Wildscreen Festival: Bristol's First Nature Festival
The issue of climate change and wildlife in general is extremely prominent at the moment and it is hard to ignore; with Extinction Rebellion protests all around the UK, a giant clock installed in New York showing how much time we have left until the damage we have done is irreversible and the news that lockdown had very little effect on global temperatures dominating the news.
However, although this may seem overwhelming, there are positive headlines in the news such as this inspiring article I read in The Guardian about how people are making small changes in their everyday life in order to affect change.
Another thing that has me inspired was the Wildscreen Festival – the first nature festival that started in Bristol. It runs from 19th-23rd October, showcasing ‘best photographers, filmmakers and creative professionals with the most committed conservationists to create compelling stories about the natural world’. It is an incredibly inspiring event which gives you access to discussions, keynote speeches, top tips for the industry such as becoming a nature photographer, a wildlife TV presenter and creating your own wildlife film.
Some of the highlights on the programme this year included talks with Aardman Animations, scriptwriting lessons from Jeff Pope, a panel discussion about the push for diversity behind the camera and two keynote highly impressive and informative discussions; one with two of the most inspiring climate change activists at the moment, David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg, and one with Oscar-winning director James Cameron and BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit producer Orla Doherty.
I dedicated my time to the David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg conversation. Two extraordinary people activists who are 77 years apart, their conversation was informative and absolutely fascinating.
Their age difference was the most notable when David spoke of when he went diving in the 50’s and saw coral reefs for the first time, he spoke of how they were vibrant and full of life. This is in comparison with the coral reef he saw recently in which he describes as a “cemetery” because of the coral reef being completely bleached of colour and life (my first time seeing coral reefs was at the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns last year and the bleached, colour-less coral was devastating to see). Whereas, Greta has only been aware of the climate crisis when she was 8 years old and, unlike David, she hasn’t watched nature and the environment decay but instead became informed via films and books.
During the talk, both of them share guidance on how the public can help and they agreed on education as a tool for power and change. It reminded me of the posts on Instagram and Twitter during the height of Black Lives Matter movement when self-education was promoted and unlearning what you’ve been taught was endorsed as a necessity for change. This is the same for the climate crisis which we currently find ourselves in; educating ourselves helps understand the magnitude of it and also opens up discussions with others. When the news only seems to be a disheartening outlet, having open discussions with others is a positive way of seeing how you can change certain habits to help with the climate crisis in your everyday life.
Each of them discuss their new films that have recently been released – both, I would highly recommend – and the difference between them due to their celebrity status. Greta discusses what it’s like having the attention on her, and while it is helpful in spreading the word on the climate crisis, she does point out that her film (that follows her activism rather than the problem at hand) takes away from the issues she is trying to bring attention to.
David and Greta agree that films and movies have a power to open up our eyes, to introduce us to these topics that we might ignore in the media or online. As the western world becomes increasingly urbanised, people are finding themselves more and more cut off by nature. However, through film and photography, people are able to closely see our reality in an incredibly impactful way. Wildscreen Festival is an incredible way of viewing the natural world at its most beautiful and most dangerous. It highlights the importance of climate change as well as shining a light on the impact of the environment all around the world.
If you are aware of the climate crisis and instead wish to indulge in something different, then Wildscreens film library boasts over 500 films that portray animals and wildlife in their natural habitats but are threatened by mankind. Some of my favourites included A Voice Above Nature, Pangolins: The World's Most Wanted Animal and Our Gorongosa. However, there are so many to choose from and each one offers a different perspective and gives an insight into something new.
The week-long festival is not the only way Wildscreen hopes to change our view of nature and the environment. Since 2018 they have been working with Back from the Brink to help save species from extinction in the UK as well as working with Bristol institutions in order to promote and share images and films of the natural world.
It is now more important than ever to be aware, spread the word and make a change in order to help protect our natural world. For top tips and inspiration that will give you hope that change is possible, Wildscreen is the best place to start.
For more information:
You can watch David and Greta in Conversation: The Planetary Crisis here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRFY4ss2W2A
You can watch David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet on Netflix now
You can watch I Am Greta now at selected cinemas and Amazon Prime from November 16th
Written by Issy Packer
Hi, I’m Issy, the Music and Film Editor at The Everyday! I’m an English Literature graduate and have been passionate about all things to do with writing and journalism from a young age. I am interested in a number of things, including politics, feminism and music and am a firm believer that Bristol is ONE of the best cities in England for anything to do with culture, art and music. You can find me either at the cinema watching all sorts of films or trying to work my way through the long list of books I’m desperate to read.