National Geographic at the Sun Valley Film Festival 2019
Sun Valley Film Festival
National Geographic just completed their eighth year as a sponsor of the Sun Valley Film Festival. At the festival, National Geographic screened three films, including "Hostile Planet," "Apollo: Missions to the Moon," and "Sea of Shadows."
All three of these screenings were packed, and audiences stuck around for post show Q&As with talent including Tom Hugh-Jones and Guillermo Navarro (Hostile Planet), Tom Jennings (Apollo) and Matt Podolsky and Ru Mahoney (Sea of Shadows).
National Geographic at the Sun Valley Film Festival 2019
Sun Valley Film Festival
At the Sun Valley Film Festival, Nat Geo had a number of activities including Nat Geo WILD’s ownership of Sun Valley Film Festival Headquarters, which includes branding throughout via wall clings, Nat Geo photography, branded collectible pint glasses, stickers, beanies and more.
Additionally, National Geographic Explorer and filmmaker Filipe DeAndrade gave a National Geographic LIVE talk as part of the annual family program, "Filipe DeAndrade: Untamed," and DisneyNature screened "Penguins," with producer Roy Conli.
In addition to this screening program, the annual Salon Talks were a bigger hit than ever. Nat Geo Salon Talks were lunch gatherings featuring intimate, thoughtful moderated discussions with festival special guests and filmakers for a standing room only crowd. These events were held every day at National Geographic’s HQ for passholders. This year the line-up included:
- GETTING THE SHOT with Academy-Award winning cinematographer Guillermo Navarro (Pan’s Labyrinth) and National Geographic Explorer and filmmaker Filipe DeAndrade, moderated by Rob Keyes (Screenrant)
- STORYTELLING FOR CHANGE with director Kate Brooks (The Last Animals) and National Geographic Explorer Erika Bergman, moderated by Steve Bramucci (Uproxx)
- GOING FURTHER with investigative journalist and National Geographic correspondent Mariana Van Zeller, moderated by Chris Albert
- ACTIVISM ON THE BIG SCREEN with director, actor, Academy Award-winning producer and activist Fisher Stevens (Before the Flood, The Cove), moderated by Amy Kaufman (LA Times)
- DISNEY’S PENGUINS with Academy Award-winning producer Roy Conli, moderated by Charles Thorp (Men’s Journal)
National Geographic at the Sun Valley Film Festival 2019
Sun Valley Film Festival
Wild to Inspire
National Geographic’s 6th annual short film contest received over 200 submissions, resulting in 4 incredible finalist films. The finalists were flown out to Sun Valley, where Nat Geo screened their films for a full house and a panel of 25 judges, including Nat Geo execs, talent, and press. "The Flip" by Reed Rickert was the overwhelming favorite and was announced as the grand prize winner at the SVFF Awards Bash. Reed will take part in a National Geographic expedition to explore wildlife and return to Sun Valley in 2020 with the resulting film. You can view all the finalist films below:
- "The Flip" (2019 winner)
- "Shoot for the Moon"
- "Invisible"
- "From the Heart"
- "Back to the Mara" (The result of last year’s winner’s expedition)
National Geographic at the Sun Valley Film Festival 2019
Sun Valley Film Festival
Finally, National Geographic presented the first annual FURTHER award to investigative correspondent and explorer Mariana van Zeller. The FURTHER award honors a storyteller who is pushing boundaries, using their voice to inspire, enlighten and entertain, and celebrating the unexpected stories that take us the extra mile.