THE 2026 FILM COMPETITION: A CELEBRATION OF NATURE AND CINEMA
THE COMPETITION IS CLOSED – ENTRANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE RESULTS BY MID-JANUARY
Every year, the Bird and Nature Festival showcases documentary cinema dedicated to wildlife, biodiversity, and the relationship between humans and nature.
The Festival offers a selection of films dealing mainly with birds in their natural environment, wildlife, environment or natural history generally speaking. Feature films or commercials are not allowed. A feature film shot outdoors but which main theme isn’t one of the above won’t be selected.
A rich and diverse participation
Among these films:
140 professional films, running between 26 minutes and 1 hour 40 minutes.
53 amateur films, running from 3 to 13 minutes.
Other documentaries whose subjects diverged too far from the Festival theme were not viewed.
An international competition
Filmmakers from 31 countries are participating this year:
24 countries represented in the professional category, including Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine, Malaysia, as well as Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
17 countries represented in the amateur category, including Rwanda, Bangladesh, Finland, and Kazakhstan.
Towards the final selection
30 to 35 films will be selected for the official competition, including around a dozen amateur entries.
Around twenty screenings will be held from April 18 to 26, 2026 in Abbeville, allowing audiences to discover the documentaries in French and vote for the Audience Award (prize value: €2,000).
The official jury
A jury made up of audiovisual professionals, environmental specialists, and two young people from the region will watch the films during the Festival and award four prizes, for a total of €10,000, including €4,000 for the Grand Prize.
Not to be missed!
Screenings will also be held in Crécy-en-Ponthieu and Fort-Mahon-Plage.
Special screenings and debate evenings will further enrich the program.
Results will be announced during the Gala Evening on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Municipal Theatre of Abbeville.
Award-winning films will be shown again on Sunday, April 26.
PROFESSIONALS
Films about birds in their natural environment, wildlife, environment or natural history. Films from 26 to 100 minutes
AMATEURS
Competition is also open to amateur wildlife filmmakers who do sound recording, shooting or editing as a hobby. Films from 3 to 13 minutes.