Adrian Bailey Documentary Winner at Film Festival

Aurora photographer Adrian Bailey has received awards for Best Newcomer and Best Sound at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival for his documentary film, Swamp Troop. The annual festival allows television and film industry professionals from around the world to network with their peers and engage in lively discussions, seminars, and forums, all devoted to the world of natural history filmmaking.

Adrian’s documentary follows the life of Boro, the alpha male of a large Chacma Baboon troop residing in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, a place that supports the highest density of the species in Africa. Shot entirely on foot by Adrian, and his wife and partner Robyn Keene-Young, the film gives viewers a first-hand look at the complex social relations within the baboon troop, as well as all the trials that go along with being a baboon in a hostile, unforgiving environment. The one-hour TV documentary about a troop of baboons in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, was produced for the National Geographic Channel, and will be titled Swamp of the Baboons in the US.

When asked what this project means to him, Adrian said, “It’s always a great privilege to spend time working in Botswana’s wilderness areas, but to do so on foot, and at the same time learning an entirely new means of creative expression, made the experience all the more meaningful.” On winning these awards, Adrian reflects, “It was a great honor to be nominated for the awards in the first place, but truly a surprise to win both awards, especially against the serious, big budget competition in the Sound category (Disneynature / BBC’s Earth and Giant Screen Production’s Wild Ocean).” The film will premiere on the National Geographic Channel in late 2009. To view the entire list of winners, please visit http://www.jhfestival.org/festival/festival2009/winners.htm.

To view more work by Adrian Bailey, visit Aurora Photos.