Andy Byatt founded Amberjack Films in 2015 to engage audiences with nature, conservation, biodiversity and science through entertaining, honest storytelling. They focus on the best medium for the best story, very much including New Media. They create initiatives and connections to promote local filmmakers and authentic storytelling. They work with partners in the USA, France, Israel, Canada, Cameroon and the UK. Within their company, they have a foundation of diverse and international talent on their team, of all races, genders, disabilities, ages and perspectives driven to tell meaningful stories about our planet. 

Andy’s film’s awards include EMMY, BAFTA, Best of Festival at Wildscreen, Jackson Hole, Best of Festival at the Shanghai Television Festival; Best of Festival at 3D Stereo Media Liege 2016 and nomination for the Grierson Award. He was a key player in the BBC’s landmarks: The Blue Planet (2001); co-director of the feature film Deep Blue (2003); Planet Earth (2006) and Amazon Abyss (2006). His series on Hurricanes was selected by the French foreign ministry to represent France’s commitment to global warming during COP 21 in Paris. Hurricane 3D (2015), Lost Worlds: Deeper into the Black Sea (2018) and the IMAX “Future of Snow” (2021) are his most recent projects. 

Founded in 1991 the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival became the world’s pre-eminent wildlife filmmakers’ event before being transformed in Jackson Wild – an industry leader in driving change for the better. Jackson Wild is a catalyst for accelerating and elevating impactful storytelling at the nexus of nature, science and conservation. Through innovative and collaborative community gatherings, skill-building initiatives and mentorship programs, Jackson Wild creates an inclusive forum for storytellers to more deeply illuminate connections to the natural world and our collective responsibility to the wild. More than this – it is a game changer in promoting a holistic approach to the environment, breaking barriers to entry for people of all races, genders, and perspectives.

They have programmes in place to encourage and support young environmentalists and filmmakers all around the globe. The Jackson Wild Media Lab and Summit Fellowships train and mentor emerging conservation media leaders in unique programs that directly engage them with the most influential content creators from around the globe. Spanning South Africa, Kenya and Rwanda to India and South America, Jackson Wild is working with local organizers to globalize the voices of young filmmakers.

As part of their dynamic initiatives, Schoolyard Films have partnered to form the Jackson Wild / Schoolyard Scholarship. It is a new chapter of their journey to more truthfulness in filmmaking to support the biosphere of our planet.