Friday August 7th to Sunday August 9th 2026
The Wild Earth Oceania Film Festival (WEOFF) is Austalia’s first major international wildlife film festival, focused on recovering species from extinction and preserving biodiversity through the power of cinematic storytelling.
It aims to drive policy reform and inspire global conservation by showcasing frontline films, Indigenous culture, and natural history.
In 2026 the festival expands nationally across Australia, hosted in partnership with Wallis Entertainment, with a theme of ‘One Earth’.
Victa Cinema will join the festival with screenings from August 7th to 9th, showcasing a curated selection of films.
Proceeds and campaigns are tied to major environmental efforts, such as stopping native logging in Australia and protecting the Greater Kewell National Park.
How To Live on Earth
6.30pm – Friday August 7 2026
How to Live on Earth is a visionary 2026 feature documentary presented by Benedict Cumberbatch that explores humanity’s vital connection to nature. It showcases innovative, cutting-edge stories of how humans are learning to team up with ecosystems to solve major environmental challenges and secure a thriving future.
Runtime: 95 Mins
Rating: Exempt
Director: Fredi Devas
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Xiye Bastida, Sam Kass
Genre: Documentary
A Life Illuminated
12.30pm – Saturday August 8 2026
In A LIFE ILLUMINATED, marine biologist Dr. Edie Widder embarks on a groundbreaking journey to unveil the mysterious light of bioluminescence – a phenomenon that allows life to communicate in the darkness of the ocean’s depths. As one of the first women in her field, Edie transformed our understanding of the deep sea – once perceived as a dark and empty void, into a vibrant world filled with life and light. Known for being the first person in history to film bioluminescence in the deep sea, as well as capturing the first footage of the elusive giant squid in its natural habitat, she has transformed the world’s view of our oceans. Now, she embarks on her most daring expedition yet: a descent 3,300 feet beneath the ocean’s surface to document a mysterious bioluminescent phenomenon she has pursued her entire life – one that could forever change how we understand life on Earth. Blending cinematic vérité footage from her journey into the deep with never-before-seen archives from her lifetime of expeditions, the film captures Edie’s quest to reveal the profound beauty of bioluminescence while emphasising the urgent need to protect the fragile ecosystems of the deep sea.
Runtime: 90 Mins
Rating: Exempt
Director: Tasha Van Zandt
Cast: Edith Widder
Genre: Documentary
Love Letter to the Unseen
6.30pm – Saturday August 8 2026
Love Letter to the Unseen follows youth conservationist Spencer Hitchen on his journey of discovery to understand the imminent threats to the endangered Maugean Skate and the intrinsic beauty of a species that exists both in the real world and in the imaginations of its supporters. Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania, the sole remaining home of the Maugean skate, is at risk, but there’s still time to act. A Land and Sea for All film directed by Emmy-award winning filmmaker Josh “Bones” Murphy (ARTIFISHAL, THE SCALE OF HOPE, THE PLASTIC DETOX) made in partnership with Environment Tasmania, Holdfast Collective, Rauch Foundation, and Reichstein Foundation. Featuring cultural educator Lyndon O’Neil, artist Wendy Edwards, cartoonist First Dog on the Moon, Andrew Wilkie MP, and more.
Runtime: 45 Mins
Rating: Exempt
Director: Josh “Bones” Murphy
Genre: Documentary
Trade Secret
12.30pm – Sunday August 9 2026
Filmed over six years across nine different countries, the documentary functions as a high-stakes environmental thriller. It uncovers the shadowy, legal global trade of polar bear skins and parts hiding under the guise of species preservation
Runtime: 100 Mins
Rating: Exempt
Director: Abraham Joffe
Cast: Iris Ho, Ole J. Liodden, Masha Vorontosa
Genre: Documentary
The Plastic Country
6.00pm – Sunday August 9 2026
Kal Glanznig is a former water polo athlete turned ocean advocate who grew up surfing the beaches of Cronulla. Health-conscious and deeply curious, he becomes increasingly concerned by emerging research into the human health impacts of plastic. But it’s not until he joins a clean-up in East Arnhem Land, where Dhimurru Rangers pull ghost nets and plastic packaging from sacred shores – that his perspective is shattered. Realising that Australia is now one of the world’s largest producers of plastic waste per person, Kal begins to question what this means not just for our environment, but for our bodies. What follows is a journey across the country, from remote coastlines to wildlife hospitals and Parliament House, uncovering how plastic pollution is infiltrating ecosystems, politics, and human health. The Plastic Country is both a warning and a rallying cry – revealing solutions already underway and showing how everyone can drive the change needed to turn the tide on plastics for good.
Runtime: 70 Mins
Rating: Exempt
Director: Kal Glanznig
Genre: Documentary