Wildmotion

On the momentous occasion of Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday, I’ve been reflecting on the incredible journey of filming for his iconic series. As a cinematographer, there is no greater honor than hearing Sir David’s voice narrated over your images. In this video, I share some of my favorite memories from the field—from capturing the first-ever 4K footage of clownfish eggs hatching on the Great Barrier Reef to following in Sir David’s historical footsteps at Raine Island. We’ve pushed the limits of camera technology to document the natural world, all under the guidance of a man who has done more for conservation than perhaps anyone in history. Thank you, Sir David, for a century of inspiration. Happy Birthday! — Richard Fitzpatrick #greatbarrierreef #sirdavidattenborough #wildmotiondocs #redcinema #gates.underwater #davidattenborough100 #blancpain

#EarthDay with Deirdre Leowinata (@d.leowinata ) & Douglas Neasloss (@douglas_neasloss ) Keepers of the Land takes us into Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest, where generations of the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation are working to protect their territory by reviving traditional knowledge, stories, and laws. Set within a rich coastal ecosystem of bears, salmon, old-growth forests, and kelp, the film reflects a way of life where the connection between people and the natural world remains deeply intertwined. Through stewardship and cultural continuity, it offers a powerful perspective on what conservation can look like when guided by Indigenous leadership — and what becomes possible when we choose to care for the land rather than extract from it. “The Kitasoo Xai’xais stewardship team has been consistently breaking barriers and raising the bar for conservation policy at an international level,” shares co-director Deirdre Leowinata. “This is a story of what is still possible on this incredible, resilient planet, if we can transform our relationship with it.” Produced by @moonfishmedia and @kxstewardship Cinematography by @tavishcampbell @d.leowinata Now streaming on Documentary+ Earth Collection. [#EarthDayonRED Post 12/12]

#EarthDay with Franco Campos-Lopez Benyunes (@camposlopezbenyunes ) Dambusters follows a growing movement across Europe to remove obsolete dams, restoring rivers, reviving wildlife, and reconnecting communities to the natural flow of water. Blending science, activism, and on-the-ground efforts, the film captures what becomes possible when ecosystems are given the chance to recover, and the role communities play in driving that change. At its core, Dambusters is a story of restoration, where intervention gives way to renewal, and damaged environments begin to find their way back. Now streaming on Documentary+ Earth Collection. [#EarthDayonRED Post 11/12]

#EarthDay with Andre Borell (@andreborell ) Envoy: Shark Cull takes us off the coast of Australia, where beneath the surface of some of the world’s most iconic beaches and coral reefs, a controversial reality unfolds. Each year, thousands of marine animals are killed under government-led shark control programs, measures intended to protect humans, but with far-reaching consequences for ocean ecosystems. Filmmaker Andre Borell grew up on these beaches, never aware of the destruction happening just beyond the surf break. Once he discovered what shark nets really were, he knew the country, and the world, needed to see it, uncovering practices and protections that, as he describes, “shocked me” in both their scale and the lengths taken to keep them out of sight. Challenging perception and policy, the film sheds light on the complexity of human–wildlife coexistence and the impact of intervention in fragile marine environments. Now streaming on Documentary+ Earth Collection. [#EarthDayonRED Post 10/12]

#EarthDay with Paula Kahumbu (@paulakahumbu ) Wildlife Direct Warriors is a two-season series filmed in Kenya, spotlighting underrepresented species, conservation challenges, and the people working to protect Africa’s natural heritage. Across remote islands, forests, and community-led conservation spaces, the series follows both established conservationists and unexpected champions drawn into protecting animals like turtles, zebras, and cheetahs. What begins as a documentary journey becomes something deeper—a reflection on storytelling itself, and the importance of visibility in conservation work. “I created the series to celebrate our African conservation heroes and communicate their passion and knowledge to audiences everywhere,” says director Paula Kahumbu. “As an ecologist, I initially felt like a fish out of water presenting this series, but soon grew to love the adventure and drama.” The series has since helped spark a wave of African filmmakers telling stories rooted in their own natural heritage, amplifying voices and landscapes long overlooked. “It has catalyzed an explosion of content creation by African filmmakers about our previously ignored natural heritage.” Now streaming on Documentary+ Earth Collection. [#EarthDayonRED Post 9/12]

#EarthDay with Liz Unger (@liz.w.unger ) This #EarthDay, Batsies spotlights the beauty, complexity, and ecological importance of one of the world’s most misunderstood animals. Following wildlife biologists Sara Weaver (@bat_girl80 ) and Dr. Sarah Fritts, the film explores their deep friendship and shared mission to protect bat populations in Texas. Often feared and stigmatized, bats play a vital ecological role, from controlling insect populations to supporting agriculture. They also face growing threats from habitat loss, wind turbines, and widespread misunderstanding. “Directing Batsies gave me the freedom to create something visceral and unexpected. Through Sara and Sarah’s work and friendship, we wanted to show that inspiring care sometimes means telling stories differently. This film let me express my art, but as a conservationist, I’m deeply proud to know it’s also helping shift how audiences see and protect bats.” Director @liz.w.unger Producer @katybaldock7 EP @bencmasters DP @bongiornodop Additional Cinematography @skipswildlife @austintorios @ryan.forktailed Ediitor @its.falcon.bitch PA @hill.kat Featuring the band @annabellechairlegs Animation @emily.scaife Sound Mix @lymannamyl Color @alex_winker Sound Recordist @ seanthesoundguy Additional Cinematography @skipswildlife @austintorios @ryan.forktailed Music @why.music.matters @noahsorota Now streaming on Documentary+ Earth Collection. [#EarthDayonRED Post 8/12]

#EarthDay with Rebecca Basaure (@rbasaure ) & Mariano Carranza (@marianocarranza ) ImillaSkate follows a collective of Indigenous women in Bolivia redefining identity, movement, and connection to place on their own terms. Wearing traditional polleras, these young women skate through the streets of Cochabamba, turning their boards into expressions of cultural pride, freedom, and belonging within the landscapes they call home. In a world where being both Indigenous and female often means fighting to be seen, ImillaSkate captures a powerful shift driven by resilience, sisterhood, and community. “From the first time we saw a cholita in pollera drop into a bowl, we knew this was more than skateboarding, it was resistance,” the filmmakers share. “This film is a love letter to Bolivia, to sisterhood, and to everyone who’s ever been told they don’t belong.” Featuring @rbasaure @marianocarranza An @Optimist film presented by @Vans With @natalieconneely @christemple @zachingrasci @hoodablah @jennamkelly @lapir0 @Pachamama_Sabia @ImillaSkate Now streaming on Documentary+ Earth Collection. [#EarthDayonRED Post 7/12]

#EarthDay with Hans Cosmas Ngoteya (@hans_cosmas_ngoteya ) Mahale Chimp Guardians explores the greater Mahale ecosystem in Tanzania, a globally significant biodiversity hotspot where chimpanzees and the communities who protect them live in close connection.Through the voices of local guardians, researchers, and guides, the film traces a lifelong relationship with the land and its chimpanzee populations from generational knowledge to ongoing conservation and public health efforts that shape how humans and wildlife coexist. Set within Mahale National Park, it also reflects on the challenges facing this fragile ecosystem, from habitat pressures to zoonotic disease, and the collaborative work aimed at protecting its future. “Mahale doesn’t follow your script, it teaches you to let go,” says director and cinematographer Hans Cosmas Ngoteya. “Filming chimpanzees is not about chasing shots; it’s about patience, respect, and knowing when not to film...Mahale didn’t just give me footage, it gave me perspective.” Featuring @ngoteya_wild and the Mahale Chimp Guardians, alongside local researchers and conservation stakeholders. Now streaming on Documentary+ Earth Collection. [#EarthDayonRED Post 6/12]

#EarthDay with Chris Temple (@christemple ) Abundance, directed by Owen Dubeck (@owendubeck ), follows a group of college students taking action during one of the largest food crises in a century—building a grassroots effort that quickly expands into a nationwide movement to fight hunger. What begins as a local response grows rapidly, with hundreds of students stepping in to support communities in need. As food insecurity rises and the demands of their own lives continue, the film captures the urgency and scale behind creating lasting change. “It’s not naive to be optimistic, it’s necessary,” says Executive Producer Chris Temple. “This Earth Day I’m choosing to believe progress is possible, and trying to do something about it. While filming all over the world, I’ve met countless people who find a way forward against all odds, these stories keep me going.” Now streaming on Documentary+ Earth Collection. [#EarthDayonRED 5/12]

#EarthDay with Hunter Nolan (@jhunternolan ) UNEARTH follows Indigenous leaders and commercial salmon fishermen in Bristol Bay, Alaska, as they unite to protect one of the world’s most vital salmon ecosystems from a proposed copper mine. Set against the global race for critical minerals, the film reveals the tension between energy demands and environmental cost, and the communities working to defend the land and waters they depend on. Through years of resistance, UNEARTH captures both the weight of what’s at stake and the power of collective action in the face of complex systems. “UNEARTH has always been more to us than a film,” shares director and cinematographer Hunter Nolan. “Our team has devoted itself to telling a story that not only exposes injustices but also highlights potential remedies and motivates people to roll up their sleeves too.” Director / DP - Hunter Nolan (@jhunternolan ) Producer - Gina Papabeis (@papakins ) Producer / Co-Director - Aube Strickland (@auberins ) Producer / Co-Director - Dune Strickland EP - Erin Brockovich - (@the_real_erin_brockovich ) Partner - Together Films - (@togetherfilms_ ) Co-EP - Christina Salmon (@salmonbringhurst ) Co-EP - AlexAnna Salmon (@alexannasalmon ) Now streaming on Documentary+ Earth Collection. [#EarthDayonRED Post 3/12]

#EarthDay with Emi Kondo (@la.orquidea.ninja ) and Thomas Poole (@tompoole_dp ) Jaguar Spirit uncovers how Bolivia has become a global center of the illegal jaguar trade, exposing a network that threatens one of Latin America’s most iconic species. Years in the making, the film follows a journey through the Bolivian Amazon alongside scientists and investigators working to confront wildlife trafficking at its source. What emerges is a portrait of ecological fragility and cultural disconnection, where a once-revered animal has been reduced to parts and profit. “What shocked me most while making Jaguar Spirit wasn’t the danger, it was how normalized the commodification of wildlife has become,” says director and producer Emi Kondo. “What began as an investigation turned into a deeply personal journey. It forced me to question not only the system, but our collective relationship with nature and whether we can still change it.” “Filming in the remote regions of the Bolivian Amazon makes you realize just how fragile these ecosystems are,” adds cinematographer Thomas Poole. “Ultimately, people are the true guardians of these ecosystems.” Filmed across remote regions of the Bolivian Amazon, the project highlights the communities living closest to these environments and their role in protecting them. A film by @botanicafilms , with support from @insidenatgeo and @world_animal_protection . Now streaming on Documentary+ Earth Collection. [#EarthDayonRED Post 2/12]

This #EarthDay, RED celebrates the stories that connect us to the natural world. In collaboration with @documentaryplus and @wildmotiondocs , we’re highlighting the Documentary+ Earth Collection, a curated selection of wildlife and conservation films from filmmakers working deep in the field, capturing both the beauty and fragility of our planet. From quiet acts of care to urgent efforts of protection, this Earth-focused collection on Documentary+ aims to inspire awareness and a deeper connection to the world we share. [#EarthDayonRED 1/12]