UWE MA Wildlife Filmmaking

Hi guys!! I'm Sophie (), one of this year's Wildlife Filmmaking cohort (this is the final bio you'll have to read/scroll past!).

My degree background is in Zoology, specialising in coral reef conservation, and I’m at my happiest when surrounded by nature - especially diving, sailing, or doing anything that can get me near the sea. Whilst I'm not naturally gifted at all of these (as seen in the last slide), this has given me many hours of practice at having a good time even when damp, uncomfortable, too hot or too cold, which I've heard is invaluable experience for filming wildlife on location.

Like most of us, I obsessed over animals and old Attenborough documentaries as a kid, and over time this has grown into a passion for conservation and sustainability - particularly in the face of the climate and biodiversity crises we're currently facing.
I've also had the privilege of volunteering with conservation and refugee organisations. These experiences have driven me to learn about the intersectional effects of climate change, and how we can use filmmaking to combat these and help create a fairer world.

Films were a huge part of igniting a love for places and animals I'd never seen before, so the opportunity to work in this industry and see some of these environments first hand while sharing their stories with others is something I'm immensely grateful for.
Currently I'm trying to figure out my part in this - I'd love to direct/produce one day but for now I feel very lucky to have the chance to learn the ropes alongside a phenomenally talented & lovely bunch of people.

You can come say hi via this account or if you'd like to know more - cheers!

Hi there!

My name is Katya (), I started out as an amateur wildlife photographer, which then led me to work in India for 2 years as the first female safari guide and ranger for SUJÁN. This job gave me the ability and skills to track animals, and the opportunity to observe and understand their behaviours, as well as contribute to the conservation efforts in Rajasthan.

I am also a member of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry which supports the British army and civil service in times of crisis.

I’m interested in the investigative side of natural history films, I’m especially fascinated in Human/wildlife conflict. One of the biggest threats to conservation is space, and it all comes down to the territorial battle between human and wildlife. How can we learn to share space with wildlife with little or no conflict?

I aim to be a director of photography for wildlife documentaries (I’m determined to break boundaries for women camera operators! 👊) I’m so happy to be a part of the wildlife filmmaking MA as it gives me the opportunity to further develop my camera skills and explore various styles of story-telling, composition and creativity in order to find my own.

Hey I’m Kate - yet another rosy-cheeked over-excitable face on the cohort this year (we’re nearly there).

I grew up in Leicestershire, the wonderfully flat and land-locked county, famous for cheese and pork-pies, so naturally I developed an obsession with the sea, walking up mountains, and all things green and wildlifey.

After discovering my family’s VHS camcorder in the cupboard age 5, I quickly gained DOP credits on all sorts of film genres: drama, reality tv, nature and horror (footage available on demand). Unfortunately, the films didn’t sell, so I jumped ship to the next best thing and read Biological Sciences at Durham University.

But as Mufasa once said, it’s the circle of life, so here I am, following the words of a dead lion, excited to be on the best course in the industry with the coolest bunch of wildlife filmmakers.

Let’s hope we’re more successful than my attempts all those years ago 🤞🏼

Hi all, I’m Nathan (), and I'm honoured to be a part of this year's Wildlife Filmmaking cohort.

As you can imagine, growing up in southwest London, I was always surrounded by the beauty of the natural world… Well, I did seek it out when I could. I have always been a keen traveller, whether that be conservation work in Madagascar or teaching scuba diving in the Mediterranean.

I’m a thrill seeker and never turn down a call to adventure. Hiking, climbing, diving trips, an element of danger? Sign me up.

When it comes to filmmaking, I'm a jack of all trades. I’m a particularly avid editor but not such an avid, Avid editor 😉 ( I’m working on it). I aim to document the natural world in unique and exciting ways that make you say “Damn, haven’t seen anything like that before!”, even if that is followed by “and I hope I don’t again”. I look forward to the coming months and producing films alongside my immensely talented compatriots.

Peace.🐝🐝

Evening all, name’s Jacob () and I am delighted that my bio is going out on Burn’s Night, of all nights! I’m not Scottish. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

I get excited really easily and thus have done time in theatre production, palaeontology, comedy, retail, writing, radio, zoology, photography, acting, and teaching. I’d really like to be a postman.

In the meantime, as a filmmaker, I want to play with developing styles and find novel ways to tell stories new and old. I’d also like to be good at most things. Between you and I, Instagram-lurker, I would love to build a portfolio as a presenter and just talk non-stop. The dream!

I hope that none of my work will be described as “an atrocity” but have conceded that this could happen. Otherwise, do reach out! It’s always lovely to hear from new folks about what they’re into – seeya out there! hashtagbrave

Hi, I’m Myles. I'm originally from Sabah, Malaysia and have always been fascinated with wildlife and the stories that surround them.

Even though I grew up on Borneo, it was many of the films produced in Bristol that inspired me to pursue a career in wildlife film, so I'm really excited to be here.

I recently completed my undergrad degree in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I also worked as a digital media producer and a freelance filmmaker.

I’m really grateful to be a part of this year’s cohort and have already learnt so much and met a lot of great people. I hope to soon be able to tell stories that connect us to the natural world, but at the same time tell us more about ourselves and our place in the world.

Hi everyone! I’m Alicia () and I’m one of this year’s Wildlife Filmmaking Masters’ cohort!

I’m an award-winning wildlife photographer, artist, writer, and filmmaker from North Yorkshire, with a degree in Biological Sciences from Oxford University ( & ).

I have always loved the natural world, and I’m especially interested in conservation, ornithology, zoology, and ecology. I like using different art forms to showcase the beauty of the natural world, and the ways in which it is under threat. In 2021, I won the human impact category of Wildlife Artist of the Year with my piece “When the Whale Sang” – which was also recently featured in ’s Creative Resilience Art by Women in Science exhibition. I think art, be it film, visual, or written, is a really powerful and effective way to incite change; and this is the main reason I want to work in the wildlife film industry.

I also really love writing, especially poetry, and in 2020 I self-published my first illustrated wildlife poetry book “Rain before Rainbows”, to raise money for the wildlife hospital – it includes my poem “Leopard”, which won ’s My True Nature under 18s poetry competition in 2011. More recently, I have been working on a series of illustrated poetry mini-collections, exploring the magic of our local natural spaces. My most recent collection is “The Skylark splits the Sky”, which is about the magic of our moorlands – you can read it via my website (link in bio!).

The wildlife film industry excites me because it merges all of my interests, and I can’t wait to see where this year leads me!

Class of 2021/22!! 🎥🌟

With a new year, it’s time to introduce you to our new exciting group of MA’s and future filmmakers that started in September! We’ll be sharing 1 each day so keep an eye out 📸

An Urban Herd - 🐐

An Urban Herd is a short film telling the story of learning to milk goats with the UK’s only urban goat farming project.

The amazing volunteers of raise goats on disused urban land around Bristol to produce meat, milk and furs in a regenerative manner. The volunteers gain a connection to nature, access to local, sustainable food and a place in unique community. 🐐🥛🌿

I’m Lizzie, a Bristol-based Wildlife Filmmaker interested in communicating stories about the climate crisis through film and tv! Currently working in post-production and interested in production management.

Visit for the trailer and keep and eye out for the full film coming soon! Message me for a chat about all things sustainability 🌎

Original score: .gawne
Narration:
Starring: and
Animation: Hoching Kowk