International Wildlife Film Festival
Encyclopedia
The International Wildlife Film Festival is a film festival held annually at the Wilma Theatre
in Missoula, Montana
.
The International Wildlife Film Festival was "the first regular ongoing festival devoted solely to wildlife films" and this "signaled that wildlife films had arrived as a motion picture genre distinct from others". It is a juried event that last eight days and "involves the world's top wildlife filmmakers, producers, scientists and conservation leaders", and up to 12,000 people attend. The festival, which was "founded by internationally known bear biologist Dr. Charles Jonkel in 1977, recognizes scientific accuracy, artistic appeal, and technical excellence". Jonkel was described in 1989 as "an appropriately grizzled wildlife biologist acclaimed for his work with bears." He teaches at the University of Montana and "also heads up the Rocky Mountain Film Institute, a project of the non-profit Institute of the Rockies."
Wilma Theatre
The Wilma Theatre was built in 1921 in Missoula, Montana. The theater is managed by Missoula based Simba Entertainment. The Wilma was built by William "Billy" Simons and dedicated to his wife, light opera artist Edna Wilma...
in Missoula, Montana
Missoula, Montana
Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...
.
The International Wildlife Film Festival was "the first regular ongoing festival devoted solely to wildlife films" and this "signaled that wildlife films had arrived as a motion picture genre distinct from others". It is a juried event that last eight days and "involves the world's top wildlife filmmakers, producers, scientists and conservation leaders", and up to 12,000 people attend. The festival, which was "founded by internationally known bear biologist Dr. Charles Jonkel in 1977, recognizes scientific accuracy, artistic appeal, and technical excellence". Jonkel was described in 1989 as "an appropriately grizzled wildlife biologist acclaimed for his work with bears." He teaches at the University of Montana and "also heads up the Rocky Mountain Film Institute, a project of the non-profit Institute of the Rockies."
Board of Directors
| Occupation | Name |
|---|---|
| President | Roy O'Connor |
| Vice President | Monte Turner |
| Secretary/Treasurer | Dr. Janice Givler |
| Producer | Janet Hess |
| Director | Chris Palmer |
Staff
- Executive Director/ Festival Director- Janet Rose
- Associate Coordinator, Education & Outreach- Robin Patten
- Associate Festival Coordinator & Technical Production Coordinator-Nick Hawthorne
External links
- International Wildlife Film Festival official website.