Hollywood Climate Summit Joins
Jackson Wild Media Awards
Jackson Wild and Hollywood Climate Summit have announced a landmark partnership to launch an expanded awards program recognizing excellence in nature and climate storytelling across all formats and genres. The joint awards ceremony will take place in Los Angeles in November 2026.
The collaboration unites Jackson Wild's long-standing recognition of documentary and nonfiction storytelling with new categories championed by HCS, spanning narrative short and feature film, scripted and unscripted series, comedy special, video games, and digital media.
Together, the organizations aim to elevate the full spectrum of climate and nature narratives reaching global audiences, from groundbreaking documentaries and narrative film to prestige television and immersive games. By convening top talent across these fields, the partnership aims to celebrate visionary storytellers, spark new collaborations, and advance bold work that deepens our connection to the natural world.
Submissions now open:
The Hollywood Climate Summit Awards recognize excellence in creative work that brings courage and clarity to our changing world.
Projects Completed after June 1, 2024 are Eligible for consideration
Judges evaluate each submission using our Climate Context Framework:
Climate change is the story of humanity's past choices, the shifting realities of our present, and a catalyst for visions of a brighter future. We celebrate creative work that engages with nature and climate in any tone (earnest or comedic, grounded or fantastical), offering context for the challenges we face or illuminating paths toward what's possible. Climate does not need to be the central focus, but it should be meaningfully woven into the fabric of the work.
What We're Looking For:
Storytelling & Artistic Excellence:
Does the work demonstrate narrative clarity, emotional resonance, and creative ambition?
We're looking for work where structure, voice, and creative choices feel purposeful and alive.
Depth & Integrity of Climate or Nature as Context:
Does the work engage with our environmental moment in a way that feels genuine rather than incidental?
This might illuminate the systems at play shaping our world, demonstrate genuine human responses to a changing planet (grief, humor, conflict, joy), or evoke a sense of shared stakes across species, generations, or geographies.
Looking for more information?
We recommend all entrants, especially those submitting fictional work, review these resources before submitting:
AWARD CATEGORIES
NARRATIVE FEATURE
75 minutes or Longer
This category honors narrative feature films (75 minutes or longer) that demonstrate exceptional narrative craft, emotional ambition, and creative risk-taking. We're looking for stories that trust their audiences, take their world seriously, and leave a lasting impression.
NARRATIVE SHORT
Under 40 minutes
This award recognizes scripted films under 40 minutes with a strong creative voice, a clear point of view, and the confidence to say something meaningful in a compressed runtime.
TELEVISION SERIES SCRIPTED DRAMA
Any Length
This category honors scripted drama series that incorporate climate context.
TELEVISION SERIES SCRIPTED COMEDY
Any Length
This category recognizes scripted comedy series that incorporate climate context.
TELEVISION SERIES UNSCRIPTED
Any Length
This category honors reality or unscripted series of any length. All types of formats will be considered, from game/competition shows and home-renovation to dating/lifestyle.
VIDEO GAME
Games launched after July 1st, 2024
This category recognizes video games that explore climate context through gameplay, world-building, narrative design, or player interaction. Elements may be central to the experience or embedded within the broader game environment.
COMEDY SPECIAL
Any Length
This award recognizes comedy specials with a strong point of view, sharp material, and the courage to get wild. The best specials leave you laughing and thinking in equal measure. Climate context may be woven throughout the performance or featured in specific segments.
DIGITAL SERIES
Under 22 minutes
This category recognizes scripted or unscripted episodic content created for these social media platforms. (YouTube, Facebook, Web Series or Verticals, etc.)
PODCAST
Any Length, 2 episode entry (must have been published since July 1st 2024)
This category honors audio storytelling of any genre or format (investigative, scripted, interview). We’re looking for strong narrative structure, compelling voices, and a genuine point of view.
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CONTENT CREATOR
Three samples of content
Recognizes an individual in the new media space— including social media, YouTube, and podcasts—who uses their platform to create influential content related to the natural world. Any length of content is eligible.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Under three minutes
Awarded to the most compelling content created for social media under three minutes that best advances an understanding or appreciation of the natural world.
BRANDED CONTENT
No Length Restriction
Recognizes films made in partnership with corporate or NGO brands that authentically integrate themes of nature, sustainability, or environmental appreciation. This award celebrates collaborations where brand alignment enables meaningful storytelling that aligns with Jackson Wild’s planet-forward ethos.
IMPACT CAMPAIGN
No Length Restriction, no film completion date requirement, but impact campaign must have been active since June 1st, 2025
Jackson Wild recognizes innovative approaches to a film's active impact campaign that extend conservation beyond the screen to inspire measurable on-the-ground change through education, policy change and engagement and outreach.
Impact campaigns must have been active between June 2025 and June 2026 in order to be eligible, regardless of the film's release date.
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