The NATURE & TOURISM FILM FESTIVAL (NTFF) NATOURALE takes place every two years in Wiesbaden / Germany. The venues are the famous Murnau-film theatre (part of the Deutsche Filmhaus),, the Museum Wiesbaden, the Kurhaus Wiesbaden, the Caligari cinema Wiesbaden and the Kronberger Lichtspiele (Kronberg).

NATURE / ENVIRONMENT/ TRAVEL / TOURISM
Submit DOCUMENTATARIES, FEATURE FILMS & COMMERCIALS
NOT produced before 2020

An international panel of experts awards the most impressive films of recent years in the fields of nature, the environment, travel and tourism. A combination that has been chosen as a sustainable combination of these sectors is becoming increasingly important for modern society. Filmmakers who recognize and implement this will have an important impact on the future development of our world and will gain an important forum with NATOURALE.

The NATOURALE is a film festival for documentaries, reports, commercials and feature films from the fields of nature, the environment, travel and tourism. Submitted films are intended to document the beauty of our planet or to point out abuses in this context. Films from the areas of tourism and travel are given special consideration if they are committed to sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism. Film submissions are only possible under consideration and recognition of the regulations. Please read them carefully. To submit, please use the attached form on the NATOURALE-homepage or submit your works directly via FilmFreeway. Deadline: 01. July, 2026.

Awards are given in 16 categories: 6 Hessian Lions / 10 Golden Owls
Please visit our homepage for updates. Finalists for the Hessian Lions get two free hotel nights per film (one room) during the festival and free festival passes for the team (subject to availability).

1) White Hessian Lion for the best film over 30 minutes (Nature / Environment)

2) White Hessian Lion for the best film over 30 minutes (Tourism / Travel)

3) Golden Hessian Lion for the best film under 30 minutes (Nature / Environment)

4) Golden Hessian Lion for the best film under 30 minutes (Tourism / Travel)

5) Red Hessian Lion for the best commercial under 10 minutes (Nature / Environment / Tourism / Travel)

6) Sustainability Award / Red Hessian Lion (open for all films)

About the award:
The Hessian lion is one of the best-known works of art, which are in direct contact with the state of Hesse. It was created by the world-famous artist Prof. Ottmar Hörl. For the festival, he creates a special connection between his artwork and a pedestal, which achieves a special uniqueness and thus high value of the award.

Furthermore there are 10 Golden Owls awards. These are designed by artist Prof. Ottmar Hörl.

The awarding of the special prizes is possible in the following categories and is arranged on the recommendation of the jury. A film can get several awards. The following categories can be awarded:

01) Best Director
02) Best Screenplay
03) Best Editing
04) Best Music
05) Best Camera
06) Scientific and Engineering Award
07) Best Passion Project
08) Best Cinematic Idea
09) Best Story
10) Special Award

The Society for the German Language awards a special prize for the best German-language films. The Society for the German Language itself determines the amount of the cash prizes (2024: 3000 Euros in total) and the nomination of the winners. The films are selected from all German-language submissions.

The NATOURALE jury or the festival management may award honorable mentions for special films or special achievements.

We offer filmmakers who make it into the Official Selection a free night (subject to availability) for the evening of our awards ceremony in one of our partner hotels. This offer is voluntary and non‑binding for NATOURALE. The hotel rooms will be allocated based on availability.

The jury and/or festival management may also decide not to award one or more awards if no films appear to be eligible.

It is permitted to submit documentaries, reports, commercials and feature films in the categories of nature, the environment, tourism and travel

For all filmic forms, a distinction in length for film up to and from 30 minutes applies. An exception is advertising films, which must not exceed a maximum length of 15 minutes.

The respective submitter guarantees the full rights to the submission, this also applies to attached press and advertising material. As part of the festival, this is guaranteed by the submitter, film screenings of the submitted films are free of charge for the organizer. The festival may use excerpts from the film submission free of charge for the promotion of the festival and/or individual film screenings. Demo fees, license fees and / or costs of any kind will not be due or will be borne by the submitter. Rights of third parties must not be violated, the responsibility lies with the submitter. Costs of any kind are not covered by the festival and are the responsibility of the submitter.

Submitted films may not have been published before 01.01.2020.

Film must be submitted in German or English. If another language is the main language of the film, German or English subtitles are also permitted.
The submitter is responsible for the correctness of the translation.

Films for the category "Best Film in German language / GfdS-Award" must be in German. Productions in High and Low German, as well as dialects and mixed languages of the German language are permitted.

Submissions are only possible via FilmFreeway or via the form on the NATOURALE homepage (www.natourale.com). All films must be available either via Vimeo or YouTube link.

All films should be submitted electronically, DVDs or other media will not be accepted.

Please do not send any press material before being asked to do so.

Unsolicited submitted materials will not be returned.

The submission fee may vary depending on the submission platform and the time of submission. Film submissions are available through FilmFreeway and the NATOURALE Homepage. The fee is payable on the day of submission and the context of submission, by mentioning the film title and the director. Payment is possible via PayPal or bank transfer (Please check our festival homepage for details). The FilmFreeway fee is paid in US dollars and adjusted to the exchange rate.

More than one film per submitter may be submitted. Each submission requires separate submission documents and a separate fee.

All submission documents must be complete.

A refund of the festival fee is not possible under any circumstances.

The jury proposes films for Official Selection and Honorable Mentions. From this selection, the festival management selects the films for a public cinema screening. A right to the screening of the film cannot be derived from this.

A pre-jury, organized by the festival management, will nominate between 5-10 films in each category for the main awards.

The main jury selects the respective winners from the nominated films.

All nominated films and the respective winners must be confirmed by the festival management.

The result of the festival management is final, legal recourse is excluded.

Should no worthy winner be found for one or more categories, then the festival management can also refrain from awarding a prize.

Finalists should be present in person or send a representative from their team during the Award Cermony. Awards will not be sent by mail. The cost of the accommodation for the finalists (Lion Award) will be covered by the Festival for two nights. The Festival offers the stay in on of th partner hotels of the Festival. Private reservations will not be accpted. Further travel expenses must be paid by the finalist.

Submission to this festival is not permitted if prohibited by law in the country of submission.

With the submission, the submitter assures that he has read, understood and accepted all regulations of the Festival..

All submitted data of the participant may be used in connection with this or future festivals.

Updates and further information can be found on the NTFF homepage.

Changes to the regulations can be made by the festival management at any time.

Jurisdiction is Wiesbaden.

Submission deadline is 01.07.2026

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Anna Tóth

    The Natourale Festival in Wiesbaden was a wonderful experience. Great organization, enjoyable and varied programs.

    The awards ceremony itself is one of the most beautiful awards ceremonies we have ever been to - a wonderful venue, professional presenter and very kind hosts. It is important that they take environmental storytelling and climate change seriously.

    February 2025
  • Maria Ziegler

    We had a wonderful time. Great Festival. Thank you NATOURALE!

    February 2025
  • Great Festival. We were honored to be selected.

    February 2025
  • Elaheh Godarzi

    You are the best ,thank you so much lovely Festival's Team.

    January 2025
  • Great festival and nice people, who are passionate about wildlife films!

    January 2025