Roman Willi (Director, Producer, Writer, Sound Designer), Jack McKenzie (Composer), Etienne Kompis (Sound Designer & Re-Recording Mixer), Coyote Peterson (Narrator) | 2025 | 5 min.
2026 Official Selection
A lighthearted and entertaining short film about the epic quest of a tiny globular springtail navigating through the soil to find food. Narrated by the one and only Coyote Peterson of Brave Wilderness. This film is a collaboration with Venus Laowa.
| March 14, 2026 | Fredericksburg | VA | University of Mary Washington (The Ballroom) |
| March 6, 2026 | Coachella Valley | CA | Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory |
Roman Willi is an award-winning wildlife filmmaker and photographer from Lucerne, Switzerland. He holds a Bachelor of Science (FHGR & BFH) in Media Engineering, specializing in film and animation.
Before becoming self-employed in 2022 and establishing WildReach Productions Ltd. in early 2024, he spent several years working in television. Today, he develops independent wildlife documentaries and photography projects while collaborating with NGOs and production companies worldwide. He also hosts exhibitions, delivers talks, and leads workshops, sharing his expertise and passion for natural history and conservation storytelling.
His wildlife photography has earned international acclaim, with multiple awards, including two Highly Commended honors at the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. His work has been featured on National Geographic and BBC. He is a member of the International League Of Conservation Photographers.
His debut documentary, KALU: Growing Up Wild (2023), was followed by Sandcastle :The Secret Life of Potter Wasps (2024) and Heart of the Osa (2024), all of which have received recognition at film festivals worldwide. In early 2025, he released his latest short film, The Leap Beneath, narrated by Coyote Peterson of Brave Wilderness. Risky Routes (2025), another film he worked on as a cinematographer, won the Grand Prize at Bloomberg Green Docs 2025.
On World Bee Day 2025, the latest campaign by Swiss Tourism was launched, for which he was the lead wildlife DP. Currently, Roman is working as a cinematographer on several feature documentaries for broadcast, further solidifying his reputation as a leading voice in wildlife storytelling.
