Jackson Wild Announces Official Selections for 2026 World Wildlife Day Film Showcase
Jackson / Geneva, 30 March 2026 — Jackson Wild has announced the official film selections for the 2026 World Wildlife Day Film Showcase, presented in partnership with the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
In alignment with the 2026 World Wildlife Day theme, “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage, and Livelihoods,” this year’s showcase celebrates the vital connection between biodiversity, traditional knowledge, and human well-being. The four selected films explore stories rooted in culture, conservation, and community, highlighting how the protection of medicinal and aromatic plants supports ecosystems, sustains livelihoods, and preserves generations of ancestral wisdom.
OFFICIAL SELECTION FILMS:
CAFÉ Y AVES
Roshan Patel, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Indian Sandalwood
DAISY SKY
Plant Path
Karthic SS, Think Nature
Waiting for Alstonia
A film by Elodie Freymann
“We’re proud to help shine a spotlight on stories that are too often underappreciated — stories of medicinal and aromatic plants, and of the communities whose knowledge and care sustain them. These films remind us that protecting biodiversity is inseparable from protecting health, heritage, and livelihoods.” — Christie Quinn, Executive Director of Jackson Wild
"Storytelling is a powerful catalyst for conservation, inspiring governments, the private sector, civil society and individuals to take urgent action to ensure that wild species continue to thrive in their natural habitats. As we shine a light on stories of sustainable use and conservation of medicinal and aromatic plants for United Nations World Wildlife Day 2026, the Jackson Wild Film Showcase highlights with beautiful imagery that these species are essential for the resilience of our planet and human health and well-being, especially for Indigenous Peoples and local communities. These stories give us hope that by harnessing our collective efforts, we can achieve the common targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the CITES Strategic Vision and live in harmony with nature for generations to come. Congratulations to the selected filmmakers for elevating these vital stories." — Ivonne Higuero, Secretary-General of CITES
2026 marks the tenth World Wildlife Day Showcase competition jointly organized by Jackson Wild, the Secretariat of CITES, and UNDP as part of the annual global World Wildlife Day celebrations. Together, the partners continue to champion the power of storytelling to inspire stewardship, elevate underrepresented voices, and foster a deeper understanding of humanity’s relationship with the natural world.
The official selections were announced as part of the UN World Wildlife Day 2026 celebrations on March 3rd. All films will be available to screen online for free through December 31, 2026, offering educators, community groups, and audiences around the world the opportunity to engage with these powerful stories on their own schedules.
View the full list of 2026 films and stream at:
https://www.jacksonwild.org/world-wildlife-day-2026
Audiences are encouraged to stay tuned for announcements about in-person educational screenings, which will be shared as they are organized throughout the year.
For more information, visit www.jacksonwild.org.
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Editor’s Notes:
For general enquiries, please contact [email protected]
About Jackson Wild
For over 35 years, Jackson Wild has been a catalyst for accelerating and elevating impactful storytelling at the nexus of nature, science, and conservation. Through innovative and collaborative community gatherings, skill-building initiatives, and mentorship programs, Jackson Wild creates an inclusive forum for storytellers to more deeply illuminate connections to the natural world and our collective responsibility to the wild.
Jackson Wild’s international board members include: ARTE France, Blue Ant Media / Love Nature, Conservation International, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Doclights, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, Humane World For Animals, Jane Goodall Institute, J.W. Couch Foundation, Lucky8, National Geographic Content, National Geographic Society, Nature/WNET, Netflix, NEWF (Nature, Environment, Wildlife, Filmmaking), Off the Fence Productions, ORF Universum, PBS, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Electronics, Terra Mater Studios, and World Wildlife Fund.
About the United Nations World Wildlife Day
On 20 December 2013, the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 3 March as World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora. The date is the day of the signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973.
World Wildlife Day has become the most prominent global annual event dedicated to wildlife.
For more information, follow World Wildlife Day on:
Find out more: https://wildlifeday.org/en