Stone Biter: Saving the Arctic Sea Forests
When an Italian photographer moves to Northern Norway, he carries a dream: to explore the icy Arctic waters and film the iconic wolffish amongst lush kelp forests. But beneath the surface, he finds a stark reality - an ocean floor stripped bare, where the once-thriving sea forests have nearly vanished.
“Stone Biter: Saving the Arctic Sea Forests” is an immersive and icy journey through fragile ecosystems and disappearing worlds. As Ismaele learns to navigate the cold, unfamiliar sea, he unravels the mystery of the missing kelp. Along the way, he meets scientists, volunteers, and local experts who refuse to give up on the ocean they love. Together, they’re building a new kind of movement rooted in resilience, restoration, and hope. They shed light on a complex web of ecological disruption - where exploding sea urchin populations and human impact have pushed the Arctic coast to the brink.
Producers: Amberjack Films, Schoolyard Films
Director: Ismaele Tortella
Cinematography: Ismaele Tortella, Richard L. Butler, Babang Deshommes, Sebastian Wilches
Writer: Ismaele Tortella
Editing: Richard L. Butler
Sound: Andrew Wilson
Music: Alexander Leeming Froudakis, Manuela Lubrano
Ismaele began his career as a wildlife photographer, shortlisted in competitions including Nikon and National Geographic. He moved to Tromsø and became an Arctic cinematographer, with his first two shorts winning festival awards and airing on Italian television. His debut feature Arctic Blue is in production with support from NFI, NNFS, FFN, and VestNorsk, and won the Below Zero Award at North Pitch 2024 and WildPitch from National Geographic at WildScreen 2024. In 2025, he will premiere his short Stone Biter. He works as a freelance cinematographer and drone pilot for BBC NHU, Silverback, Plimsoll, and others, with broadcasts on Netflix, SVT, NDR, and ORF.