Director: Isabela Zawistowska

Isabela Zawistowska is a Mexican-American documentary filmmaker with a passion for telling stories that weave together Nature and humanity.

Her path to becoming a Naturalist was inspired by many years in the mountains foraging for mushrooms with her family in the Pacific Northwest. Through her documentary storytelling she aspires to evolve the narrative around how people relate to their environment. Her most recent work, the award-winning short film Don’t Doubt the Trout, showcases her desire to elevate character-driven stories centered around protecting and restoring the environment.

She recently filmed the principle photography for her documentary short film, Companion of the Setting Sun, featuring an 84-year-old ‘chinampera’ (wetland farmer) of Lake Xochimilco — the last remaining lake in Mexico Valley.

She began her career as a Camera Assistant and Camera Operator on HBO and Netflix docuseries with the producers of the Tiger King and Chimp Crazy. She has also collaborated with global, sustainably-minded brands and organizations, including The North Face, Cotopaxi, Chaco Footwear, the Honnold Foundation, and Re:Wild.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada (with a few years living in Mexico), Isabela immigrated to the U.S. where she graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Public Policy and a minor in Social and Economic Justice.

Her goals are to continue to make impactful, character-driven films by unveiling the universal truths of the human spirit through our connection to Mother Earth.

She is currently open for camera work and directing opportunities in documentary, narrative, and commercial.