About ME

Director

Doc director based in Tromsø

UNDERWATER

Underwater Cinematographer

DRONE

Certified Drone Pilot

WILDLIFE

Wildlife Cinematographer

Visual Storyteller

Ismaele Tortella

BORN

1991

EYES

Blue/Green

HAIR

Curly brown

HEIGHT

182cm

FIRST LANGUAGE

Italian

LANGUAGES

English / Spanish / French

RESIDENCE

Tromsø – Northern Norway

My Story

I devoted the past 10 years to the study of nature and film. I began my career as a wildlife photographer, publishing photojournalism in international magazines and being shortlisted in international photography competitions (Nikon, National Geographic, Photo Montier, Nature Namur).

When I moved to Tromsø (Northern Norway), I started to specialise as Arctic cinematographer and documentary director. My first two short documentaries have been awarded in several international film festivals and presented on national Italian TV – RAI. Thanks to the Talent Stipend scholarship from SpareBank Northern Norway I have been able to improve my skills as underwater cinematographer with one of the most important underwater cameramen in the world.

I’m currently working as director on my feature documentary “Arctic Blue” supported by NFI, NNFS, FFN and TVIBIT. Arctic Blue has been selected in the Esodoc and Documentary Campus programme. Recently shortlisted in “The Whickers Award”.

Nowadays, I work as freelance cinematographer and drone pilot in Northern Norway with national and international productions as BBC, Silverback and DeepSea.

  1. “FOREST SCIENCES BACHELOR”

    Bachelor’s degree in Forest Sciences at the Università degli Studi di Padova with a final grade of 107/110. Included one year on an international Erasmus exchange at the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid.

  2. “PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST”

    Finalist in Foto Nikon Spain 2013 photography contest.

  3. "REPORTAGE PUBLICATION"

    Publication of the photo reportage, Shadow of Stones, in Nat’Images magazine, France.

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  4. "REPORTAGE PUBLICATION"

    Publication of the photo reportage, Ghosts of Lights, in Asferico magazine, Italy.

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  5. "FOREST SCIENCES MASTER"

    Master’s degree in Forest Sciences at the Università degli Studi di Padova with a final grade of 110 cum laude. Included one year on exchange at the Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Argentina.

  6. "REPORTAGE PUBLICATION"

    Publication of the photo reportage, Ghost of lights, in NaturFoto magazine, Germany.

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  7. "DOCUMENTARY PREMIERE"

    Premiere of my first short documentary, Looking for Moby Dick, at TVIBIT in Tromsø, Northern Norway.

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  8. "LIVE TV APPEARANCE "

    Live speech on Italian national TV (GEO RAI3) about my short documentary, Looking for Moby Dick.

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  9. "DOCUMENTARY PREMIERE"

    Premiere of my short documentary, Mediterranean Lights, at TVIBIT in Tromsø, Northern Norway.

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  10. "PHOTOGRAPHY CONSTEST"

    Winner of the Mammals category in the International Photo Contest Nature Namur, Belgium.

  11. "LIVE TV APPEARANCE"

    Live speech on Italian national TV (GEO RAI3) about northern lights and filming in Northern Norway.

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  12. "FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION"

    Official selection of Mediterranean Lights for the Long Story Shorts International Film Festival 2019 (Romania).

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  13. "TRAVEL NARRATIVE BOOK"

    Release of my autobiographical book, Iguazù: Discovering the Atlantic Forest (only available in Italian).

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  14. "FILM FESTIVAL WINNER"

    Winner of the Melville International Film Festival (USA) with Mediterranean Lights.

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  15. "LITERARY CONTEST WINNER"

    Winner of the President’s Special Prize at the Maiella National Park’s literary awards (23rd edition) for my autobiographical book, Iguazù: Discovering the Atlantic Forest.

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  16. "ESODOC PROGRAMME"

    Selection for ESoDoc (European Social Documentary) training initiative for media professionals developing the potential of their documentary or new media projects.

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  17. "TALENTSTIPEND SCHOLARSHIP"

    Selected for the TalentStipend scholarship from Sparebank NN to improve my underwater filming skills with a highly-experienced underwater DOP.

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  18. "DOCUMENTARY CAMPUS"

    Selection for the Documentary Campus Masterclass 2023.

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  19. "THE WHICKERS AWARD SHORTLIST"

    Arctic Blue shortlisted for the Whickers Film & TV 2023 Funding Awards.

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travel narrative

IGUAZÙ, alla scoperta della foresta atlantica

This book is a journey in itself, more than just an adventure novel, a guidebook or a set of travel diaries. From the opening pages, Ismaele’s natural enthusiasm and colloquial style bring you right there beside him as he writes passionately and engagingly about his travels.

Together, you’ll step into the jungle to chase tufted capuchin monkeys and coatis. You’ll meet caimans and snakes and unforgettable characters. You’ll be able to truly experience the forest and immerse yourself in a new type of spirituality with the indigenous Guaraní people. The book also offers a welcome opportunity to reflect on what is too often undervalued and is, in fact, the very essence of nature that needs not only looking at, but also looking after.

An intense experience!

The book was awarded the President’s Special Prize at the Maiella National Park’s literary awards (23rd edition).

 

** THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE ONLY IN ITALIAN **

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