The Wildscreen Festival was founded by Sir Peter Scott in 1982 and has been organised every other year for the past 25 years. Held in Bristol, the world’s centre for wildlife filmmaking, it attracts hundreds of delegates from around the globe who work in film, television and the press, as well as those actively involved in working to conserve the environment. This year the event runs from Sunday 19th – Friday 24th October 2008 at various venues in Bristol.

The Wildscreen Festival is made up of many key events, activities and attractions, including:

The Panda Awards Ceremony A glittering evening when the award winners are announced and the overall Festival Winner is presented with the Golden Panda Award.

The Peter Scott Lecture Previous speakers at this Keynote event have included Professor E O Wilson, Dr Tom Lovejoy, Dr Jane Goodall and Dr Sylvia Earle.

Film screenings All Festival finalist films are screened throughout Wildscreen week. Details of the screening programme are available later in the year.

Training workshops There are only a small number of places in the world that offer training in wildlife filmmaking. Wildscreen offers courses at a fraction of the cost of commercial training events.

Trade Show The Wildscreen Trade Show provides an opportunity for delegates to get their hands on the latest technical equipment from key industry players.

Networking opportunities Wildscreen hosts infamous parties and social events where newcomers and commissioning editors, filmmakers and conservationists mingle together. Ideas are discussed and details exchanged, films are bought and sold and new commissions and partnerships are forged.

Public screenings Festival finalists are shown to the public free of charge at the Watershed cinemas and as part of a wider outreach programme that takes films and filmmakers into the community. During Wildscreen 2006 more than 1,500 people attended the free public film screenings in the Watershed Media Centre.

Click here for full details of all event listings at this year’s Festival.