, AetherFilms, and Atlas Lenses as well as post-production workflows and best practices for working with RED files. Lots of gratitude to WildMotion and Brian Henderson for making this possible!

Clare Jones has directed sequences and also gained invaluable camera operating experience and shot 2nd and 1st camera, specializing in Phantom Flex, VEO. She also gained her A2 drone license, as well as completed further training at Leonardo to shoot on the Selex Horizon camera, which she put to use field directing the Nightjars sequence for the recent 'Moon' series by Humblebee Films.

Abi Thomas put new technical skills to the test by operating FPV drones to capture dynamic point of view shots and also carrying out specialised tank based filming work. Alongside this, she’s undergone training on a range of thermal cameras and thermal drone systems, which has led to opportunities on music videos and major film sets, including work on the most recent ‘Spiderman.’

Felicity Flashman built rebreather hours, completed her Advanced Freediver Certification. She also got an iVisa for a job this year.

Darlien Morales launched and led her first Spanish-language underwater camera workshop as part of a developing educational program, focused on mentorship and technical training, with high audience interest.

Jasmine Corbett gained her SSI CCR rEvo Rebreather MOD 1 Diver Certification and became a Molchanov’s W3 Master Freediver (Assistant instructor).

Kelsey Kroon was certified with US Coast Guard Basic Safety including Basic Firefighting, first aid, and survival.

Caterina Giovannetti was involved in a test day with Underwater ROV to trial the dual remote controls on the ROV piloting and the camera control with a Canon R6- shadowing Marcus Blatchford. She had previous experience with a remote controlled camera and housing working at Esprit films but was able to trial newer models, software and interface than the ones she had previously used. These ROVs have 300 metres cable available and only hover across the bottom at an max depth of 20-22 m.

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS:

Community in Action

Wildscreen Summit 2025: A Strong Showing for the Wildlife Camerawomen Community

This October’s Wildscreen Summit was a valuable opportunity for members of the wildlife camerawomen community to meet, reconnect and share their work. We were pleased to see a strong turnout, with several members involved in screenings—including Sugandhi Gadadhar and My Otter Diary, which had an excellent screening and Q&A at the Bristol Megadome. For others attending for the first time, the summit offered a chance to meet the community in person and make new professional connections.

Thank you to Silverback Films for hosting a networking session for female, trans and non-binary camera professionals. Creating space for underrepresented talent to meet production teams actively looking to diversify is an important step, and opportunities like this make a real difference. We would welcome more sessions of this kind. If you or your organisation are in a position to host something similar, please get in touch.

Nicki Meharg was the PANDA Awards live camera op.

Wildlife Camerawomen Community & Wildlife Cinematographer Diversity Fund at Jackson Wild Summit 2025

This September/October, the Wildlife Camerawomen Community (WCC) and Wildlife Cinematographer Diversity Fund (WCDF) showed up in a big way at the 2025 Jackson Wild Summit — with an inspiring presence across programming, screenings, meetups, and awards.

Media Lab

Leading into the Summit, WCC member Katherine Gomero was selected for the prestigious Media Lab, where she co-created the short film The Unexplainable Gus alongside teammates Alyssa J. Sargent and Vishal Subramayan.

From hundreds of applicants across North America, only nine filmmakers were chosen — a powerful testament to their creativity, perseverance, and ability to learn and collaborate under intense nine-day production timelines.

Summit Highlights

WCC and WCDF members were featured throughout this year’s Summit programming — on panels, in screenings, and across conversations shaping the future of natural history storytelling.

Ahead of the Summit, Wild Festival, a public screening weekend in downtown Jackson, showcased The American Southwest, with camerawork by Lia Nydes.

Taira Malaney’s screening of Turtle Walker- Photo courtesy of Jackson Wild

Early in the week, one of the first premiere events featured Taira Malaney’sTurtle Walker — celebrated with a Wyoming premiere breakfast screening and Q+A. The Summit also hosted a virtual screening of Sugandhi Gadadhar’s My Otter Diary for online attendees, while Yaz Ellis premiered her My World Film Grant project, For Deer Life, in the Screening Lounge.

Community Meetups & Sessions

Connection and community were at the heart of this year’s gatherings:

Georgia Krause (they/them) hosted an LGBTQIA+ Patio Meetup
Sara Matasick led a WCC Walk ahead of the Wild Women session
Pragna Parsotam-Kok shared insights during 30 Minutes with NEWF

Later in the week, Sara also hosted “30 Minutes with Wildlife Camerawomen Community” — featuring group updates, Natural History and Sync reel premieres, and a high-energy round of Jeopardy with flying P-Styles as prizes!

Fireside chat with Sophie Darlington- Photo courtesy of Jackson Wild

Panels & Programming

WCC and WCDF voices helped shape many of the Summit’s standout conversations:

During the Jackson Wild x Earth Alliance Impact Pitch, Sally Snow presented the campaign for Iyo Ang Dagat — earning a $15,000 award to expand its impact.
Playing for the Planet explored the role of video games in natural history storytelling, featuring Adrienne Hall and Samantha-Lynn Martinez.
‘Shots and Stories’ hosted by Hyatt Mamoun with Sophie Darlington, Tom Martienssen, Sandesh Kadur , Ben Masters, Andy Knight Mitchell, Jocelyn Stokes, Christian Baumeister, John Chester, Abraham Joffe ACS and Hans Ngoteya.
‘The always-popular Wild Women session returned, featuring Tara Stoinski, Allison Argo, Rosanna Xia, Ladbi Ommes, Kimberly Woodard, and Sophie Darlington ASC.
The session Entertaining Nature: Breaking Out of the Documentary Box highlighted new creative approaches, with insights from Sonya Lee and Vanessa Berlowitz.
Sophie Darlington was a headliner during the Jackson Wild 2025 sessions- she was featured during her Legacy Award fireside chat hosted by Vanessa Berlowitz.

A major theme of 2025: pushing the boundaries of traditional documentary formats — and our members were at the forefront of that evolution.

JWMA finalist projects featuring community members (winners marked with ✶):

Sara Matasick and Helen Hobin— Secrets of Penguins: Heart of the Emperor (Animal Behavior)
Nicki Meharg, Holly Tarplee, Pooja Rathod — Sea Lions of the Galapagos (Animal Behaviour, Cinematography)
Laura Pennafort, Gunjan Menon, Caitlin Bailey — Underdogs: Total Grossout ✶ (Animal Behaviour) and Underdogs (Limited Series)
Maria Sage, Ariana KL, Adriana Slovakova — H5N1: Conservation in Crisis (Planet in Crisis — Short Form)
Sonya Lee — Our Ocean Table (People & Nature — Short Form)
Tatiana McCabe — Tides of Life (People & Nature — Short Form)
Sugandhi Gadadhar — My Otter Diary (Global Voices)
Nikki Dodd — One Last Farm (Student)
Kelsey Kroon — Cuentos del Páramo (Student)
Erica Rugabandana — Kuishi na Simba (Impact Campaign Award)
Sally Snow — Iyo Ang Dagat ✶ (Jackson Wild x Earth Alliance Impact Pitch — 2nd Place)
Ella Van Cleave — Shared Planet ✶ (Innovation in Green Production)
Lia Nydes — The American Southwest (Ecosystem)
Francesca Hanen — Human Footprint ✶ (Science & Nature — Long Form, Limited Series, Editing)

Helen Hobin was asked to be a member of the 2025 BAFTA Jury for the Cinematography category this year. She also served as a Preliminary Judge for the Cinematography category of the 2025 Jackson Wild Awards.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 Jackson Wild Summit was a milestone year for representation, creative leadership, and community power. WCC and WCDF members didn’t just participate — they led, inspired, and helped shape where the industry is headed next.

We are incredibly proud of every member who screened, spoke, pitched, organized, filmed, collaborated, and showed up.

Here’s to more visibility, more opportunity, and more stories — told by the people who deserve to be behind the camera.

NEW SHOWREELS & WEBSITES:

Showcasing the Work

Many members launched updated showreels and websites in 2025, reflecting new credits, refined skills, and career progression.

Clare Jones new showreel

Nova West new showreels: Wildlife and Science

Isabel Rogers new showreel

Alison Htchens new showreels

Lia Nydes new show reel

Luana Knipfer new showreel

Roxy Hemadani new showreel

Sara Matasick has an updated showreel, for the password please reach out to here at sara.matasick@gmail.com

Helen Hobin has a new showreel available to view privately on request. Please email helenhobinfilms@gmail.com for a password-protected link.

Linda Smit new showreel

Nicki Meharg new showreels

Felicity Flashman new showreel

Elise Gibbins new showreel

Marielle Scott new showreel

Darlien Morales new showreel

Africa McMullen new showreel

Amy Ashley-Mather new showreel

Wrap Up 2025

Mother’s Day Celebration