Isabela Zawistowska is a cinematographer, director, and documentary filmmaker whose work spans documentary, branded storytelling, and commercial filmmaking. Through visually immersive, character-driven films, she explores the relationship between people and the landscapes they inhabit, often focusing on themes of environmental resilience, the human spirit, and connection to the natural world.

Collaborating with crews both big and small, Isabela adapts to a wide range of production environments, from intimate documentary shoots to larger commercial productions. Working often in remote and outdoor environments, she builds long-term, trust-based relationships with the communities she films. Her collaborative, vérité-driven approach allows her to create intimate portraits that move beyond the surface of a story to reveal deeper emotional and cultural truths.

Her work includes collaborations with producers behind Chimp Crazy (HBO Max), Tiger King, and Groundswell, which premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. Her recent film, which she co-directed and served as cinematographer on, follows 69-year-old paraclimber Teresa Bennett as she navigates life with Parkinson’s disease and will premiere this year at the Mountainfilm festival.

Based in Ojai and working internationally, Isabela is currently focused on character-driven, nature-based films that foster deeper connection with the natural world and is open to meaningful creative collaborations.