Winner: "Ocean Super Predators"

To this day, we are still discovering phenomena around the globe that amaze us. Usually they are played out in unfamiliar spheres, like the depths and vastness of the oceans.

In a compelling mix of drone and underwater footage, directors Jérôme Julienne and John Jackson show us what it means for sea dwellers to be on the hunt for prey: The search for food can be more than a struggle for survival and satisfying a drive – here it appears to be a cultural skill that commands respect. Humpback whales, orcas and dolphins display highly specialised hunting skills. Their intelligence, mutual cooperation and sophisticated methods ensure the survival of not only their own species but also their supposed competitors.

The informative text intelligibly explains what you’re seeing. Suspense is created by spectacular images that are allowed to speak for themselves. The film convincingly knits together the various hunting stories and more than lives up to the superlative of its title.
The German Wildlife Film Award goes to the directors Jérôme Julienne and John Jackson and the writer Eleanor Grant for “Ocean Super Predators”.

Winner: "Festmahl der Tiere"

What happens to a creature that dies in the depths of the forest?
In the Bavarian Forest National Park, scientists explore the role of carcasses in an ecosystem. In detailed, unadorned – but also highly aesthetic – pictures, “Festmahl der Tiere” [Feast of Animals] shows how the dead animals are utilised, how they give rise to new life and what great benefit they have for biodiversity. It may be that some of the images are a challenge for the viewers, but thanks to the playful use of music, the clear language, the fascinating information and the gripping story, any initial aversion is soon forgotten.
The filmmakers had the courage to tackle a supposedly unpopular subject and have managed superbly to extract a new and fascinating dimension from the subject of death and decay.
The German Biodiversity Film Award goes to the directors Daniela Pulverer and Boris Raim.

Winner: "Rentiere auf dünnem Eis"

What a film! Already the opening scenes, the migration of the Nenets people with their reindeer herds inland, captivate the viewers. The ice no longer holds, climate change has reached this indigenous people in northern Siberia and their animals – “the land has a fever”, they say.

The images in this film open up our view well beyond the fate of the Nenets and their reindeer.
No less clever are the text and the choice of original voices, which create their own narrative level. Sparingly used graphics and sensitively chosen music optimally complete the composition.

Nominated by the jury in three categories, the film impressively showcases Siberian wildlife. The camerawork is exceptional, but above all, the film makes us understand ecological relationships. That’s why it gives us great pleasure to award the German Conservation and Sustainability Film Award to “Rentiere auf dünnem Eis” [On Thin Ice].
The film takes an isolated region to illustrate the unmitigated tragedy of climate change and warns us how incredibly important it is to stop it. It’s not just the reindeer that are on thin ice...

Winner: "Olimba - Königin der Leoparden"

Leopards are rare, nocturnal – and difficult to film. But filmmakers Lianne and Will Steenkamp have managed to give us an insightful portrait of leopard mum Olimba and her young. A classic nature film in the positive sense with discreet but technically perfect camerawork; spectacular, but without cheap showmanship.

A shadow of the stealthy leopard in the sand, her reflection in the water followed by a panning shot up to the animal, the play of her muscles while stalking in close-up, then the spectacular attack on an impala. Unique and unreproducible events are cinematically superbly showcased. Camerawoman Lianne Steenkamp has an assured sense of timing, uses her opportunities brilliantly and always provides appropriate linking images to continue telling stories, as she takes the viewers with her and lets them share in the action up close. A wildlife film to perfection!
The NaturVision Camera Award goes to camerawoman Lianne Steenkamp for the film “Olimba – Königin der Leoparden” [Leopard Legacy].

Winner: "Tausche T-Shirt gegen Hoffnung"

Sarah Dorner and Jonathan Ziegler look into the story of their clothes in a very personal way. Tracing the production process backwards, they follow the trail from Germany back to India. They speak to people who want to put the clothes manufacturing process on a more ecological and social footing about their personal motives and thus take a stand against the cynical practice of fast fashion and the excessive consumption of finite resources.

The simplicity of the dramatic composition makes it logical and comprehensible for the viewers. The camerawork and sound are thoughtfully done and don’t aim to show more than this newcomer report needs. The two producers put their heart and soul into this work, passionately writing, filming and producing it almost alone and with little means.

The easygoing freshness and direct manner of Sarah Dorner and Jonathan Ziegler conveys maximum authenticity. The hopeful view of a highly problematic issue will appeal above all to a young audience and, in the best case, also motivate them to take action themselves.
The NaturVision Newcomer Award goes to Sarah Dorner and Jonathan Ziegler for the film “Tausche T-shirt gegen Hoffnung” [Will Swap T-Shirt for Hope].

Climate change and species extinction are the two existential challenges that the human race has to face up to in the coming decades. The jury for the NaturVision International Film Competition is therefore honouring two films that tackle these two issues in an unusual way:

Corona – Das Virus und das Pangolin [Corona – The Virus and the Pangolin] deals with the main originator of modern pandemics: the wildlife trade. This not only puts our health at risk, but also threatens biodiversity on our planet. Even before the pandemic began in China, scientists were finding in confiscated pangolins coronaviruses with the so-far highest genetic match to the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the world’s most smuggled mammal becomes the main protagonist of this film – and rightly so, because its story has taught us plenty in the meantime. The team bypasses the difficulty of filming in times of Covid with a clever strategy: They speak to the chief experts in the field of species protection via video chat and skilfully supplement the statements with confidently stylish animations and archive footage of the mostly illegal wildlife trade. It’s a wake-up call, as the latter shockingly reveal its sometimes absurd extent and leaves the viewers speechless. This impactful film leaves us in no doubt that the current pandemic could still be followed by many more if we don’t tackle its true causes.

Expedition Arktis – Ein Jahr. Ein Schiff. Im Eis [Arctic Drift] accompanies the German research ship Polarstern, whose occupants allowed it to be frozen in the Arctic ice for a year. The data collected in the polar night should help us understand climate change even better. Even though concrete results are yet to come because the findings still have to be processed, the team managed to produce a fascinating report on an important research project under far-from-ordinary filming conditions. We hear from not only the scientists but also the ship’s crew, engineers and technicians – even the baker on board – making the complex logistics of the venture palpable. By sea, by land and from the air, we share in a journey to the hostile Arctic world, which has become a pivotal region for the future of humanity.

Winner: "Dear Future Children"

Meaning, sound design, story, camerawork, editing – in this film, everything hits home. After watching, the jury had to first take a deep breath, but at the same time we all felt invigorated in our own activism. We must not forget that basic democratic values such as freedom of the press and of opinion should not be taken for granted and must always be defended.
The NaturVision RETHINK Film Award 2021 goes to “Dear Future Children” by Franz Böhm.

Winner: „Wem gehört mein Dorf“

This film took the jury completely by surprise and they were riveted by the end. They almost felt as if they were part of the village community of Göhren, which just goes to show how fascinating local politics can be. The film also impressed with its felt sense of simplicity, having been filmed with limited resources, and the really good dramatic composition.
The Special Jury Prize of the NaturVision RETHINK Film Award goes to “Wem gehört mein Dorf” [Who Owns My Village?] by Christoph Eder.

Winner: "Dear Future Children"

The music composed for “Dear Future Children”, is atmospherically tight and poetic. In its episodic structuring, it optimally permeates the film both dramatically and emotionally. The music is 100 percent subordinate to the content, precisely supports the filmic dimension and combines superbly with the sound design.
With its reduced motifs, the composition – without lapsing into clichés – contributes significantly to the emotional make-up, forming an expressive, indispensable level of an impressive cinematographic work.
The NaturVision Film Music Award goes to Hannes Bieber and Leonard Küßner for the film “Dear Future Children”.

Special Mention: "Those in Grass Houses“

Animals or plants that live a hidden life was the theme of the NaturVision Short Film Competition 2021. The winning film whisks viewers away to southern Africa, home to the social weaver, a bird with a complex nesting system, clear hierarchical structures and distribution of tasks. In no time at all, the film delivers dramatic and humorous insights into the colony and a clear message: Together we are strong! Even if there are little quarrels here and there. The filmic design is captivating with its powerful images filmed in CinemaScope and incisive music. A small film for a very big screen.
The NaturVision Short Film Award 2021 goes to “Those in Grass Houses” by Christian Lawes.

Winner: "Der wilde Wald"

This film is well realised down to the smallest detail. The impressive camera and sound recordings of landscape, animals and plants allow the forest to come alive on the screen and make the viewers feel they are close to the action. We’re glad there is no narration. This – and the calm, very fitting music – support the meditative mood of the film. It helps us to appreciate our native nature, opens our eyes to its incredible beauty and awakens our desire to go outside and experience it for ourselves. It also inspired us to reflect on our own attitude to the forest: We help it not through human intervention – it’s much better to let nature be nature.
The NaturVision Youth Jury Award goes to Lisa Eder for the film “Der Wilde Wald” [The Wild Forest].

Winner: "Wenn nicht ihr, dann wir? Nina kämpft! Gegen Plastikmüll"

We chose this film because the subject of plastic is very important and we learned a lot of new stuff. We found out things that shocked us – for example, that plastic waste from Germany, America, Europe and many other countries or regions is simply shipped to southeast Asia and then the people there have to deal with our rubbish. We don’t think that’s right, every country should be responsible for its own waste. Nina from the film is a strong and confident girl. She campaigns against the problem of the plastic waste. She makes an exhibition at her school, collects signatures and even writes letters to the governments of other countries. We think that’s very brave of her. She is a role model for us and all other children.
The NaturVision Children’s Jury Award goes to Irja von Bernstorff for the film “Wenn nicht ihr, dann wir? Nina kämpft! Gegen Plastikmüll” [If not you, then us? Nina’s campaign against plastic waste].

„Natur Natur sein lassen“ – mit diesem schlichten wie visionären Satz fasste Dr. Hans Bibelriether – der erste Nationalparkleiter Deutschlands – die internationalen Ziele von Nationalparks zusammen. Er kämpfte für die Nationalparkidee in Mitteleuropa und für einen grenzübergreifenden, völkerverbindenden Naturschutz. Über 300 Nationalparks weltweit hat er besucht und in den siebziger und achtziger Jahren in Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald erwirkt, dass nicht mehr die Interessen der Jägerschaft und Waldbesitzer die Entwicklung des Waldes im Schutzgebiet bestimmen, sondern die naturdynamischen Prozesse. Unterstützung fand er dabei von zwei großen Naturfilmern: Bernhard Grzimek und Horst Stern. Mit dem Jubiläumsfestival verleiht NaturVision Dr. Hans Bibelriether den Ehrenpreis für sein Lebenswerk.