Eco-Hack! was just named the winner of the “Ecosystem—Short Form” category for most effectively exploring a habitat and the interconnectivity of its unique ecosystem at the 2022 Jackson Wild Media Awards, which describes itself as “The nature equivalent to the Oscars.”
This winning documentary short film features our Founder, and CEO, Tim Shields, and cinematically portrays Hardshell’s team’s work on tortoise conservation in the Mojave Desert. Eco-Hack! was shot last year by Brett Marty and Josh Izenberg and their independent film company, Speculative Films. Eco-Hack! focuses on Tim’s life-long devotion to conservation and his vision that led to founding Hardshell Labs, Inc.
The Jackson Wild Media Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in nature, science, and conservation storytelling. The awards ceremony was the culmination of the Jackson Wild Summit held this year in Burgenland, Austria. Launched in 1991, the biennial 6-day conference draws 800+ international leaders in science, conservation, broadcasting, and media to address critical conservation and environmental challenges facing our planet.
Over 350 films from over 26 different countries around the world entered the Media Awards competition in 2022. Finalists for the 24 award categories were selected by more than 150 international judges. The two other finalists in the category were produced by PBS (on PBS budgets.) Congratulations Brett and Josh, very impressive!
Eco-Hack! premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, and its success there has already spawned screenings at several film festivals this year leading to its win at Jackson Wild, and the potential for further ecological, conservation, and documentary film recognitions. Eco-Hack is next slated for the Mill Valley Film Festival in northern California.
The film is focused on Tim and also features Frank Guercio, Hardshell’s wunderkind 23-year-old engineer, not to mention some incredibly adorable baby tortoises in their desert environs. Everyone at Hardshell is thrilled and proud of Tim and the work to which we are all devoted.
– Sarah Shields
