Heart Of The Osa

“Films like this are the most effective way to inspire action from the public…”

A story about how different NGOs are making a difference fighting for wildlife in the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, one of the most biodiverse places on earth. If they work together, they can achieve great feats.

As soon as we spotted the names Matteo Clarke & Roman Willi in the opening credits, we knew it would end up getting yet another APEX nomination! We expected nothing less from this talented duo who continue to capture beautiful nature films to the highest standard.

This time they’ve decide to take on the story of the Osa Peninsula, providing an incredible backdrop to set their film. The sheer scale of the environment would deter even the most experienced filmmakers, but Clarke and Willi make it look easy. Considering the short run time of thirteen minutes, we suspect this could have been made into a much longer film considering the amount of coverage they must have captured. But the length works well and demonstrates the teams awareness of keeping viewers engaged to deliver their message.

The opening scene is full of incredible wildlife in their natural habitat that helps to create a deep emotional connection before highlighting the message of the film, something we’ve seen before in their work and really works. The pace of the edit is incredibly well crafted. Cutting quickly between countless breathtaking shots all as compelling as the last, somethings that’s hard to do for a filmmaker as you can get very attached to certain shots.

As for the cinematography, we expected nothing less. It demonstrates not only the impressive equipment they had at their disposal but mainly their ability to use it. Every shot will likely have viewers guessing the same thing, how did they get that shot? Such is the magic of filmmaking which is on constant display and demonstrates the patience and experience of both filmmakers in such habitats.

We’re delighted to see composer Jack McKensie returning to score the film who has worked with Clarke and Willi on their previous films. The live orchestra provided the perfect soundtrack in keeping with the powerful visuals and stunning wildlife. It’s worth paying close attention to the depth of this score as you’ll soon realise how vital it is to the story. We hope to hear more of his work in the future.

Incase it wasn’t obviously already, we loved this film and continue to be impressed by Clarke and Willi ability as filmmakers. Considering the many challenges global warming poses to our planet, films like this are the most effective way to inspire action from the public. We recommend watching the trailer and learn more about their work…

— APEX Film Awards