Julia Barnes is the award-winning filmmaker behind the feature documentary Sea of Life. For as long as she can remember Julia has been passionate about the natural world.

Sean, co-founder of Wild Lens Collective, spearheaded the group's vision for a collaborative art community. His commitment to documenting the plight of the vaquita, the world's most endangered marine mammal, led to the award-winning documentary ``Souls of the Vermilion Sea.`` As co-director of ``Sea of Shadows,`` the film premiered at Sundance 2019 and won the Audience Award in the International Documentary category. Sean's directorial credits include various short films for the Wild Lens Collective, showcasing his storytelling prowess and dedication to wildlife conservation.

Upper Michigan was where I was born and raised, a destination for travel and exploration for many. I Have a degree from Northern Michigan University in Graphic Communications. Exploring and traveling are my primary interests in life. My vision as a graphic designer and photographer has always been driven by conservation and nature.

I went to undergrad at Chapman film school for four years. I majored in film production with emphasis in directing. Then I got my masters in documentary photography. I was lucky enough to grow up with a mother who loved to travel and got hooked on traveling the world at a young age.

Michael Competielle is a sound designer and soundscape preservationist. He has worked in audio for most of his career focusing on the capturing of the complexities of the world's sounds. His passion is finding a perfect acoustical blend of pleasing biological and geological soundscapes and archiving for future generations.

``When we look at nature, we see ourselves.`` From the time I was hunted by a leopard aged 10, nature has enthralled me. I’ve been to all four corners of the world and generally made an oyster of it. I’ve played housemaid for hedgehogs and picnicked with parrots; I’ve doted on ducklings, baited bandicoots, hidden from hyenas and mopped (not vacuumed) vulture vomit. Nowadays, my modus operandi is using comedy, livestream formats and international networks to reshape our human-nature relationship.

Kristine began developing her background in Fundraising and Event Planning while working for Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo. Since then she has organized and run numerous events and conferences in the Boise area and beyond. Her role in organizing the 2014 North American Bluebird Society Conference, which was hosted in Boise by Wild Lens, was absolutely essential to the event’s success.

Christy Frank is a filmmaker, photojournalist and writer based in the Great Lakes region. She is passionate about storytelling that intersects environmental and human/wildlife conditions. She combines a background in journalism, business and biology to help manage projects from start to action and to convey stories from a unique perspective. Christy’s work has appeared in bioGraphic, National Wildlife Federation, PBS, Great Lakes Now, Audubon, CBS news, PBS Nature and for numerous nonprofit causes.

Journalist, filmmaker, traveler and environmentalist, Isabella Galante has written for several renowned Brazilian and international news outlets. Author of the documentaries 'Self Anguish Narrative' and 'Edu'Active', for which she received the Best by Audience 2020 award at the Heritales festival, in Portugal. She worked on the production crew for the third season of 'Idade Mídia', by Canal Futura, and the web series 'How to Survive' by the Canadian Underknown.

Katie Garrett is a filmmaker, illustrator and animator with a focus the natural history and conservation of amphibians. With a background in biology her work combines intimate close-up cinematography with personal stories from people living and working alongside nature. She has published for the likes of National Geographic, bioGraphic and Science Friday, licensed footage of endangered amphibians to the BBC and PBS and won many awards including Jackson Wild and the National Geographic Short Film Showcase. From a young age she has always been fascinated by the beauty and diversity of reptiles and amphibians. She is driven by a desire to tell stories that highlight how amazing these creatures are, as well as the passion and hard work of those fighting to conserve them.

Justin Grubb is a wildlife filmmaker, photographer, published writer, naturalist and co-founder of Running Wild Media. Justin earned his B.Sc. in Biology at Bowling Green State University and is currently earning his Masters of Biology at Miami University in Ohio. With years of international wildlife field research and formal/informal teaching experience, Justin combines these two fields with media to enhance science communication.

Gregory has been a podcast producer for 6 years. His passion for democracy and climate action is expressed in satirical but though-provoking, sound-rich, immersive storytelling. The combination of which have lead him to scenes like the Red Line Protests on the Champs-Élysées in Paris during the COP21 Paris Climate Agreement. This passion for podcasting began in Germany and continues in Northern Colorado where he lives with his wife, Andi. He is currently developing a new climate change podcast.

After receiving his BS in Radio/TV/Film from the University of Texas, Skip turned his passion for wildlife into a career that has taken him all over the world for National Geographic, Animal Planet, Discovery & PBS. Skip’s passion for wildlife and conservation are only equaled by his passion for technology. His quick grasp of how to use the latest and greatest camera tech in aid of storytelling, quickly advanced his career as a young cinematographer. In 2012, Skip earned an Emmy award as part of the camera team for National Geographic’s series Untamed Americas.

Sebastian Kennerknecht is a wildlife and conservation photographer with over fourteen years of experience visually covering wildlife and environmental issues internationally, focusing in particular on wild cats. He has produced high quality editorial photographs, time-lapses, and web content featured in and by BBC Wildlife, Smithsonian, The Economist, Science, and Conservation International, among others.

Barb Kuensting is a freelance documentary filmmaker focused on the intersection of environmental and humanitarian issues. She is a recent graduate from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, where she also obtained a degree in Biology. Her inspiration comes from a deep connection to the natural world, a connection she feels compelled to foster in others through the art of filmmaking.

Omar Manjouneh is a Cairo-based filmmaker. As a film student he started working in the documentary filmmaking industry before traveling to South Africa to train as a wildlife and underwater filmmaker. Following this lead he started working professionally for several years across Africa as wildlife and underwater cameraman, editor, director and producer creating video series for many national parks, governmental entities and international NGOs. He is working currently as a wildlife conservation filmmaker with nature conservation Egypt (NCE), an NGO focused on protecting and maintaining biodiversity all over Egypt. At the same time, he is working on his 1st feature length wildlife documentary “Crocodopolis”.

Greg seeks connections through his work between art, science, and conservation. He runs Workshop 108, a multimedia company partnering with cultural institutions on educational outreach initiatives, creating experiences in physical and digital spaces. Previously, Greg spent over a decade at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, primarily as a media producer on its interdisciplinary Exhibitions team.

Jason was born in the moist jungle of Louisiana, but fled to the parched landscape of Southern California in his twenties. While struggling to survive in its urban deserts he rediscovered the outdoors and was introduced to the veritable opiates of climbing and canyoneering. A lifelong storyteller, he sustains himself creating animation, motion graphics, and visual effects while also helping manage the production company he cofounded, Butcher Bird Studios.

Ben Mirin has spent the past several years recording rare and unusual sounds in nature, then sampling those voices to create music that inspires conservation. Mirin combines his passions for music and wildlife to share science stories with audiences beyond the reach of traditional nature media. He has received grants and fellowships from the National Science Foundation, National Geographic, The Safina Center, and The Explorers Club.

Esther Nosazeogie is a biologist who aspires to wield the power of story to bridge the yawning gap between scientific knowledge and public understanding. She has a passion to see more people, especially in Nigeria (her country), appreciate nature through a greater understanding; because the better people appreciate nature, the more likely they would be to contribute towards protecting it.

Victoria is an ambitious environmental photojournalist equipped with a rich knowledge of written and visual storytelling techniques reinforced by a multimedia focus background. Her most recent role as Producer/Videographer for Coextinction Film took her to the Pacific Northwest to tell the story of the highly endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales, Chinook Salmon, and the individuals fighting to save them.

Annie Roth is a freelance environmental journalist with a passion for wildlife conservation. Roth has a graduate certificate in science communication and a bachelor’s degree in marine biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Using her background in science and storytelling, Roth has shined a light on a wide variety of neglected wildlife conservation issues, including the bear bile trade in Vietnam and the exploitation of deep-sea sharks by cosmetic producers.

Erin Banks Rusby is a freelance journalist based in Berkeley, California. She is interested in writing about ecology and how people engage with nature. After studying biology and Spanish at Willamette University, she joined the Palo Alto-based environmental nonprofit Grassroots Ecology where she led volunteer groups in environmental habitat restoration and education. Through narrative writing and other media, she hopes to make science and environmental topics accessible to a wider audience.

Xander Samaras is a director, producer, and editor working at the intersection of wildlife and human-centered stories. A graduate of New York University, Xander has worked on content for organizations including National Geographic, Smithsonian Channel, CNN, Wildlife Conservation Society, and the United Nations. His accolades include a Lumiere Award, Webby Awards, a Cine Golden Eagle, a Jackson Wild Award, and an Emmy nomination..

I am an award winning film maker who has been involved in production for over twenty years. I originally was involved in magazine photography and journalism before I moved into video production. I spent almost a decade as a lecturer in video and film production at a private Australian university. But in the end, it is just an excuse to be out in nature!

Writer, poet, wildlife photographer & film-maker, TEDx Speaker and passionate conservationist, I am a 22 year old, mass media graduate who loves nature and through my poems, articles and images of natural heritage hope to spread the message of conservation. My articles, poems and images have been published in the Sanctuary Asia, BBC Wildlife, Saevus, TOI, DNA, Midday, HT, Digital Photographer, Mongabay, Pawstrail, Guardian and other newspaper & magazines.

Zach is a wildlife filmmaker, photographer, naturalist, USCG licensed Captain, and founder of the Carolina Safari Co. Zach earned his B.Sc. in Wildlife Ecology & Conservation from the University of Florida in 2016. After listening to the Eyes on Conservation Podcast for years, Zach decided to pursue Conservation Communication rather than Field Biology upon graduation. He uses his knowledge of complex field biology practices to communicate complex conservation issues to the general public in ways that they can comprehend.

I am a highly motivated and hardworking naturalist/guide and artist mainly in both polar regions. I go wildlife watching and birding frequently both professionally and privately. Not limited to wildlife watching but to simply experience nature, learn about it, feel it and be with it. My interest in this area is not limited to the polar regions, but covers many different destinations in various climates in the world.

Andy is a podcast creator from Sydney, Australia. Combining his diverse background in broadcast TV, radio, and IT with a passion for wild cat conservation, Andy created the podcast 'Cats of the Wild' in 2020, sharing engaging and inspiring stories of wild cat conservation. Andy firmly believes in the influential role of storytelling to bridge the gap between audiences and the people, communities, and organisations working and living at the front lines of wildlife conservation.

Julian Victor, a Wildlife Filmmaker from Toronto, boasts an impressive background collaborating with renowned institutions such as National Geographic, Smithsonian, and PBS. Currently, he hosts the monthly segment 'On the Wild Side' on Canada's premier Morning show, Breakfast Television and serves as a board member on the Planet In Focus International Film Festival. Julian focuses on revealing the resilience of wildlife flourishing in urban environments, spotlighting everything from bustling colonies of double-crested cormorants along Toronto's waterfront to the captivating presence of turkey vultures perched on city buildings. Through his impactful work, Julian aims to inspire and educate others about the remarkable adaptability of wildlife in our urban landscapes.

Lana's current focus is on animals in captivity for entertainment, specifically mall aquariums and petting zoos. She is committed to highlighting the truth about animals being used for entertainment and how we humans can do so much better.

Greg Willis began scoring films in the EOC series after completing his BA in music / composition at Humboldt State University in 2014. His interest in film was sparked while making a music video with Sean Bogle in 2009. While in school Greg took every opportunity to develop his interest in film by taking classes in film scoring, composition, and music technology. He gained acceptance into the composition program at HSU with a video project documenting his creation of chance music by scattering a variety of seeds and interpreting the result as music.

Wendi is a passionate storyteller and multimedia producer with a wealth of experience in climate, conservation, and agriculture issues. She spent 6 years at Greenpeace's East Asia office in Beijing as a multimedia producer and worked as a freelance consultant for various international and local grassroots NGOs. Her multimedia production experience has allowed her to get involved in the protection of some of the planet's most endangered and rare species.