BACK FROM THE BRINK FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
This year, as part of our drive to celebrate and raise awareness of local wildlife, Back from the Brink held an amateur film and photography competition, encompassing 9 film categories and 4 photography categories, in partnership with Wildscreen.
The competitors were encouraged to focus on animals and plants that they cared about, especially those that they felt were threatened.
pHOTOGRAPHY WINNERS

People in Nature
Ralston Memorial Glen Coe by John Cuthbert

Space for species
Safe Haven by Oscar Dewhurst
Biodiversity
Frogs by Paula Cooper

Storytelling
The Red Squirrel – A Road to Reintroduction by Joseph Gray
(the first of a set of documentary photographs)

fILM wINNERS
Innovation – Rescue to Release: A Journey in 360º Virtual Reality by Rose Summers
Impact – Toads on the Roads by Yasmine Ellis
Just a Minute – Our Magical Meadow by Becca Barry
Nature Near Me – How to build an insect hotel by Xander Johnston
People and Nature – Dormice – Conserving Brampton’s Indicator by Eleanor Bladon
Presenter – Brilliant British Botany by Joshua Styles
Threatened Environments and Species – Winter Refuge by Sam Whitton
Young Person – Nature’s Vanishing Trick by Lily Macfarlane
This competition was developed in partnership with Wildscreen, the charity behind the internationally-renowned Wildscreen Festival.
Film Categories
For the film that most effectively communicates an issue affecting the natural world and either:
- explores the results of actions taken to address the issue(s) such as campaigns and conservation work.
Or
- is intended to deliver tangible impacts as a result of making and showing the film, such as behaviour change, audience participation or increased viewer knowledge from sharing a solution or action which audiences can take
Additional material
Entrants are required to submit a brief narrative (maximum 500 words) outlining the tangible impacts and outcomes of the production. This can include numerical information.
For the film that best uses creative new approaches to create and present stories about the natural world.
Eligibility
This could include innovative storytelling, an imaginative use of new technology, creative filmmaking processes such as stop motion and animation.
For the production that most effectively communicates the natural world within a 1km radius from the entrant’s home, school or workplace.
Additional information
Entrants will be required to submit the location(s) where the film was shot if they are successful and the film proceeds to the final round of judging.
For the production that most effectively explores and tells stories about the social, cultural or economic relationships people have with the natural world.
For the production that most effectively uses on-screen presenter(s) to engage audiences with the natural world
Eligibility
This award is directed at on-screen presenter(s) and as such films solely using narration are not eligible. Productions with a combination of narration and an on-screen presenter(s) are eligible.
For the production that most effectively explores the concept of ‘threatened’.
Eligibility
This award explores perceptions of ‘threatened’ as a concept; looking at narratives on threatened animals, plants and environments.
For the best overall production by a young person.
Eligibility
Entrants must be between 6 and 18 years old at the time of making the film.
For the best overall production on the natural world that has a maximum length of one minute.
Eligibility
Entries must have a running time of one minute (60 seconds) excluding end credits.
Photography categories
For those who prefer photography, there are 4 categories to tackle, including a Storytelling Award which encourages entrants to develop a collection of six to ten images that cover an important natural world story, woven together with a strong narrative.
Portraits and images that display the natural beauty and behaviour of animals, plants and fungi.
Celebrating the wonder and importance of the UK’s landscapes and habitats.
Focussing on human relationships with nature, including:
- Reacting to challenges or conflict
Or
- Experiencing, celebrating or enjoying the wonder of nature
A collection of six to ten images covering an important story of the natural world, weaved together with a strong narrative.
Eligibility
Each sequence of six to ten images should be a story told through the progression of images. At least half of the images should have been created since 17 November 2017, the start of the Back from the Brink project, the remainder can be created prior to this if appropriate to the narrative of the entry, e.g. showing change in a local environment or species.
Additional material
Entrants are required to submit a brief synopsis (maximum 500 words) to outline their photo story.