Aaron Francesco Zeiss is a filmmaker, photographer and journalist based in Waskaganish, Quebec, whose work explores the intersection of Indigenous knowledge, environmental stewardship, and human stories. Holding a degree in Film from London, UK, he has built an international career documenting remote communities, conservation initiatives, and cross-cultural narratives across the Arctic, the Amazon, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe.

Aaron has extensive experience working at the interface of Western science and Indigenous traditional knowledge, collaborating with Indigenous governments, wildlife and planning boards, researchers, and community knowledge holders to communicate complex environmental, cultural, and governance issues through compelling visual storytelling. His work combines journalistic integrity with cinematic filmmaking, emphasizing long-term relationship building and respectful, community-centered collaboration.

His films have been screened internationally, and his most recent short documentary, Holy Brother, was selected for the 36th International First Peoples' Festival (Présence autochtone) in Montreal, screening at the Cinéma du Musée. Whether producing documentary films, editorial photography, or communications campaigns, Aaron approaches every project with a strong commitment to authenticity, cultural respect, and meaningful storytelling.

Beyond filmmaking, Aaron brings extensive field experience that allows him to operate safely and effectively in demanding environments. He has lived with the Sarayaku people in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest, worked as a photographer in refugee camps in Lebanon, and spent years working throughout remote northern and wilderness regions. His practical experience includes small boat operations, wilderness travel, and wilderness medical training, giving him the confidence to work in challenging marine and backcountry conditions.

Fluent in five languages, Aaron has worked across diverse cultural and geographic contexts, allowing him to communicate effectively with communities, researchers, governments, and international production teams alike. His ability to bridge cultures, disciplines, and ways of knowing has made him a trusted collaborator on projects where sensitivity, adaptability, and genuine partnership are essential.

Based in Waskaganish, on the eastern shore of James Bay, Aaron continues to work throughout northern Canada and internationally as a filmmaker, photographer, and visual storyteller, producing films and photographic work that connect people, landscapes, and knowledge systems with depth, honesty, and lasting impact.