Isabela Zawistowska is an award-winning director, cinematographer, and documentary filmmaker whose work explores the deep connection between people, place, and the natural world.
Her films are rooted in lived experience, blending intimate character portraits with cinematic environmental storytelling that reveals the emotional and ecological stakes of a changing world.
Working at the intersection of intimacy and scale, Isabela leads small, nimble crews in remote and demanding environments, building trust-based relationships that allow for deeply authentic storytelling. Based in Ojai, California and working internationally, she creates visually striking, emotionally resonant films—from collaborations with producers behind Chimp Crazy (HBO Max) and Kiss the Ground (Netflix) to independently directed documentary and branded works.
Selected Works — Documentary
Documentary Series — HBO Max
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Role: Camera Assistant, Additional Cinematography
Short Documentary — Earthrise Studio
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Role: Director & Producer
Selected Works — Branded Storytelling
Aurelia Amber — Spring Campaign Film
Format: Super 8 Brand Film
Role: Creative Director & Director
Short Documentary — REI
Location: Los Angeles, California
Role: Additional Cinematography (Ronin Operator)
Collaborated with
Vogue
Netflix
Cotopaxi
Patagonia
Honnold Foundation
Earthrise Studio
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Companion of the Setting Sun — Fiscal Sponsorship
Film Independent
PhotoVogue Global Open Call — Shortlisted Artist (Top 150)
PhotoVogue, 2025
Mountainfilm Micro Grant
Mountainfilm Festival, 2025
Mother Nature — Selected Storytelling Pitch
Earthrise Studio
PRESS
KOAT Albuquerque — Across Together
ShoutoutLA — Meet Isabela Zawistowska
Canary Media — Featured imagery (Puerto Rico’s first community-led microgrid)
SIGMA Photo — People, Power, and the Sun