READ: Afcacia // Ghana’s First Locally-Led Dive Lab Aims to Empower Youth and Protect the Ocean
Release date: 27 October 2025

Along Ghana’s sunlit coast, where fishing boats line the horizon and the tides carry both sustenance and stories, George Amado is leading a quiet revolution beneath the surface.

Further reading // Did you know that Ghana’s coasts are home to Coral Reefs?

READ: The Witness // Film Used as a Tool to Combat Rhino Poaching
Release date: 20 October 2025

To the casual observer, films may seem to exist solely for entertain-ment. However, those with a deeper understanding know that the art form can be a powerful tool for education and awareness.

Further reading // Seeing Beyond with Nathan Rice

READ: Eyethu Northern // Short Film Spotlights Conservation Efforts
Release date: 20 October 2025

The behind-the-scenes work of rhino conservation is the focus of a new documentary highlighting successful anti-poaching interventions at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP).

READ: Zululand Observer (Weekend)// Rhino Conservation Efforts Documented
Release date: 17 October 2025

The behind-the-scenes work of rhino conservation is the focus of a new documentary highlighting successful anti-poaching interventions at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP).

READ: Northern Natal News // Ezemvelo and NEWF Showcase Anti-Poaching Initiatives in Documentary
Release date: 16 October 2025

'Rhino Ops', a powerful new documentary that profiles one of South Africa's most ambitious and successful anti-poaching interventions, launched on Monday, October 6.

READ: Art Smart // NEWF Applauds Debut of ‘Wild Hope - Rhino Ops’
Release date: 16 October 2025

NEWF celebrates the recent premier of the film, on Wild Hope TV and on PBS Nature’s YouTube Channel, which took place on October 6, 2025.

READ: Zululand Observer // Rhino Ops: Hope from the Horn
Release date: 16 October 2025

New documentary reveals valiant dehorning operation at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, helping to slash poaching incidents.

READ: The Citizen // Film Used as a Tool to Combat the Scourge of Rhino Poaching
Release date: 16 October 2025

'Wild Hope: Rhino Ops' highlights both the urgency of rhino protection and the hope that comes from community-driven action.

WATCH: ENCA // Rhino conservation | Dehorning to save lives
Release date: 16 October 2025

A powerful new documentary, Rhino Ops, spotlights one of South Africa’s most ambitious anti-poaching drives, a large-scale dehorning operation at Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park.

LISTEN: ENCA // Rhino Ops
Release date: 15 October 2025

READ: South Africa Today // Film Release: NEWF Applauds Debut of ‘Wild Hope – Rhino Ops’ as a Significant Milestone for African Filmmaking and Conservation
Release date: 14 October 2025

Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF), in a co-production with HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and supported by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, have produced ‘Wild Hope: Rhino Ops’, a gripping film showcasing the park’s largest rhino horn programme to date.

LISTEN: The Upside - Channel Africa // Wild Hope: Rhino Ops
Release date: 14 October 2025

Part 1 + Part 2

READ: Trending Online // New film 'Wild Hope: Rhino Ops' Explores Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife's Dehorning Programme
Release date: 12 October 2025

A documentary ‘Wild Hope: Rhino Ops’, which premiered last week, showcases the work of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to embark on a massive programme to dehorn rhino in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

READ: The Mercury Online // New Film 'Wild Hope: Rhino Ops' Explores Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife's Dehorning Programme
Release date: 12 October 2025

A documentary ‘Wild Hope: Rhino Ops’, which premiered last week, showcases the work of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to embark on a massive programme to dehorn rhino in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

READ: IOL Online // New film 'Wild Hope: Rhino Ops' explores Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife's Dehorning Programme
Release date: 12 October 2025

A documentary ‘Wild Hope: Rhino Ops’, which premiered last week, showcases the work of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to embark on a massive programme to dehorn rhino in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

READ: Independent Saturday // The Team Behind Rhino Success Story
Release date: 11 October 2025

Rhino Ops, a powerful new documentary that profiles one of South Africa’s most ambitious and successful anti-poaching interventions launched this week.

READ: Saturday Star // Inside SA's High Stakes Battle Against Poaching
Release date: 11 October 2025

Rhino Ops, a powerful new documentary that profiles one of South Africa’s most ambitious and successful anti-poaching interventions launched this week.

READ: IOL // Showing the Team Behind Rhino Success Story
Release date: 9 October 2025

Rhino Ops, a powerful new documentary that profiles one of South Africa’s most ambitious and successful anti-poaching interventions launched this week.

READ: Sundance Institute // 2025 Sundance Institute Documentary Fund Grantees Revealed
Release date: 24 September 2025

The nonprofit Sundance Institute today announced their 2025 Documentary Fund grant recipients, among them NEWF Fellow and 2025 Takalani Mulaudzi Development Grantee, Samira-Ver-Cruz. The Documentary Fund will support 32 global nonfiction storytelling projects on timely subjects that drive cultural and social impact, offering unrestricted grants from a total granting fund of over $1.5 million.

READ: South Africa Today // Heritage Day 2025: Local custodians Nkosi and Sli lead a new wave of ocean heritage in Sodwana Bay
Release date: 23 September 2025

In just seven years, NEWF’s ocean access program has grown into the largest of its kind on the continent, building capacity, equity, and opportunity. At the heart of this movement are community leaders like “Mama Sli” and “Nkosi”, whose journeys embody the living heritage of custodianship.

READ: NGS Newsroom // Exchange between filmmakers yields powerful ocean films
Release date: 08 August 2025

Thousands of miles may separate Africa and Latin America, but a recent exchange revealed a profound connection between storytellers from each continent and region, respectively: a deep reverence for the ocean.

READ: NEWF STORY ARC // Tides That Bind: A Sea of Belonging
Release date: 08 July 2025

Demonstrating the power of collaborative partnerships, cultural exchange and peer to peer learning as an exponential growth practice; programs like the South x South exchange present new opportunities to show how storytellers, conservation advocates and scientists are elevating their practices.

READ: NEWF STORY ARC // Sustaining what sustains us: Supporting Inclusive Ocean Culture By and For the Sea
Release date: 08 July 2025

How does an organisation inspired to break industry barriers for African storytellers find themselves facilitating Africa’s largest Ocean Access Program for African Scientists, Conservationists and Storytellers?

READ: NEWF PRESS RELEASE // NEWF Kickstarter Story Producers' Lab Is Supporting a New Cohort of Emerging Nature Storytellers
Release date: 03 July 2025

Nature Environment Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) recently inducted and hosted a new cohort of their Kickstarter Producers’ program. The program supports emerging storytellers, scientists, and conservationists with grant of ZAR 75,000.00 (Approx. USD 3,500) to produce an 8-10 minute documentary short film.

READ: NEWF PRESS RELEASE // NEWF Launches first-ever game design lab to inspire curiosity and solution-forward thinking through play
Release date: 24 June 2025

Nature Environment Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) is proud to announce the launch of its first Game Design Lab, in collaboration with Internet for Elephants from 6–12 October 2025. The lab will be facilitated by game designers and developers Gautam Shah (Internet of Elephants) and Jake Manion (Pan Africa Gaming Group, and formerly Aardman Animations).

Meet the fellows

READ: NEWF PRESS RELEASE // NEWF Observed World Oceans Day with a Milestone for Ocean Access in Africa
Release date: 11 June 2025

This globally recognised certification by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) means NEWF can now deliver internationally recognised PADI dive training—from beginner to advanced certifications—at eKhaya, led by diverse African instructors.

READ: NEWF STORY ARC // Africa Refocused, Reimagined, and Rising Together at #NEWF2025
Release Date: 30 April 2025

The 8th NEWF Fellows Summit and Congress emerged as a culturally vibrant, supportive and engaging source of community, connection and creative energy once again.

READ: Okay Africa // ‘Africa Refocused’ Changes the Story by Changing the Storyteller
Release date: 23 May 2025

For Africa Day, OkayAfrica explores a collaboration between filmmakers, and the National Geographic Society; a rekindling of the connection Africans have with the continent, its surrounding oceans, and each other.

READ: NEWF PRESS RELEASE // NEWF Expands Youth Employment Through YES Programme in Partnership with Wild Impact
Release date: 06 May 2025

Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) is proud to announce the successful onboarding of 38 local youth as part of its internship programme in partnership with Wild Impact, under the national Youth Employment Service (YES) initiative.

READ: Ladera Sur // Noel Kok y Pragna Parsotam-Kok llegan a Santiago Wild 2025: Transformando la narrativa africana en la cinematografía de vida silvestre
Release date: 04 May 2025

Para transformar la narrativa sobre la vida silvestre africana, los cineastas y exploradores de National Geographic, Noel Kok y Pragna Parsotam-Kok, fundaron en 2017 el Congreso de Cineastas de Naturaleza, Medio Ambiente y Vida Silvestre (NEWF).

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READ: The Apes Reporting Project // Diana Kanweri on life with chimpanzees in Kibale
Release date: 29 April 2025

For over eight years, Diana Kanweri has devoted herself to Kibale National Park in western Uganda; home to more than 1,500 chimpanzees, which are organized into four separate communities.

WATCH: KZN Tourism & Film // From ocean floors to behind-the-scenes filmmaker training, this is where stories come alive — only in the Magical Zulu Kingdom
Release date: 24 April 2025

Join Ryle De Morny as he takes us on a cinematic journey through Sodwana Bay — exploring the breathtaking landscapes, diving beneath the waves, and discovering NEWF’s inspiring work - a game-changing platform for wildlife and conservation storytelling in Africa.

READ: NEWF Press Release // NEWF Announces Recipient of the Takalani Mulaudzi Development Grant at #NEWF2025
Release Date: 14 April 2025

NEWF Story Labs is proud to announce the recipient of the inaugural Takalani Mulaudzi Development Grant, a special initiative that celebrates and supports African storytellers developing powerful documentary feature films about the ocean.

READ: NEWF Press Release // NEWF Announces the Next Chapter Live Pitch Winners at #NEWF2025.
Release Date: 11 April 2025

NEWF Story Labs is pleased to announce the winners of the Next Chapter Live Pitch. This year-long programme supports filmmakers, conservationists, and scientists across various stages of their filmmaking journey, aiming to foster impactful storytelling in the realms of natural history, conservation, and environmental themes for storytellers who have already started their careers.

READ: IOL // Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers Congress: A resounding success in Durban
Release Date: 11 April 2025

8th annual Nature, Environment & Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) Congress held in Durban from 2-4 April last week hailed as a giant success. The NEWF Congress presents a platform for African storytellers, conservationists, and media professionals to engage and collaborate.

READ: IOL // Reviving African storytelling in nature
Release Date: 10 April 2025

A South African film initiative is reshaping the narrative of wildlife storytelling in Africa by empowering people who never had a chance to tell their stories from a local perspective. 

LISTEN: Africa Rise & Shine // 8th Nature Filmmakers Congress addresses challenges in wildlife filmmaking
Release Date: 10 April 2025

Joining Asanda Beda to discuss the challenges faced by wildlife filmmakers on the continent is Pragna Parsotam-Kok, South African storyteller, film and television producer, co-founder and executive director of Nature Environment Wildlife Filmmakers.

READ: Blazon // NEWF 2025: Breaking Barriers to Empower the Next Generation of Wildlife and Conservation Storytellers, Across Africa
Release Date: 08 April 2025

Like NEWF’s year-round programming, its signature event, NEWF Congress, is driven by a bold theory of change: by providing talented, diverse African storytellers with training, mentorship, and access, they will emerge as leaders in wildlife and natural history storytelling.

LISTEN: The Lunch Break with Varshan Sookhun
Release Date: 03 April 2025

The 8th annual Nature Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers Fellows Summit and Congress is currently on in Durban till the 4th of April. Join Pragna Parsotam Kok - South African storyteller, film and television producer and serves as the co-founder and executive director of Nature Environment Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF).

READ: NEWF Press Release // The future of African storytelling takes centre stage at #NEWF2025! 🌍
Release Date: 28 March 2025

Taking place in Durban, South Africa, from 30 March to 4 April, #NEWF2025 welcomes a dynamic community of African filmmakers, photographers, divers, scientists, conservationists, and media leaders—alongside international partners—for a five-day experience focused on learning, innovation, and belonging.

READ: KZN Tourism & Film // A unique underwater collaboration brings together tourism and film (Page 13)
Release Date: 17 March 2025

Members of the media from SABC 2 and Expresso visited Sodwana to gain firsthand insight into the NEWF Programmes, which feature various Film Labs held at eKhaya with fellows from around the globe.

READ: NEWF Press Release // South x South (NEWF x Santiago Wild)
Release Date: 12 March 2025

NEWF (Nature, Environment & Wildlife Filmmakers) and Santiago Wild are partnering to host a 10-day Ocean Stories workshop in Sodwana Bay, South Africa. The workshop will bring together a cohort of 15 multidisciplinary storytellers who are certified divers - 8 selected by NEWF from the NEWF Community of fellows and 7 from Latin America selected by Santiago Wild.

READ: NEWF Press Release // Reimagining African Narratives Photography Fellowship
Release Date: 11 March 2025

NEWF is proud to announce the recent launch of the Reimagining African Narratives Photography Fellowship, designed to empower photographers and visual artists seeking to deepen their narratives and explore new strategies for their lens-based practices.

READ: Bats on film: Scientific storytelling from a recovering academic
Release Date: 20 February 2024

Scientific exchange is more than just research papers. Get your camera out to capture the beauty and intensity of your work, says Mariëtte van der Walt.

READ: NEWF Press Release // Field Navigation Lab I
Release Date: 13 February 2025

Facilitated by Massimo Rebuzzi from African Bush Company, this new addition to our programming is designed for film directors, cinematographers, photographers, scientists, and other field professionals. The lab aimed to provide essential knowledge about the art of filming in the wild, backed by sought-after FGASA certifications.

READ: NEWF Press Release // Conservation Photography Lab II
Release Date: 01 February 2025

A collaborative vision brought to life between the Matabeleland Youth Conservation Society (MYCS) and Terra-Naturewild Conservation (TNC) - this exchange lab hosted at eKhaya Storytelling Centre brought together early-career conservationists and photography enthusiasts from Uganda and Zimbabwe.

READ: NGS Press Release // Noel Kok and Pragna Parsotam-Kok are refocusing African narratives, one storyteller at a time
Release Date: 20 February 2024, updated in January 2025

Stories of Africa’s wildlife and natural heritage have long captivated audiences around the world, yet these stories have rarely been told by Africans, it was time to make a change. Find out how Filmmakers and National Geographic Explorers Noel Kok and Pragna Parsotam-Kok set out to change the narrative, one lab at a time.

READ: NEWF Press Release // NEWF x Drik Exchange
Release Date: 30 January 2025

NEWF and Drik Picture Library partner to amplify African and South Asian visual storytellers. Focused on film and photography, this collaboration was designed to foster a transcontinental exchange of knowledge and experiences.

READ: NGS Education Case Study // Citizen Science with Explorer Mogamat Shamier Magmoet
Release Date: 22 January 2025

Explorer Mogamat Shamier Magmoet is a freediver, a rescue scuba diver, an underwater cinematographer, a photographer and a documentary filmmaker. He is also an ocean conservationist, a citizen scientist and an educator. The case study organises relevant information about his work into a story.

READ: NGS Pressroom // National Geographic Society celebrates 137 years of global impact
Release Date: 13 January 2025

As we celebrate the Society’s 137th anniversary with an eye toward the future, we reflect on the past and acknowledge the achievements of National Geographic Explorers who continue to push the boundaries of knowledge, uncover new insights about the natural and cultural worlds and strengthen our connection to them and one another.

READ: Documentary Television // Africa Refocused: NEWF & Nat Geo Society’s Storytelling Program Invest in Africa’s Own Stories
Release Date: 09 January 2025

In 2025, NEWF and Nat Geo launched AFRICA REFOCUSED to tell the continent’s rich bounty of stories from an African perspective. It’s a special personal thrill that Documentary Business is engaged with NEWF on a full-year package to provide content and promotion for Africa Refocused.

WATCH: Instagram Reel // Canon Central & North Africa: World Unseen Exhibition
Release Date: 10 December 2024

When Peter Ndungu—a renowned Kenyan filmmaker and photographer—stepped into the room to lead a masterclass for visually impaired individuals at the #WorldUnseen exhibition in Kenya, he wasn’t sure what to expect. What he discovered was nothing short of extraordinary.

READ: NEWF Story Arc // eKhaya turns ONE!
Release Date: 29 November 2024

In just one year, eKhaya has been #ChangingTheNarrative as African storytellers, scientists, researchers, ocean explorers and conservationists fill its space with perspectives, ideas and dreams more diverse than our community of more than 250 fellows.

READ: NEWF Story Arc // From Botswana to India: Immersing in Green Stories
Release Date: 27 November 2024

Asia’s first mentoring and pitching lab for wildlife and environment documentaries, Green Stories was especially exciting for Filmmaker and NEWF Fellow Rufusiah Molefe from Botswana who attended as an observer.

READ: Festival News // AFRIFF 2024: Nature Storytellers Shine on the Global Stage
Release Date: 27 November 2024

This year also saw NEWF’s partnership with AFRIFF expand as the pitch competition grew from a regional focus to a continent-wide call, drawing 80 applications. After a rigorous review, 3 finalists were announced!

READ: Festival News // RFF2024 with Sewela Mutileni and Nkosi Mthembu
Release Date: 12 November 2024

At the NEWF Embedded session, Sewela and Nkosi lit up the room with their insights on African nature and environmental storytelling. RFF2024 visitors were invited to glimpse into some of our favourite nature scenes in VR.

WATCH: Instagram Reel // Rustenburg Film Festival 2024 with Nkosi Mthembu
Release Date: 10 November 2024

RFF2024 x NEWF joined forces to amplify African storytelling in conservation and environmental awareness. Together, we’re committed to fostering narratives that inspire action and celebrate the beauty and resilience of our continent.

READ: Wild Hope TV Article // Empowering African Filmmakers to Tell Their Own Wildlife Stories!
Release Date: 05 November 2024

Two Wild Hope episodes filmed in Gorongosa National Park and produced by NEWF African Science Film Fellows provide a model for empowering local film crews.

READ: African Business // Wildlife filming collective develops Africa’s Attenboroughs
Release Date:25 October 2024

Through a collaboration with the African Wildlife Foundation, Africa Refocused is supporting 10 filmmakers who will develop conservation films from an authentic African perspective

WATCH/LISTEN: VoA // Upfront Africa with Nancy Iraba
Release Date: 06 August 2024

Marine Scientist and researcher Nancy Iraba, is on a mission. Listen to her in conversation about her efforts to restore Tanzania’s coral reefs.

WATCH/LISTEN: Pan African Film Podcast hosted by Anna Murano // PAF x NEWF
Release Date: 27 June 2024

In this episode, Anna explores how ‪the NEWF Community‬ is empowering African youth to impact conservation through film.

WATCH/LISTEN: VoA // Upfront Africa with NEWF x Africa Refocused
Release Date: 26 June 2024

South African Filmmakers and National Geographic Explorers Noel Kok and Pragna Parsotam-Kok noticed that African wildlife and nature stories are rarely told by Africans. In response, they founded the Nature Environment Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) with a mission to train local filmmakers who want to tell wildlife and conservation stories from a local perspective.

READ: NEWF Story Arc // What if you could build a home for your dream?
Release Date: 08 June 2024

From dreaming about building a community swimming pool, to building a home where stories, learning and fun come together - Sli’s heart for her community guides so much of what she does. Happy World Oceans Day from Sodwana Bays young ocean adventurers!

READ: NGS Press Release // Africa Refocused Announces 2024 Cohort of African Conservation Voices Producers Lab Fellows
Release Date: 17 April 2024

Through a collaboration with the African Wildlife Foundation, Africa Refocused is supporting 10 filmmakers who will develop conservation films from an authentic African perspective

READ: NGS Press Release // Noel Kok and Pragna Parsotam-Kok are refocusing African narratives, one storyteller at a time
Release Date: 20 February 2024

Stories of Africa’s wildlife and natural heritage have long captivated audiences around the world, yet these stories have rarely been told by Africans, it was time to make a change.

READ: The Standard, Kenya // Sodwana Bay Dive Center, Empowering Africa's Conservationists by Steve Mokaya
Release Date: 19 December 2023

In South Africa's Sodwana Bay, a new chapter unfolds. NEWF and Africa Refocused (a collaboration with the National Geographic Society) have woven a tale of ocean protection, crafting a dive centre that will be a launchpad for African Storytellers, Scientists, and Conservationists.

READ: NGS Press Release // New Dive Center Opens for African Storytellers, Scientists and Conservationists with Support from Africa Refocused
Release Date: 13 November 2023

eKhaya Storytelling, Research and Dive Centre in Sodwana Bay will host NEWF Fellows participating in specialised skills labs, including dive courses and cinematography workshops.

READ: NGS Press Release // The National Geographic Society Recognised with Two Jackson Wild Media Awards
Release Date: 29 September 2023

Films produced and funded by Society received awards in the ‘Original Music Score’ and ‘Short Form - Climate Stories’ categories; National Geographic Explorer Hans Cosmas Ngoteya wins Rising Star award.

READ: NGS Press Release // Meet 10 Storytellers Supported by Africa Refocused
Release Date: 23 February 2023

These creatives and NEWF fellows are refocusing the narrative of Africa with support from a collaboration between Nature Environment Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) and the National Geographic Society.

READ: NGS Press Release // Nature, Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) Collaborates with the National Geographic Society to Launch Africa Refocused
Release Date: 06 June 2022

A collaboration designed to amplify NEWF’s work, the new program will address the critical need for stories of Africa to be told by Africans on a new scale.

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