Matt Aeberhard

Matt Aeberhard is one of the world’s leading wildlife filmmakers - an Emmy-winning cinematographer with more than three decades of experience in the world’s wildest and most remote places. His work behind the lens renders the natural world with unforgettable artistry and nuance. Sir David Attenborough described Matt’s work as “awe-inspiring".

Matt was mentored by the naturalist Hugo Van Lawick on the plains of Serengeti filming wildlife feature films on 35mm film. The spectacular film footage at the end of the Emmy-winning film Jane [Goodall], is almost exclusively his work. Hugo’s deep belief in the emotional complexity and individuality of animals shaped Matt’s intimate cinematic style, but also continues to inform the choices he makes as a film maker.

On Hugo’s passing, Matt continued to live and work in East Africa, initially supporting Alan Root’s efforts in feature film, but culminating in the production of his own project for Disney Nature - The Crimson Wing. This lush portrayal of the secret life of the flamingos in a remote African lake was, in its day, the most nominated film of all time at the prestigious Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. Now found on Disney+, the film ranks amongst the channel’s most successful wildlife films.

Matt’s recent work includes Our Planet for Netflix and Perfect Planet for the BBC; and he was a key DoP on the acclaimed Dancing with the Birds special and The Secret Lives of Orangutans - both for Netflix.