Heading into its third year, REEL WILD invites filmmakers from around the world to submit their films to the festival’s juried competition. Every eligible submission will be considered for inclusion in the festival and, if selected for inclusion, evaluated by a jury for the opportunity to win a REEL WILD award (see below). The festival accepts documentary and narrative films as they pertain to wildlife and wild places, particularly in connection with pertinent issues surrounding conservation, threats to habitats and species, and affected frontline communities.
WCS combines the power of its zoos and an aquarium in New York City and a Global Conservation Program in more than 50 countries to achieve its mission to save wildlife and wild places. WCS runs the world's largest conservation field program, protecting more than 50 percent of Earth's known biodiversity; in partnership with governments, Indigenous People, Local Communities, and the private sector. Its four zoos and aquarium (the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and the New York Aquarium) welcome more than 3.5 million visitors each year, inspiring generations to care for nature.
John serves on WCS's Executive Management team that manages the overall organization and is leading their effort to build a conservation movement that will inspire and engage the public in support of its mission.
With three decades experience, Natalie creates innovative programming for Wildlife Conservation Society across multiple platforms. A Board Member of The Explorers Club and a member of New York Women in Film and Television, she previously wrote and produced for the award-winning Pangolin Pictures.
Christine currently leads Partnerships at WCS within the Public Affairs department. With a wealth of experience from executive partnership roles at Live Nation and iHeartMedia, she brings invaluable expertise to her work. Christine also served as Publisher of Fast Company for nearly eight years, where she was a key member of the groundbreaking, award-winning executive team that played an instrumental role in the title’s remarkable reinvention.
Gillian currently leads the programmatic and operational sectors of REEL WILD. Previously, Gillian worked for several nonfiction film festivals, including Hamptons Doc Fest and New York WILD Film Festival, and was a 2024-2025 Woods Hole Programming Fellow. Gillian holds a Bachelor’s degree from Bates College and a master’s degree from King’s College London.
©2025 Wildlife Conservation Society
WCS, the “W” logo, WE STAND FOR WILDLIFE, I STAND FOR WILDLIFE, and STAND FOR WILDLIFE are service marks of Wildlife Conservation Society.
The Wildlife Conservation Society is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (tax ID number 13-1740011) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
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