Official Selection Programmers
Wildscreen
Remote
Salary: £1,000 fixed fee
Wildscreen Festival is looking for a new cohort of Programmers ahead of its 2026 edition
Wildscreen Festival is looking for a new cohort of Programmers ahead of its 2026 edition
Wildscreen Festival is looking for a new cohort of Programmers for the Wildscreen Official Selection Programme 2026!
About the role
Are you passionate about discovering and platforming original stories about the natural world from across the globe?
Introduced in 2020, our Official Selection showcases creative and bold stories that spark positive and restorative action for our natural world. The Official Selection platforms authentic voices, original stories and vital messages about nature.
Echoing its charity mission to connect people with nature through storytelling and democratise the creation of and access to nature’s stories, Wildscreen are keen to gather a diverse programming team again this year, one that mirrors the diverse range of films and filmmakers that submit for consideration to the festival. In 2024, 46% of the directors submitting work were from an underrepresented group, whilst films were submitted from 54 countries.
Programmers play a vital role in curating Wildscreen’s Official Selection Programme 2026, shaping a line-up of approximately 25 productions (broken down into around 15 features and three shorts programme), which will be screened to public audiences in Bristol and Bath as part of the Wildscreen Festival 2026 and online via our Festival platform. Our team of programmers view and assess shorts, mid-length and feature films entered into the competition and shortlisted by our international team of pre-selectors.
This is a flexible, remote role, perfect for emerging or established professionals in film programming to develop hands-on experience curating and platforming original and creative stories about the natural world.
Key responsibilities
- Commitment to watching and assessing between 40 features or 120 shorts
- Co-curation of a screening programme of approximately 25 films (approximately, spanning shorts to mid/feature length working with other programmers and the Wildscreen Team
- Participation and active contribution to approximately three virtual programming meetings to curate the programme of screenings in collaboration with other programmers and the Wildscreen Team. This includes selecting the Programmer Prize winner
- Production of clear, engaging and accurate curatorial copy to provide context for the selections. This will be used to support the promotion of the Official Selection Programme 2026 within marketing communications including the programme, Festival website and press.
What we’re looking for
- Availability for the viewing and review period: 6 July –14 August 2026. This is a fully remote role
- An understanding of Wildscreen’s mission, programme, ethos and curatorial approach and an ability to identify work that reflects it whilst also entertaining, educating and challenging public audiences
- Festival Programmers with a minimum of two years’ experience of film programming and/or curatorial experience for film festivals or cinemas
- Film enthusiasts with a keen eye for storytelling and originality and a passion for nature and the environment
- Experience and knowledge of the factual documentary industry
- Organised and committed individuals who can meet agreed deadlines
- Previous experience of using FilmFreeway for film festival programming is highly desirable
- A commitment to inclusive programming practice, ensuring consideration of representation, access and audience diversity across the programme.
Benefits
- This is a freelance, paid position with a flat fee of £1,000
- Shape the Wildscreen Festival’s Official Selection Screening Programme 2026
- Gain film festival programming experience at the world’s leading wildlife and environmental film festival
- Be part of a global launchpad for authentic storytellers and original stories about the natural world from across the globe
- Programmers will be acknowledged on the Wildscreen website and Festival platform and programme.
Diversity and inclusion
This role is open to applicants worldwide. Wildscreen strongly encourages applications from all suitably experienced regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity.
Wildscreen strongly encourages applications from individuals currently underrepresented within the wildlife and environmental storytelling genre and film festival programming, including those who identify as BIPOC, a womxn, part of the LGBTQIA+ community, from a lower socio-economic background, neurodiverse, or living with a disability.
For more information about Wildscreen and the Official Selection and to download a full job description for this role, visit their website.
To apply
Please complete Wildscreen’s online application form.
This includes a few questions to outline your suitability and reasons for applying for this role. You will also be required to upload a CV.
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The closing date for this position is 06/07/2026 at 23:59