Film / News
Bristol filmmakers win big at Panda Awards
Bristol’s reputation as Green Hollywood received a further boost when no fewer than eight Panda Awards were dished out to local filmmakers at the Colston Hall ceremony on Thursday evening, which was opened by the biggest wildlife beast of them all – Sir David Attenborough.
The highest accolade – the WWF Golden Panda Award – was won by the Leonardo DiCaprio-backed expose of the brutality and corruption of the global ivory trade, The Ivory Game, which received its UK premiere during this week’s Wildscreen Festival.
Leading the field of local winners was Silverback Films, co-producers of Attenborough’s TV series The Hunt. This won the Panasonic Cinematography Award (large crew) for the episode The Hardest Challenge, the Doghouse Editing Award (editor Matt Meech) and the Music Award (Steven Price).
In addition, Silverback, along with Crazy Ape Productions, bagged the Terra Mater Factual Studios Animal Behaviour Award for the Disneynature documentary Monkey Kingdom.
Another Attenborough film, David Attenborough’s Light On Earth, won the NHK Science Award and Technical Innovation Award for Bristol-based co-producers Ammonite Films.
The UWE Popular Broadcast Award went to John Bishop’s Gorilla Adventure from Bristol’s Tigress Productions.
And proving that you don’t need a huge budget – or, indeed, David Attenborough – to win a Panda, the Panasonic Cinematography Award (small crew) went to Jago: A Life Underwater from Bristol’s aptly named Underdog Films. Director James Reed funded this one on his credit card and by calling in help and favours. Set against the backdrop of Togian Islands in the Coral Triangle, it tells the story of an 80-year-old sea nomad called Rohani through re-enactments staged by family members and local villagers. The jury commented: “This film stands out for the stunning imagery and variety of shooting styles, all brilliantly realised.”
Read more: Young wildlife filmmakers celebrated
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