Roman Willi is an award-winning wildlife filmmaker and photographer from Lucerne, Switzerland. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Media Engineering (FHGR & BFH), with a focus on film and animation.
Before becoming self-employed in 2022 and founding WildReach Productions in early 2024, Roman spent several years working as a shooting director on commercial and corporate projects. Since then, he has shifted his focus toward independent wildlife documentaries and photography, collaborating with NGOs and production companies around the world. His work spans development, direction, and cinematography, with projects ranging from short-form conservation films to cinematic, character-driven natural history stories.
Roman’s photography has earned international recognition, including two Highly Commended awards at Wildlife Photographer of the Year. His debut documentary Kalu – Growing Up Wild (2023) and follow-up film Sandcastle – The Secret Life of Potter Wasps (2024) both received awards at global film festivals. Most recently, he completed the short films Heart of the Osa, The Leap Beneath (Winner of Naturvision Short Film Price) and Risky Routes (Winner of Bloomberg Green Short Doc Competition), with further productions underway across Europe, South America, and East Africa.
Alongside his film and photography work, Roman leads exhibitions, delivers talks, and hosts workshops focused on wildlife storytelling and conservation. Through WildReach Productions, he aims to spotlight lesser-known species and ecosystems, using powerful visuals and emotionally resonant narratives to connect audiences with the natural world.
