The Buzzies Awards
2026 NOMINEES
Best Science
Sponsored by CICC
AI: PROBABLY NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT
Broadcaster/Platform: Channel 4
Production Company: Windfall Films and 72 Films
EVOLUTION
Broadcaster/Platform: PBS/NOVA (and BBC)
Production Company: BBC Studios
FATHER TIME, WHY MEN ARE BORN TO NURTURE
Broadcaster/Platform: ARTE France
Production Company: Tangerine Productions/Ouragan Films
THE BATTLE TO BREATHE
Broadcaster/Platform: PBS/NOVA
Production Company: Wingspan Productions and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios
AGES OF ICE: THE FROZEN HEART
Broadcaster/Platform: PBS, ABC and ITV Studios
Production Company: Northern Pictures
CRACKING THE CODE: PHIL SHARP AND THE BIOTECH REVOLUTION
Broadcaster/Platform: PBS Independent Lens
Production Company: Uncommon Productions
Best Natural History
Sponsored by ORF
SURVIVAL OF THE SLOWEST
Broadcaster/Platform: CBC
Production Company: Attaboy Television Limited
WILD SIDE OF THE MOON (EPISODE 1 - DINING BY MOONLIGHT)
Broadcaster/Platform: Love Nature
Production Company: Humble Bee Films
GHOST ELEPHANTS
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic Channel
Production Company: Sobey Road Entertainment, Skellig Rock, Inc., The Roots Production Service
FLUORESCENCE: NATURE'S SUPERPOWER
Broadcaster/Platform: ARTE G.E.I.E., AMC Southern Europe, FTV PRIMA, Magellan TV, MTVA
Production Company: ZED, ARTE G.E.I.E.,
THE MOSQUITOES ARE WINNING
Broadcaster/Platform: CBC
Production Company: Grand Passage Media Inc.
LION
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic Channel
Production Company: BBC Studios Natural History Unit with Jon Favreau’s Fairview Entertainment
THE ELEPHANT ODYSSEY
Broadcaster/Platform: IMAX
Production Company: Beach House Pictures Ltd
Best History
STUFF THE BRITISH STOLE
Broadcaster/Platform: ABC Australia
Production Company: Wildbear Entertainment, Wooden Horse, Artemis Media
POMPEII: OUT OF TIME WITH TOM HIDDLESTON
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic Channel
Production Company: Plimsoll Productions
ALFRED NOBEL & BERTHA VON SUTTNER: THE PRICE OF PEACE
Broadcaster/Platform: ARTE G.E.I.E., SVT, ORF, TV5 Québec, Planète+, RTBF & NRK
Production Company: ZED, Nordic Eye Productions, RANFILM
ROME UNDERGROUND
Broadcaster/Platform: Radio-Canada, France Televisions, History Italia, National Geographic UK
Production Company: Ideacom International (CA), Artline Films (FR), MyMax Edutainment (IT)
WHEN THE WAR IS OVER
Broadcaster/Platform: ABC Australia
Production Company: Mint Pictures in association with Magdalene Media
CHERNOBYL: INSIDE THE MELTDOWN
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic
Production Company: Windfall Films
ONCE UPON A TIME IN SPACE
Broadcaster/Platform: BBC
Production Company: KEO Films
Best Innovation in Factual
Sponsored by Terra Mater Studios
POMPEII: OUT OF TIME WITH TOM HIDDLESTON
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic Channel
Production Company: Plimsoll Productions
KNUT, THE VIKING EMPEROR
Broadcaster/Platform: Histoire TV, Sky History, SVT, ZDF Studios, TCD, Radio Canada & Foxtel
Production Company: ZED
SUPER SCAM ME
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic Channel
Production Company: Muck Media for National Geographic
HORRIBLE SCIENCE SERIES 2
Broadcaster/Platform: CBBC/BBC iPlayer
Production Company: Lion Television
LION
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic Channel
Production Company: BBC Studios Natural History Unit with Jon Favreau’s Fairview Entertainment
CLUCK! CHICKENS EXPOSED
Broadcaster/Platform: CBC / ARTE France
Production Company: Invert Films Inc.
Best Digital-First
SUPERSKILLED WITH EVA ZU BECK
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic YouTube
Production Company: Yellow Border Production Services
THE SOLAR ECLIPSE 2026
Broadcaster/Platform: YouTube
Production Company: Nordic Science Company
A SPECIAL LITTLE FISH
Broadcaster/Platform: CBC / CBC Gem and CBC Nature of Things Youtube
Production Company: Plankton Productions
THE TORNADO THAT CHANGED SCIENCE
Broadcaster/Platform: YouTube
Production Company: Astrum Earth / Electrify Video Partners
DRIVE ME TO THE MOON
Broadcaster/Platform: YouTube
Production Company: Polar Media
WILD HOPE: THE COMEBACK CAT
Broadcaster/Platform: PBS Nature YouTube Channel
Production Company: HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, Light & Shadow
OUR BODIES ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH WEIGHTLESSNESS
Broadcaster/Platform: YouTube Scilabus
Production Company: Scigal
Best Short Form
JOY IN ANIMALS
Broadcaster/Platform: YouTube
Production Company: Rebel Media Productions
WHALES AND ALIENS
Broadcaster/Platform: YouTube
Production Company: Rebel Media Productions
THE LIMIT OF CLONING
Broadcaster/Platform: Pointe of View (YouTube Channel)
Production Company: Pointe Media
TORNADO ALLEY IS MOVING AND THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM
Broadcaster/Platform: PBS Digital Studios
Production Company: Balance Media
Best Direction
Sponsored by NHK
AI: PROBABLY NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT
Broadcaster/Platform: Channel 4
Production Company: Windfall Films and 72 Films
Director: Nick Holt
POLE TO POLE
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic Channel
Production Company: Nutopia, Westbrook, Protozoa
Director: Tom Barbor-Might, Dionne Bromfield
TIME AND WATER
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic Channel
Production Company: Sandbox Films, Ninmah Foundation, Signpost Pictures Production, Compass Films
Director: Sara Dosa
POMPEII: OUT OF TIME WITH TOM HIDDLESTON
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic Channel
Production Company: Plimsoll Productions
Director: Tom Barbor-Might
CHILEAN MINE RESCUE: RACE AGAINST TIME
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic Channel
Production Company: Blast
Director: Chloe Campbell, James Parris
AGES OF ICE: THE FROZEN HEART
Broadcaster/Platform: PBS, ABC and ITV Studios
Production Company: Northern Pictures
Director: Karina Holden
Best Cinematography
ORANGUTAN
Broadcaster/Platform: Disney+
Production Company: Disneynature in association with Wildstar Films
Cinematography: Martyn Colbeck, Yuzuru Masuda
SECRETS OF THE BEES
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic Channel
Production Company: Silverback Films
Cinematography: Justin Maguire, John Brown, Alastair MacEwen
GLADICE
Broadcaster/Platform: Vimeo
Production Company: Arctic Arts Project & Black Mountain Films
Cinematography: Kerry Koepping, Florian Ledoux, David Garrett Byars
RIDDLE IN THE WIND - EPISODE 1: FEATHERS OF CHANGE
Broadcaster/Platform: Servus TV
Production Company: Terra Mater Studios and Saint Thomas Productions with ARTE G.E.I.E
Cinematography: Kévin Peyrusse, Marin Portier, Marta Sostres, Joshua Comaish
AGES OF ICE: THE FROZEN HEART
Broadcaster/Platform: PBS, ABC and ITV Studios
Production Company: Northern Pictures
Cinematography: Cam Batten, Ross Mackay and Niklas Heinecke
Best Editing
POLE TO POLE
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic Channel
Production Company: Nutopia, Westbrook, Protozoa
Editing: Tom Fulford, Charlie Smedley
THE HUNT FOR THE LAST NAZIS
Broadcaster/Platform: SBS Australia
Production Company: Mint Pictures
Editing: Mark Middis
TIME AND WATER
Broadcaster/Platform: National Geographic Channel
Production Company: Sandbox Films, Ninmah Foundation, Signpost Pictures Production, Compass Films
Editing: Erin Casper, Jocelyne Chaput, Mark Harrison
BIG CATS 24/7 SERIES 2, EPISODES 1 & 5
Broadcaster/Platform: BBC Two, PBS
Production Company: BBC Studios
Editing: James Bickersteth
IN THE EYE OF THE STORM: CHASERS
Broadcaster/Platform: Discovery Channel, HBO MAX
Production Company: Arrow Media
Editing: Jamie Cadwell, Mitch Bannon, Nick Read, Phil Perry, Simon Holmes, Will Roache
The categories to be announced at Congress '26 are:
Best Host
Green Impact of the Year
Rising Star of the Year
Mentor of the Year
Diversity Leadership Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
Sloan Buzzies Award - Supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
The nomination information has been reviewed by the submitters for accuracy. If any further amendments are required, please reach out to awards@wcsfp.com
The Buzzies celebrate excellence in science and factual storytelling, and recognize short-form, long-form and multiplatform science, history and natural history projects, as well as awarding projects for innovation and impact. The winners each received a signature award statue and a free registration to Congress '27.
Submissions are closed for 2026
This year’s categories include:
- Best Science
Awarded to an outstanding science documentary from any platform that brings scientific ideas, discoveries, and research to life through compelling storytelling, originality, and exceptional factual filmmaking. Open to one-offs or series of 30 commercial minutes or longer.
- Best History
Recognizing excellence in history storytelling, this award celebrates documentaries from any platform that illuminate the past with depth, accuracy, creativity, and strong narrative craft. Open to one-offs or series of 30 commercial minutes or longer.
- Best Natural History & Environmental Storytelling
Honoring exceptional storytelling about the natural world, wildlife, or the environment, this award recognizes productions that combine powerful narratives with outstanding filmmaking. Open to one-offs or series of 30 commercial minutes or longer from any platform.
- Best Innovation in Factual - NEW
Celebrating bold and original approaches to factual storytelling, this award recognizes a one-of-a-kind production that demonstrates outstanding innovation in storytelling, production, technology, format or visual presentation. Open to one-offs or series of 30 commercial minutes or longer.
- Best Digital-First - NEW
Celebrating factual storytelling created for digital platforms, this award recognizes a one-off or series that premiered first on a digital platform and demonstrates innovation, audience engagement, and creative excellence. Open to projects longer than 15 minutes.
- Best Short Form
Awarded to an outstanding short-form factual production that delivers powerful storytelling, creativity, and impact in under 15 minutes. Open to one-offs or series.
- Best Direction
This award recognizes exceptional directorial vision, creativity, and leadership in bringing a factual story to life across any format.
- Best Cinematography
Recognizing outstanding visual storytelling, this award recognizes a DOP who skillfully captures real-life narratives with exceptional composition, lighting, and camera work. Open to one-offs or series of 30 commercial minutes or longer.
- Best Editing
Awarded for excellence in factual editing, this category recognizes exceptional skill in visual storytelling through pacing, structure and rhythm to create a compelling documentary experience that is both emotional and effectively communicates factual information.
- Best Host
Awarded to an exceptional factual host, presenter, or on-screen team whose presence, storytelling ability, and audience connection elevate a documentary or factual program.
- Green Impact of the Year
Recognizing meaningful environmental leadership within the industry, this award honors a media organization or production that has significantly reduced its environmental impact or positively influenced public awareness, attitudes, or policy around environmental issues. Open to a production, broadcaster, production company, producer association, or other media entity.
- Mentor of the Year - Free submissions
This award celebrates an individual who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to mentoring and developing emerging talent within the science, history, or natural history media industries.
- Rising Star of the Year - Free submissions
Awarded to a producer or content-creator in the early stages of their career who has demonstrated outstanding promise, creativity, and achievement in science, history, natural history or other specialist-factual storytelling.
- Diversity Leadership Award - Free submissions
Recognizing individuals, teams, or organizations driving meaningful change in diversity, equity, and inclusion within science, history, or wildlife production.
- Lifetime Achievement Award - Free submissions
This award honors an individual whose career has made an exceptional and lasting contribution to science, history, or natural history media.
- Sloan Buzzies Award - Free submissions
Celebrating originality, creativity, and excellence in science storytelling, the Sloan Buzzies Award is presented to an independent or small-team digital-first creator producing outstanding science or technology content. The award offers a $10,000 USD cash prize courtesy of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Open to digital-first science or technology creators (50,000+ followers) working independently or in small teams.
Terms and Eligibility:
All production-specific submissions
Must have/will be premiered on a platform between October 2025 to October 2026.
Must be in English or subtitled in English.
WCSFP will not accept rough cuts or fine cuts for consideration.
It is the responsibility of the applicant to secure clearance from all copyright holders of materials included in the submitted production. WCSFP will not be held responsible for the unauthorized inclusion of copyrighted materials within or relating to the submitted production. WCSFP reserves the right to disqualify any project with unauthorized copyrighted materials.
Submission Fees
Award applicants need not register for WCSFP 2026, however attendance is encouraged.
Regular: €120
Independent Digital Creator, Scientists or Science Communicators: €50
Please select "Student Fee" when submitting.
Awards with No Entry Fee: Mentor of the Year, Rising Star of the Year, Diversity Leadership Award, Lifetime Achievement Award & Sloan Buzzies Award
All fees outlined above include:
Submission to the 2026 awards for consideration
Administrative expenses related to cataloging and reviewing each submission
Discount codes are not accepted retroactively. Submission fees are non-refundable.
Selection Process
Applicants will be notified if their project has advanced to be a finalist nominee via email at the beginning of October 2026. All decisions by juries and the WCSFP programming team are final.
WCSFP is under no obligation to provide comments or feedback regarding the submitted project to the applicant or any other representative. Incomplete applications will not be considered or refunded. WCSFP is under no obligation to notify the applicant.
No screeners or application materials will be returned. Do not send film prints, master tapes, or other originals.
To submit, you must complete the online submission form. All submissions will be processed via FilmFreeway. Please note, you will be required to create a FilmFreeway account to submit.
A project/company may submit more than one project/nominee, and may submit that project/nominee for more than one category; however, you must complete a separate form for each project/nominee.
Please ensure that the preview link for your project does not expire before the date of WCSFP 2026.
It is the entrant's responsibility to enter their project in the correct category. If you have any questions regarding eligibility, please contact the awards team at: awards@wcsfp.com.