The Nature Scientific Merit Award was awarded by the 2008 jury panel to the film that exemplified how science can be incorporated into storytelling and narrative filmmaking in a compelling, credible and inspiring manner. The Nature People’s Choice Award was voted on by audience members during the festival. All Shorts In Competition were eligible for these awards. The two winning films were presented at the end of the festival by the leading international Science journal, Nature, and will be shown on the Nature website.

The awards were in the amount of $2,500 each.