ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA – 29 July 2026 — The Wild Earth Oceania Film Festival (WEOFF) 2026 has unveiled its national program under the powerful theme ONE EARTH, bringing together world-class environmental cinema, conservation leaders, scientists, educators, policymakers and communities to advance biodiversity conservation through the strategic power of film.

Presented by Wild Earth Oceania (WEO), Australia’s impact organisation dedicated to recovering species from threatened extinction through the power of film, the 10-day festival will showcase 13 internationally acclaimed environmental films, including four Australian Premieres.

Held shortly after Adelaide Climate Week (ACW) and dovetailing strategically, the festival builds on the broader environmental dialogue by demonstrating how evidence-informed storytelling can strengthen public engagement, foster cross-sector collaboration and contribute to measurable conservation outcomes.

The 2026 program features an exceptional collection of environmental films from around the world, including “Yanuni” executive produced by Academy Award-winning actor, filmmaker and environmental advocate Leonardo DiCaprio, alongside compelling stories exploring climate  change, biodiversity, Indigenous knowledge, threatened species and ocean conservation.

The program also includes “Trade Secret” a gripping global investigation into the international hunting and commercial trade of polar bears, examining one of the world’s most pressing wildlife conservation challenges directed by Abraham Joffe (who also directed “Our Oceans” with Barack Obama).

Together, these films demonstrate how environmental storytelling can increase biodiversity literacy, inform public policy, strengthen strategic conservation partnerships, mobilise investment in biodiversity conservation and accelerate evidence-based action to protect the species and ecosystems that sustain life on Earth.

ONE EARTH: One Planet. One Future.

ONE EARTH reflects a simple truth—we share one interconnected planet and a shared responsibility to protect it.

Through internationally acclaimed environmental cinema, the festival provides audiences with access to hauntingly beautiful stories satiated with credible scientific knowledge tackling the most important issues nature is facing today, diverse perspectives and practical conservation solutions that strengthen our understanding of the interconnected systems that support biodiversity, healthy communities and planetary wellbeing.

Australia is one of the world’s great mega-biodiverse nations, home to endemic ecosystems and extraordinary species found nowhere else on Earth. Yet many face increasing threats from habitat loss, climate change and biodiversity decline.

Wild Earth Oceania believes film is one of the most effective tools available to communicate complex environmental challenges, strengthen conservation partnerships and generate measurable outcomes that benefit wildlife, ecosystems and the planet.

“Film is one of the most powerful tools we have to recover species from threatened extinction. Evidence-informed storytelling strengthens public understanding, influences policy, support conservation partnerships and deliver measurable positive robust outcomes for planetary, wildlife and human health.

ONE EARTH is more than our 2026 festival theme—it reflects our shared responsibility to protect the ecosystems that sustain all life on Earth and our commitment to creating lasting conservation impact through collaboration.”— Jacquie Pohl, Founder & Festival Director, Wild Earth Oceania

National Expansion

In 2026, the Wild Earth Oceania Film Festival enters an exciting new chapter through its foundational partnership with Wallis Entertainment expanding across metropolitan and regional Australia. The iconic Piccadilly Cinema in North Adelaide will host the Opening Gala and Closing Gala, with additional metropolitan screenings at Wallis Cinemas Mitcham, Mount Barker, Noarlunga and Glenelg.

Regional screenings will extend to Lorne (VIC), Gunnedah (NSW), Alice Springs (NT), Victor Harbor (SA) and St Helens (TAS), ensuring world-class environmental films and conservation conversations reach audiences across Australia.

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

The festival opens with a prestigious Opening Gala at the historic Piccadilly Cinema featuring renowned filmmaker and storyteller Simon Lister (“What We Learn”), Ocean Conservation leader Kal Glanznig (“The Plastic Country”) and Youth Conservationist Spencer Hitchen from the film “Love Letter To The Unseen”.

*Simon Lister brings more than two decades of international experience documenting environmental and humanitarian stories from some of the world’s most remote locations.

*Kal Glanznig is recognised for his National leadership in driving initiatives to end plastic pollution and protect marine ecosystems. *Spencer Hitchen is widely respected for his advocacy in Australia to protect threatened species and end native forest logging in Australia, demonstrating the important role individuals particularly that children can play in achieving positive conservation outcomes.

A major international highlight will be OCEANIA: Journey to the Centre, with members of the film team travelling from the United States and Kiribati to attend the festival.

The screening reunites directors *Natalie Zimmerman and *Tekinati Ruka after twelve years to share this extraordinary story with Australian audiences.

*available for interviews

Exploring climate change, culture and the future of Kiribati, OCEANIA: Journey to the Centre highlights the importance of Indigenous knowledge, resilience and community leadership in responding to environmental change.

A unique festival highlight will take place on Thursday 13 August with the paired Piccadilly Cinema–St Peter’s Cathedral event bringing together film, reflection and dialogue through Oceanic Evocation, creating a distinctive cultural experience across two iconic Adelaide venues.

The festival concludes with the Closing Gala on Sunday 16 August at Piccadilly Cinema, featuring internationally acclaimed and award-winning photojournalist *Aaron Gekoski. Renowned for documenting the complex relationship between people, wildlife and the natural world, Aaron brings an international perspective on conservation challenges and the role of visual storytelling in supporting wildlife protection.

A Growing National and Global Movement

Wild Earth Oceania is more than a film festival.

It is Australia’s leading environmental film impact organisation, bringing together filmmakers, scientists, conservation practitioners, First Nations knowledge holders, educators, policymakers, businesses and communities to achieve measurable conservation outcomes. The organisation works at the intersection of science, conservation and storytelling, using film as a strategic tool to strengthen biodiversity literacy, support environmental leadership, encourage policy dialogue and accelerate collaborative conservation initiatives.

Wild Earth Oceania has convened high-level events during United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week at UNGA 78 (2023) and UNGA 79 (2024), bringing together global leaders, scientists, conservationists, filmmakers, Indigenous representatives and changemakers to advance biodiversity protection, planetary health and the Sustainable Development Goals.

In 2025, Wild Earth Oceania convened South Australian government, business and civil society leaders for Ocean with David Attenborough, creating a platform for collaboration and action to strengthen ocean conservation and marine biodiversity.

These initiatives demonstrate Wild Earth Oceania’s growing role in connecting environmental storytelling with science, leadership, policy engagement and measurable conservation impact.

The festival is proudly supported by Wallis Entertainment, Conservation Council SA and Wild Earth Oceania Ambassadors and Champions, including Ami Vitale, Elsa Pataky, Dr Vanessa Pirotta, Chadden Hunter, Aneeshwar Kunchala, Mark Tozer, Peter Gash, Sheree Marris, Madison Stewart, Paul Rosolie and Dr Michael Pyne.

About Wild Earth Oceania

Wild Earth Oceania is Australia’s impact organisation dedicated to recovering species from threatened extinction through the power of film. Working at the intersection of conservation, science and storytelling, Wild Earth Oceania develops world-class environmental film experiences that strengthen biodiversity literacy, build strategic partnerships and support measurable conservation outcomes. Its flagship initiative, the Wild Earth Oceania Film Festival, is an international platform that brings together world-leading filmmakers, scientists, conservation practitioners, educators, policymakers and communities to advance environmental leadership and biodiversity conservation.

ONE EARTH is more than a festival theme—it is Wild Earth Oceania’s enduring philosophy: One Planet. One Future. One Shared Responsibility.