Presented by Wild Earth Oceania (WEO) the Wild Earth Oceania Film Festival 2026 runs from Friday 7 August to 16 August at Wallis Entertainment cinemas with the theme for this year of ONE EARTH. The 10-day festival will showcase 13 internationally acclaimed environmental films, including four Australian Premieres. In organising the festival, Wild Earth Oceania hopes to recover species from threatened extinction through the power of film to create policy reform, biodiversity preservation, and to create large wildlife impact outcomes. Each film on this program will be linked to a panel session and a Q&A with experts on its first screening. These interactive panel sessions will gather a mix of filmmakers, scientists, and artists who will come together to discuss the theme of the films screened beforehand.
The Opening Premiere at the Piccadilly cinema in North Adelaide will be How to Live on Earth, a 2026 feature documentary directed by Fredi Devas and presented by Benedict Cumberbatch. This will be the film’s first non-UK screening and the Australian Premiere. How to Live on Earth explores humanity’s vital connection to nature. Showcasing innovative, cutting-edge stories of how humans are learning to team up with ecosystems to solve major environmental challenges and secure a thriving future, this film breaks all glass ceilings on translating hope into a sustainable future for all.
The 2026 program features an exceptional collection of environmental films from around the world, including Yanuni executive produced by Academy Award-winning actor, filmmaker and environmental advocate Leonardo DiCaprio, alongside compelling stories exploring climate change, biodiversity, Indigenous knowledge, threatened species and ocean conservation.
The program also includes Trade Secret a gripping global investigation into the international hunting and commercial trade of polar bears, examining one of the world’s most pressing wildlife conservation challenges directed by Abraham Joffe (who also directed Our Oceans with Barack Obama).
A unique festival highlight will take place on Thursday 13 August with the paired the Piccadilly cinema and St Peter’s Cathedral event bringing together film, reflection and dialogue through Oceanic Evocation, creating a distinctive cultural experience across two iconic Adelaide venues.
The festival concludes with the Closing Gala on Sunday 16 August at the Piccadilly cinema, featuring internationally acclaimed and award winning photojournalist Aaron Gekoski’s film Dethroned.
Jacquie Pohl, Founder and Festival Director, Wild Earth Oceania stated that, “Film is one of the most powerful tools we have to recover species from threatened extinction. Evidence-informed storytelling strengthens public understanding, influences policy, support conservation partnerships and deliver measurable positive robust outcomes for planetary, wildlife and human health.
ONE EARTH is more than our 2026 festival theme—it reflects our shared responsibility to protect the ecosystems that sustain all life on Earth and our commitment to creating lasting conservation impact through collaboration.”
More information about the festival and Wild Earth Oceania is available here:
Session dates, time and booking details are available here:
https://wallis.com.au/events/wild-earth-oceania-film-festival/
