Wildscreen Festival 2024 has named the winners of the $24k Wildpitch prize.

Nine individuals/teams compete for a total prize pot of $24,000, split across three categories. The three winners get $8k each to develop their idea.

This year’s competition was hosted by filmmaker, presenter and 2022 WildPitch winner Libby Penman.

Wild Pitch was introduced as part of the 40th anniversary edition of the Wildscreen Festival back in 2022 to enable anyone with a story to tell about the natural world to have the opportunity to pitch in front of the world’s key wildlife film and TV decision makers and win a cash prize to bring their project to life.

WildPitch 2024 was supported by National Geographic, and the judging panel comprised of Sabine Holzer (Head of Specialist Factual, Terra Mater Studios), Charlie Parsons (SVP, Global Development, National Geographic), Sara Edelson (Director, Original Documentary Series, Netflix) and Sarah Willingham (Entrepreneur, Investor and Dragon).

WildPitch 2024 winners:

• Arctic Blue – Ismaele Tortella & Anita Norfolk
  Ismaele is in the Arctic wilderness to become a renowned wildlife cinematographer. Inspired by the people and wildlife that thrive in these extremes, he turns the camera on himself and confronts his stutter for the first time. Arctic Blue explores his evolving relationship with his dreams and his own voice.
• Seed – Andres Sehinkman
  Seed, a tiny, unidentified sprout born in a greenhouse, wants to discover what type of plant he is. To do so, he uproots himself from his pot and ventures deep into the jungle. However, the path to the world’s most endangered forest can be as wonderful as it is dangerous.
• American Lion – Lia Nydes
  American Lion is the first blue chip natural history film ever produced about Mountain Lions in the United States. The movie follows two lioness mothers overcoming incredible hardships to raise their kittens to adulthood and showcases the opportunities to better conserve Mountain Lions and their habitat.