
I was born in 1988 in Chiaravalle, a small and pleasant town on the Adriatic coast of Le Marche, Italy.
Since childhood, I have been deeply fascinated by the natural world, devouring wildlife books and documentaries and constantly seeking to understand its extraordinary and often fragile beauty.
In 2010, I purchased my first DSLR camera, which marked the beginning of my journey into visual storytelling and experimentation with capturing moments in nature.
A transformative trip to Africa in 2014 felt like a rebirth. It awakened in me a strong desire to tell stories about fragile ecosystems and the delicate balance between humans and the natural world.
Alongside this, I am equally drawn to the purity and quiet power of nature closer to home. I believe that some of the most meaningful stories can be found just beyond our doorstep.
Over the years, through self-taught practice and field experience, I have developed the ability to track wild animals with minimal disturbance, learning to wait patiently for the right moment and the right light to create meaningful and authentic imagery.
More recently, I have expanded my practice into documentary filmmaking. I am the producer and director of My Time with Wolves, a wildlife documentary project filmed in extreme conditions, which explores patience, coexistence, and the unpredictability of encounters with wild wolves in the mountains.
I also completed an MA in Wildlife Filmmaking at the University of the West of England in Bristol, where I produced the short film My Neighbour is a Bear. Filmed in the heart of the Italian Apennines, the documentary explores the coexistence between local communities and one of the rarest bears in Europe.
The project led to interviews and collaborations with broadcasters such as BBC Earth, ARTE TV, and Tv2000.
I am currently based in Bristol, UK, where I continue to develop wildlife stories that combine patience, observation, and narrative filmmaking.
Storytelling is at the core of my work. I believe in its power to influence, inspire, and deepen our understanding of the natural world. My goal is to create images and films that not only document nature, but also encourage a more respectful and conscious relationship with it.
Through patience, dedication, and constant experimentation, I continue to refine my approach in the pursuit of meaningful visual storytelling with real-world impact.
@ Copyright Mattia Cialoni / www.mattiacialoni.com / mattia.cialoni@gmail.com