2018 New York WILD Film Festival to Celebrate Heroes and Hope

The New York WILD Film Festival curates some of the world's leading documentaries about exploration, wildlife and the environment and brings together the heroes who share their breathtaking images, daring adventures and poignant, compelling stories for what some have called a life-changing experience.

"These extraordinary films can move us to tears and, hopefully, will move us to care more about the planet's future -- and to take action," said WILD Film Festival Founder and Executive Director Nancy Rosenthal. "The threats we face are greater than ever, but in the midst of these challenges, there are stories of heroes and hope."

Film Highlights, each with Q&A:

JANE - Drawing from more than 100 hours of never-before-seen footage, JANE tells the story of Jane Goodall, whose pioneering research on chimpanzees revolutionized our understanding of the natural world. Best in Festival.

Into Twin Galaxies - A Greenland Epic - A daring kite-ski and kayak expedition over the Greenland Icecap in some never-explored territories. Best Exploration Film.

The Last Honey Hunter - One man from the Kulung culture harvests psychotropic honey that is guarded by capricious spirits and the world's largest honeybees. Best Cinematography.

Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution - Filmmaker James Redford embarks on a colorful personal journey into the dawn of the clean-energy era. Best Environmental Film.

RARE: Creatures of the Photo Ark - The quest by renowned National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore who risks life and limb to document thousands of endangered animals around the world for a "Photo Ark." Best Conservation Film.

Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story - The miraculous journey of recovery made by a chef/adventurer who was shocked with 2,400 volts of electricity. Best WILD Spirit Film.

The Frozen Road - Adventurer Ben Page's dramatic solo bike trip across the forbidding wilderness of the Canadian Arctic. Best Adventure Film.

Special for the Next Generation of Conservationists and Explorers:

This year New York WILD will offer a program for the entire family, aimed at children ages nine and up. Kids are invited to visit The Explorers Club to become explorers for an afternoon. Films feature killer snails used to fight cancer, a daring mission with giraffes, diving with orcas and a 19-year-old from Colorado who seeks to be the first woman to ascend a 5.15a route.

For the second year New York WILD Film Festival continues a partnership with New York University and NYU Shanghai. "Inspiring the future leaders of the planet is a shared mission with NYU and New York WILD," said Rosenthal.

Some the sponsors of New York WILD are: Wildlife Conservation Society, University of Miami: Exploration Science, Fjällräven and The Explorers Club, with additional support from New York Women in Film & Television and New York University.

High-quality color photographs and video clips from the 2018 films are available here. For more information on WILD, visit nywildfilmfestival.com.