WILD to INSPIRE Winner Announced

Nat Geo WILD, in partnership with the Sun Valley Film Festival (SVFF) and the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), announced the winner of the second annual WILD TO INSPIRE filmmaking competition.

Filipe DeAndrade was named the winner during the Sun Valley Film Festival’s Awards Bash this weekend.

DeAndrade was selected as the winner from hundreds of online entries narrowed down to four finalists. The finalists’ films were screened by judges from Nat Geo WILD, AWF, SVFF, Huffington Post Green, Earth Touch and Vice during the Sun Valley Film Festival. As the winner, DeAndrade will travel to Africa this fall to share his wildlife adventure through a variety of media, including video diaries, photos, social media and more, as part of an online companion to Nat Geo WILD’s signature Sunday night nature series, Destination Wild.

The winning film can be viewed here: “Adapt” by Filipe DeAndrade. As a freelance cinematographer and producer who travels the country seeking adventure and shooting wildlife, he has also studied film and wildlife ecology & conservation at the University of Florida. In “Adapt,” DeAndrade shares how he came to find his voice through the camera lens, stating, “If nature was my savior, then photography was my soulmate.”

“The caliber of entries this year, and especially our four finalists, was awe inspiring. I am thrilled that we were able to recognize Filipe among this talented group of young filmmakers, and look forward to seeing how he further develops his skills during his trip to Africa this fall,” said Geoff Daniels, executive vice president and general manager for Nat Geo WILD.

Teddy Grennan, executive director of the Sun Valley Film Festival, added, “Filipe perfectly embodies the spirit of our festival with his incredible passion and desire to truly learn and practice the craft of filmmaking, and use that skill to further an appreciation for the world around us.”

“I am truly humbled and inspired to win this competition. In order to protect something you have to love it, and I cannot wait to use this opportunity to further the missions of Nat Geo WILD, AWF and Sun Valley, and bring back a story from Africa that will inspire others to love the natural world as much as I do,” said DeAndrade.

“We heartily congratulate Filipe and cannot wait to see what he will bring to the screen through his lens,” said Craig R. Sholley, vice president of philanthropy and marketing at the African Wildlife Foundation. “Africa provides the perfect backdrop for honing your skills as a wildlife filmmaker given its extraordinary biodiversity. Filipe’s camera will be a window into that world and hopefully inspire others to advocate for its protection.”

Starting in November, participants were asked to submit a short film showcasing their own version of Destination Wild. Full of awe-inspiring scenery and wildlife, Nat Geo WILD’s Destination Wild specials feature the best, most innovative wildlife storytelling from some of the greatest filmmakers in the world. Four finalists were selected based on wildlife stories and moments from their own lives, whether on their travels or in their own backyards. Films were judged on their connection to the Destination Wild theme, quality and creativity of the script, production and editing. The ultimate goal was to turn footage into something that will captivate viewers and inspire them to let the wild in every day.

Other finalists in the competition included “Living Isle” by Alex Goetz and Justin Grubb, “Northern” by Jake Lamons and “Not on Our Watch: Keeping the Congo’s Gorillas From Extinction” by Austin Haeberle and Wendy Jacques. For more information, including contest rules, visit natgeowild.com/wildtoinspire.