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Fall 2020 WINNERS

In order to insure that each film is studied and rated on an individual basis, NWBFF has instituted a system where entries do not compete against each other, but instead are recognized for their own individual merits.
For all intents and purposes, they compete against themselves:  each entry is judged on individual merits and scored on an inherent value system.

The judges focus is on your film when it is your turn to be evaluated, not on all the other films that are in cue: this insures that they will not have comparisons going on in their minds when they should be focusing entirely on YOU.

Judges score entries on a performance scale and winning entries are recognized and awarded not only for Best of Festival &  Best of Show, but also for two Awards of Excellence levels,two Awards of Merit levels, a Kudos Endeavor Award, or no award.

Best Of Festival & Best of Show honors are granted to the top scoring entry/entries for each season;  Awards of Excellence are granted to entries with truly exceptional artistic and technical achievements; and Notable achievements are recognized at the  Merit and 'Kudos' award levels.

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Award Categories Menu Index

Best Of Festival

Best Of Show

Outstanding Excellence

Excellence

Exceptional Merit

Merit

Best of Festival and Best of Show films are selected
by category and region.
Not all categories had a Best of Festival or Best of Show winner





We select  two Best Of Festival Award Winners for
Domestic and Foreign in various categories, if available.

BEST OF FESTIVAL
Wildlife/Nature Documentaries

Indigenous: Fight for Survival Director Gary Rottger United States A documentary that examines someof the unique native animals and plants of the Everglades and their struggles with climate change, invasive species and humanintervention. Filmed over a two and half year period, this film takes a deep look into the trials and tribulations of native lifeand what is in store for future generations.

The Memory of Water Director JAEUN, CHIN Also: Outstanding Excellence: Direction Korea, Republic of. Water remembers everything. That memory is life as water is life. Waterdoes not hesitate to flow onward as life does not fear moving forward. This is the enigmatic law of nature. The fields that contain this waterare where the water’s memories come to life. Ten years ago, casted aside in political turmoil, one man beganbiological agriculture. And ten years later, the now-deceased farmer runs into a boy who communicates with nature without fear. This boy isthe farmer himself. The water’s memory erases the boundary between life and death. It’s never existed to begin with. The farmer and the boyremain eternally alive through the water’s memory. And life does not stop and it NO TRAILER AVAILABLE

BEST OF FESTIVAL
Narrative Feature Film Centered on:
Animal, nature or environment

Khacchad:Mule Director Michael Brown United Kingdom In Nepal, over 100,000 equines are regularly put to work labouring in brick factories and carrying goods into the high Himalayanmountains. Film-maker Michael Brown travelled alone, following the mules every step of the way, from their birth in India, their sale atthe huge Barabanki Fair in Uttar Pradesh, their journey to the brick factories in the Kathmandu Valley, and finally portering as packanimals in the high Himalayas. Sometimes joyful and at times heartbeaking, this film is a beautiful and moving portrait of Nepal'sworking mules and the diverse communities that make their living with them. Without making judgements on people, communities or cultures thisfilm does raise questions about humanity and our relationship with animals.

BEST OF FESTIVAL
Narrative Short Film Centered on:
Animal, nature or environment

Animals at the Borders Director Cornelia Volk Environmental Germany	Best of Show
Ars Natura Director Hans Leysieffer Wildlife/Nature Documentaries, Environmental, Cinematography (subcat) Switzerland	Best of Show Outstanding Excellence: Cinematography
canopy of wings Director San Wildlife/Nature Documentaries United States	Best of Show
Countdown to Year Zero Director Jane Velez-Mitchell Environmental United States	Best of Show
Irelands Wild Ancient East Director Noel Marry Wildlife/Nature Documentaries Ireland	Best of Show
Pant Hoot Director Richard Reens Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment,Original Concept (subcat), Original Score (subcat), Original Song (subcat), Editing (subcat), Direction (subcat) United States	Best of Show Excellence: Original Concept Excellence: Original Score Excellence: Original Song Excellence: Editing Outstanding Excellence: Direction
Sockeye Salmon. Red fish Directors Dmitriy Shpilenok , Vladislav Grishin Wildlife/Nature Documentaries Russian Federation	Best of Show
The Seacrets Director philippe azoulay siritzky Narrative Feature Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment France	Best of Show
The Secret Life of the Andean Bear Director Philippe Molins Wildlife/Nature Documentaries France	Best of Show Outstanding Excellence: Cinematography
Vertical: The Future of Farming Directors Scott Morris, Jay Windland Environmental United States	Best of Show
Wild Portugal Director Christian Baumeister Wildlife/Nature Documentaries Germany	Best of Show

Escape from Extinction Director Matthew R. Brady Wildlife/Nature Documentaries United States	Outstanding Excellence
Guardians of the Forest Director Jacob Wagner Environmental United States	Outstanding Excellence Outstanding Excellence: Cinematography
Little big volcano Director Domingo Damian Ojeda Yanes Wildlife/Nature Documentaries Spain	Outstanding Excellence Outstanding excellence: Sound Editing Outstanding Excellence: Narration Excellence: Cinematography
Patches, The Last Marbled Duck Director Batiste Miguel Gil Ornithology Documentaries Spain	Outstanding Excellence
Send me a little light Submitter Conny Conrad in Original Song (subcat) Germany	Outstanding Excellence
Songscape: Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge featuring Ben Sollee Director Mallory Cunningham Original Song (subcat) United States	Outstanding Excellence
The Blinding Sea Director George Tombs Biography Canada	Outstanding Excellence Excellence: Cinematography Excellence: Sound Editing Excellence: Editing
THE EGRET'S VOYAGE Director Kamila Delart Sound Editing (subcat) Czech Republic	Outstanding Excellence: Sound Editing
The Legacy (engl.) Director Jens Klingebiel Wildlife/Nature Documentaries Germany	Outstanding Excellence Outstanding Excellence: Cinematography
The Ocean Voice Director Rodrigo Thome Ocean Life Documentaries Brazil	Outstanding Excellence Outstanding Excellence: Cinematography
The Princess of the Bottom of the World Writer Dan Linehan Screenplay United States	Outstanding Excellence
Those In Grass Houses Director Christian Lawes Ornithology Documentaries	Outstanding Excellence Outstanding Excellence: Cinematography
Through Her Eyes: The Science and Beauty of Inter-tidal Life in the Salish Sea Director Michael Noonan in Wildlife/Nature Documentaries United States	Outstanding Excellence Excellence: Cinematography
Treasures Of The Chesapeake Director Christopher Lapinski Environmental United States	Outstanding Excellence Outstanding Excellence: Cinematography Outstanding Excellence: Voice Over Talent
Wild Lands Wild Horses Director Jamie Baldanza Wildlife/Nature Documentaries United States	Outstanding Excellence Excellence: Cinematography

Aedipar - The secret of the forbidden valley Director Dr. Ingo Bruchhold Animation Germany	Excellence
Art of Pollution Director Milan Radisics Environmental, Original Song (subcat) Hungary	Excellence Outstanding Excellence: Original Song
as if one bird Director Cathryn Vasseleu Ornithology Documentaries Australia	Excellence Excellence: Cinematography
Beauty on the Wing: Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly Director Kim Smith Wildlife/Nature Documentaries United States	Excellence
Becoming Borderless - One Year on the Road Director Adam Clayton Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment	Excellence
Burren Girl Director rita davern in Environmental United States	Excellence Excellence: Research
Catnip Nation Director Tina Traster Wildlife/Nature Documentaries United States	Excellence
Corona Lockdown Wildlife Director Sanne Vermaas Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment Netherlands	Excellence
Costa Rica - Biodiversity in the Tropical Forest Director RTV Slovenija Wildlife/Nature Documentaries Slovenia	Excellence Excellence: Cinematography
Deforestation Made in Italy Director Francesco De Augustinis Environmental Italy	Excellence
Fouled Nest Writer Tania Kamal-Eldin Screenplay United States	Excellence
Great White Encounters Director Jason Perryman Ocean Life Documentaries United Kingdom	Excellence
Growing Solutions Director Leo Horrigan Environmental United States	Excellence
Guardians of the Grasslands Directors Sarah Wray , Ben Wilson Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment Canada	Excellence Outstanding Excellence: Sound Editing
Honor the Earth Director Tara Coyote Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment United States	Excellence Special Juror's Choice Award for a short Documentary with a strongmessage by a first time filmmaker
Iceland - Into the Flow of Your True Nature Director Ilan Shamir Content/Message Delivery (subcat) United States	Excellence: Content/Message Delivery
Izembek Director Gerrit Vyn Wildlife/Nature Documentaries United States	Excellence Excellence: Cinematography
Kangaroo Directors Kate McIntyre Clere, Michael McIntyre Wildlife/Nature Documentaries Australia	Excellence
Letter From Nature Director Pedro Pablo Celedon Environmental United States	Excellence Outstanding Excellence: Cinematography
Life in the Buffer Zone Director Constantinos Christou Wildlife/Nature Documentaries Cyprus	Excellence
Merganser Migration Director William Harper Original Concept (subcat) United States	Excellence
Nanuq - an arctic journey from past to future Director Emanuele Licitra Environmental Italy	Excellence
No Fear No Favor Director Mirra Bank Wildlife/Nature Documentaries United States	Excellence Outstsanding Excellence: Cinematography
Peloton Against Plastic Directors Jamie Lepre, Paul Hellier Environmental Australia	Excellence
Plastic Britain: On Our Watch Director Michael Wafer Environmental United Kingdom	Excellence
Pristine Places Director John Hart Wildlife/Nature Documentaries Australia	Excellence
Save Our Species Director Delwyn Jude Remedios Animation India	Excellence
Sacred Cow: The Case for Better Meat Director Diana Rodgers Environmental United States	Excellence
Superb Fairy-Wren Director Paul Willis Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment Australia	Excellence
Terra Nostra Directors Christophe Chagnard, Charlie Spears Original Score (subcat) United States	Excellence: Original Score
The Fire Director MicK McIntyre Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment Australia	Excellence
The Frozen Kingdom of the Snow Leopard Director Frederic Larrey Wildlife/Nature Documentaries France	Excellence
The Keeper and the Bee Director Bill Vilkelis Wildlife/Nature Documentaries United States	Excellence
The Last House Standing Director George Siegal Environmental United States	Excellence
The Last Song of the Nightingale Director Katie Stacey Ornithology Documentaries United Kingdom	Excellence
The last urban dragons Directors Jorge Alvarez Chachero, David Alvarez Herpetology Documentaries Spain	Excellence
The Linesman: Both Sides Matter Director Dominic Gill Environmental United States	Excellence
The Return of the Wildcat Director David Cebulla Wildlife/Nature Documentaries Germany	Excellence
The Toxic Pigs of Fukushima Director Otto Bell Environmental, United States	Excellence
The Toxic Pigs of Fukushima Director Otto Bell Content/Message Delivery (subcat) United States	Excellence
The Warm Heart of Africa Director Matthew Krul Narrative Feature Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment United States	Excellence Excellence: Sound Editing Excellence: Cinematography Outstanding Excellence: Narration Talent
There Is A Place On Earth Director Ellen van den Honert Wildlife/Nature Documentaries Netherlands	Excellence
Tiger Tale Writer Karl Mather Screenplay Australia	Excellence
Water Be Dammed... Directors Vanita Khanna, Dr. Romila Verma and Prab Kainth Environmental Canada	Excellence

A Cheat's Guide to Time Travel Director Anthony Povah Environmental United Kingdom	Exceptional Merit
"A World Within A World: The Bay Houses of Long Island" Directors Barbara J Weber , Greg Blank Original Score (subcat) United States	Exceptional Merit
A VOYAGE AGAINST TIME Director Steve Mackay Environmental, Ocean Life Documentaries Kuwait	Exceptional Merit
Coastal Requiem Director Diane Tuft Environmental United States	Exceptional Merit
Dancing Water Director Anthony Oliver Garvin Environmental United States	Exceptional Merit Excellence: Cinematography
ECO-Drone Director Michael Hanrahan Environmental	Exceptional Merit
freeFLY Director Avery Bazan Ocean Life Documentaries United States	Exceptional Merit
Harmony - a zero waste film Director Stanislava Oben Environmental Canada	Exceptional Merit
Ho Gayi Hai Pir Parvat Si: The Mountains Agonized Director Subrat Kumar Sahu in Environmental India	Exceptional Merit
How the Ocean Dreamed Breakers Director Adam Hill Oceanography Documentaries Canada	Exceptional Merit
Ice Directors Jonathan Sprout, Rodney Whittenberg Environmental United States	Exceptional Merit
I Am Cheo Director Pablo Irlando-Wildman Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment United States	Exceptional Merit
La Lobera Submitter Claudio Escobar Ocean Life Documentaries Mexico	Exceptional Merit
Last Call for Tomorrow Directors Gary Null, Valerie Van Cleve_Co-director Environmental United States	Exceptional Merit
LUONTO - The Nature in Us Director Anna Lunden Environmental Finland	Exceptional Merit
Nightingales in Berlin Director Ville Tanttu Ornithology Documentaries Finland	Exceptional Merit
Oceans Director Graciela Cassel Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment United States	Exceptional Merit
Organic & Sustainable Agriculture: The Rodale Way Director Josh Karan Environmental United States	Exceptional Merit
Planting Trees in Tamil Nadu Director Pankaja Brooke Environmental United Kingdom	Exceptional Merit
Polar Spin Director Jose Emilio Ramos Gomez Wildlife/Nature Documentaries, Viewer Impact: Entertainment Value(subcat), Original Score (subcat) Mexico	Exceptional Merit Exceptional Merit: Viewer Impact: Entertainment Excellence: Original Score
Reboot Planet Earth Director Marysia Clouter Environmental United Kingdom	Exceptional Merit
River plants Director Daniel Ocampo Rincon Flora Documentary Colombia	Exceptional Merit
Roam 4 Wild Director Jeremy Conte Wildlife/Nature Documentaries United States	Exceptional Merit
San Marcos River Project Director Nick Breaux Environmental United States	Exceptional Merit
San Pedro Huachuma E. Pachanoi Director Jerry Toth Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment United States	Exceptional Merit
SAVE THE WHALES FOR SUPPER Director Bonnie Carini Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment United States	Exceptional Merit
Saving Beauty: Learning to Live with the Rare Ones Among Us Directors Christina Selby, Arturo Anzures Flora Documentary United States	Exceptional Merit
Sentinels of Silence?: Whale Watching, Noise, and the Orca Director Mark Pedelty Environmental United States	Exceptional Merit
Sparse Director Ann Huang Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment United States	Exceptional Merit
Springtime Odyssey Director Dale Jakubowski Flora Documentary United States	Exceptional Merit
Stromboli – as long as the heart beats Director Hanspeter Aliesch, Zurich Environmental Switzerland	Exceptional Merit
TABIRA Director Aner Etxebarria Moral Ornithology Documentaries Spain	Exceptional Merit
The Coral Project Director Jonathan Paine Environmental, Ocean Life Documentaries, Oceanography Documentaries United States	Exceptional Merit in all three main categories
The Last Song of the Nightingale Director Katie Stacey Ornithology Documentaries United Kingdom	Exceptional Merit
The Monumentals Director Dennis Rollins Environmental United States	Exceptional Merit
The nymph's tears Director Florence Kermarec Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment France	Exceptional Merit
The Toxic Pigs of Fukushima Director Otto Bell Original Score (subcat) United States	Exceptional Merit
The Toxic Pigs of Fukushima Director Otto Bell Cinematography (subcat) United States	Exceptional Merit
WATER. THIRST TIME Director Евгений Безбородов Environmental Russian Federation	Exceptional Merit
Way to Go! Director Kathy Roselli Environmental United States	Exceptional Merit
Youth Misinformed Directors Abirami Subramanian, Serena Griffin, Cambria Bartlett, MercyGilniy Youth Produced United States	Exceptional Merit

ACID MINE NATION Ep 2 - Immediate Reaction Colorado Director Tom Schillaci Environmental United States	Merit
"After The Gold Rush" Director Orestes Valdes Viewer Impact: Entertainment Value (subcat) United States	Merit
'As we are, so we see' Director Beate Gillson Environmental Ireland	Merit
"A World Within A World: The Bay Houses of Long Island" Directors Barbara J Weber , Greg Blank Ocean Life Documentaries United States	Merit
Birds Director Giorgi Tkemaladze Wildlife/Nature Documentaries Georgia	Merit
Cedar Creek Director Dick DeAngelis Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment United States	Merit
C. P. CAVAFY | THE CITY (Wherever I Turn My Eyes To) Directors Panagiotis Kountouras, Aristarchos Papadaniel Wildlife/Nature Documentaries, Original Song (subcat) Greece	Merit Kudos: Original Song
Giufa Director Tony Gangitano Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment Italy	Merit
Immuto (Change) Submitter Janis Steele Environmental United States	Merit
Little Bear and Me Director Beth van Raalte  Youth Produced Australia	Merit
Miracle! Mother Nature has appeared to me Directors Mario Pascariello , Tommaso MiceliMalaguti Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment Italy	Merit
Mr.Kovid Director Payman Soltani Animation United States	Merit
Newborn Submitter Michael Amter Content/Message Delivery (subcat) United States	Merit
Pharaoh Bug Directors Daniel St. Ours, Andrew Petrilla Entomology Documentaries United States	Merit
Peacock Island (Pfaueninsel) Director Miklos Gaal Original Concept (subcat) Finland	Merit
Salt, Wine & Wildlife Director Luke Massey Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment Spain	Merit
The Adventures of Kehaulani Director S. Fiducci Animation United States	Merit
The Vengeance of the Animals Director Martin Thaw Environmental Canada	Merit
Two Very Short Nature Films Director Denise Fairbanks Simpson Narrative Short Film Centered on Animal, nature or environment United States	Merit
Wild West Director Hannah Beadman Environmental United States	Merit