JACKSON WILD GRANT FILMMAKER
STONEBITER
By ISMAELE TORTELLA
ABOUT THE FILM
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.
This is a story about witnessing loss and choosing to act anyway. A visual journey through an ecosystem on the edge, “Stone Biter: Saving the Arctic Sea Forests” becomes both a wake-up call and a hopeful invitation to protect what
remains and imagine how we might restore what’s been lost. Together, we might still turn the tide.
JACKSON WILD GRANT FILMMAKER WINNER
ISMAELE TORTELLA
Documentary director and Arctic wildlife cinematographer based in Tromsø, Northern Norway. His debut feature, Arctic Blue, is currently in production and has received major recognition, including the WildPitch award from National Geographic (Wildscreen 2024), the Below Zero Award (North Pitch 2024), and a “The Whickers” shortlist. Ismaele collaborates as a freelance cinematographer and drone pilot with leading productions such as BBC NHU, Silverback, Plimsoll, Deepsea, and DocLights. His work appears on BBC Studios, Netflix, SVT, NDR, and ORF.
THE MISSION
RESTORING KELP FORESTS
Stone Biter is a call to protect and restore one of the planet’s most vital and vanishing ecosystems: kelp forests. These underwater sea forests are biodiversity powerhouses and climate allies, yet in the icy Arctic waters of Northern Norway, they are disappearing fast - stripped away by human impact and ecological imbalance. This film bears witness to that loss, but more importantly, it amplifies a growing movement of restoration. From scientists and divers to local communities, Stone Biter champions those working to heal the ocean floor and bring life back to the seabed. It’s a story of ecological urgency, but also of hope - that even in cold, silent waters, regeneration is possible.