PBS Nature Wins the Grand Teton Award, Top Prize of Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival 2011

Produced by WNET, Nature garners six of 22 awards at the festival

NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nature, the number one documentary series on PBS, adds to its accolades a coveted Grand Teton Award for Broken Tail: A Tiger's Last Journey, given at the 2011 Jackson Hole Wildlife Festival at Grand Teton Park on Thursday, October 6, 2011.  This is Nature's first time in receiving the Festival's top prize, considered as one of the wildlife industry's highest honors.  In total, Nature received six of 22 awards bestowed by the Festival.  Two of the winning films will premiere this fall on PBS.  They include the season opener Radioactive Wolves and My Life as a Turkey.  The series Executive Producer Fred Kaufman, and his colleagues Bill Murphy and Janet Hess were honored to be part of this historic night.  

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110922/DC73481LOGO )

Launched in 1991, the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival's biennial conference is an unmatched international industry event drawing 650+ international leaders in science, conservation, broadcasting and media.  Internationally renowned as one of the largest and most prestigious competitions of the nature genre, this year's competition included 510 films from more than 30 countries — a record number of submissions competing for 22 special category awards. More than eighty judges from North America, Europe, Asia and Africa participated in the preliminary selections.

Celebrating its 30th season, Nature is a production of THIRTEEN in association with WNET, the parent company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21, New York's public television stations and operator of NJTV.  For nearly 50 years, WNET has been producing and broadcasting national and local documentaries and other programs for the New York community.

"We are elated that Nature has received this honor," said Paula Kerger, President and CEO of PBS. "In today's crowded media landscape, Nature stands out as a high quality wildlife series that continues to attract audiences and leading filmmakers alike.  As one of our most broad-reaching series, we have WNET and their producing partners to thank and congratulate them on receiving the Grand Teton Award."

"We are privileged to join the pantheon of past winners of Jackson Hole's Best of Festival prize," stated Neal Shapiro, President and CEO of WNET.  "The recognition is a testament to Nature's 30-year commitment to bring the wonders of wildlife and critical environmental concerns to millions of public television viewers each week.  I am truly proud of our team."    

Fred Kaufman, Nature's Executive Producer said, "We strive to tell the stories that truly matter in the natural world.  Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival validates our vision with this award, which is to give voice to wildlife through our films.  We are grateful to our peers for this distinguished accolade."

Nature's six 2011 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival awards include:

Broken Tail: A Tiger's Last Journey (Premiere date: February 20, 2011)

Crossing the Line Films and Nature for WNET New York Public Media.  

Produced in association with RTE, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, SWR, ZDF, Arte and ZDF Enterprises.

• Best of Festival "Grand Teton Award"
• Best Hosted or Presenter-Led Program
• Best Conservation Program

[Now available for viewing online at pbs.org/nature]

Elsa's Legacy: The Born Free Story (Premiere date: January 9, 2011)

Brian Leith Productions, BBC and Nature for WNET New York Public Media

• Conservation Hero Award (for Virginia McKenna)

[Now available for viewing online at pbs.org/nature]

Radioactive Wolves (Premiere date: October 19, 2011)

EPO Film for ORF/Universum, NDR and Nature for WNET New York Public Media

• Best Wildlife Habitat Program

My Life as a Turkey (Premiere date: November 16, 2011)

Passion Pictures, Nature for WNET New York Public Media and BBC

• Best Writing (for Joe Hutto & David Allen)

Nature pioneered a television genre that is now widely emulated in the broadcast industry.  Throughout its history, Nature has brought the natural world to millions of viewers.  The series has been consistently among the most-watched primetime series on public television.  

Nature has won more than 600 honors from the television industry, the international wildlife film communities, and environmental organizations including 10 Emmys, three Peabodys and the first award given to a television program by the Sierra Club.  The series received two of wildlife film industry's highest honors: the Christopher Parsons Outstanding Achievement Award in October 2010 given by the Wildscreen Festival in Bristol, England to "an organization or individual that has made a globally significant contribution to wildlife filmmaking, conservation and/or the public's understanding of the environment" and the Grand Teton Award given by the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival in October 2011. 

PBS.org/nature is the award-winning web companion to Nature featuring streaming episodes, teacher's guides, and more.

Major corporate support for Nature is provided by Canon U.S.A., Inc.  Additional support is provided by the Lillian Goldman Charitable Trust, Filomen M. D'Agostino Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the nation's public television stations.

About WNET New York Public Media

WNET is America's flagship public media outlet, bringing quality arts, education and public affairs programming to more than five million viewers each week.  The parent company of public television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, WNET produces such acclaimed  PBS series as Great Performances, American Masters, Nature, Need to Know, Charlie Rose, Tavis Smiley and a range of documentaries, children's programs, and local news and cultural offerings available on air and online.  Pioneers in educational programming, WNET has created such groundbreaking series as Get the Math, Noah Comprende and Cyberchase and provides tools for educators that bring compelling content to life in the classroom and at home.  WNET highlights the tri-state's unique culture and diverse communities through SundayArts, Reel 13, NJ Today and the new online newsmagazine MetroFocus.

About PBS

PBS, with its nearly 360 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches 124 million people through television and 20 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS' broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry's most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS' premier children's TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents' and teachers' most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.

About the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival

Since 1991, Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival has produced a unique biennial industry conference that draws 600 media professionals, writers, leading scientists and conservationists to Jackson Hole for one week in autumn. They converge from around the world to hone skills, explore emerging technologies and market opportunities, network with professional associates and honor notable achievements within the industry. Internationally recognized as the premier event of its genre, the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival is an unparalleled industry gathering. Its film competition honors top films selected from over 800 category entries from almost 50 countries.

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Fred Kaufman
https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=91722

Contact: Donald Lee / 212.560.3005 /[email protected]

Press Materials: pbs.org/pressroom or thirteen.org/pressroom
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SOURCE WNET New York Public Media