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Explore posts about Wild Commons Films | Filmmaker Discourse | Meet the Team
Wild Commons is a home for independent films about science, nature, and conservation.
Here, we go behind-the-scenes to explore the characters, context, and creative questions behind the films. Our goal is to dissect the process and purpose of environmental storytelling in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Explore our posts below ⤵
In Defense of Watching Bison Do Absolutely Nothing
Four hours. A herd of bison. No plot whatsoever. Why Wild Commons is making room for ambient nature, and the simple pleasure of spending time with the wild.
Chasing Ghosts - The Scientific Discovery Hiding in Plain Sight
For decades, one of the Everglades’ most elusive flowers held onto a mystery: what was pollinating the ghost orchid? Chasing Ghosts follows a team deep into the swamp, where looking a little closer leads to an unexpected scientific discovery.
What Happens When We Protect a Place From the People Who Live There?
For centuries, local communities lived alongside the wild landscape of Samaria Gorge. Today, conservation, mass tourism, and commercialization are reshaping that relationship. This film tells the story of people removed from a landscape, and the negative impacts that overtourism can have.
The True Story Behind Bluebird Man: How Ordinary People Helped Bring Bluebirds Back
Discover the remarkable conservation story behind Bluebird Man and learn how thousands of citizen scientists helped restore bluebird populations across North America.
Coexistence with crocodiles - what makes Phir Bhi (Even So) stand out amongst wildlife films
I first saw the short documentary, Phir Bhi (Even So), while attending the International Wildlife Film Festival (IWFF) in Missoula, MT in the spring of 2025. Phir Bhi (Even So) stood out to me because it acknowledged the complexity and the nuance surrounding wildlife conflict issues. It’s hopeful, but realistic, and that’s an incredibly tricky balance to pull off in a wildlife documentary.
The Channel Island Fox: one of America’s Greatest COnservation COmebacks
The Channel Island Fox nearly disappeared from California’s Channel Islands in the span of a single decade. The Little Fox of Limuw examines the ecological collapse that drove its decline and the extraordinary conservation efforts that brought this unique species back from the brink.
What PHIR BHI Reveals About wildlife coexistence
As human-wildlife conflict intensifies across the globe, PHIR BHI (EVEN SO) offers a rare and deeply hopeful story about coexistence. Set in Gujarat, India, the film explores how local communities live alongside mugger crocodiles, revealing the fragile relationships that allow humans and predators to share the same world.
Why Diving for Rays Is the Film We Need Right Now
Diving for Rays follows Nicole Woodbyrne’s journey into marine conservation, revealing why LGBTQ representation in science matters now more than ever. As rights face renewed challenges, this film shows how visibility shapes who belongs—and who gets to dream of a future in science.