Isley Simone Reust is a German-American director, filmmaker, and photographer based in the Westfjords of Iceland. She is the founder and director of Wild Arctic, an independent media company and production studio focused on purpose-driven storytelling at the intersection of environment, culture, and human endurance.

Her work spans some of the most remote and challenging environments on Earth — from the Arctic to the equator — capturing intimate, character-driven stories that explore our evolving relationship with the planet.

Isley’s upcoming documentaries include Longest Row, following a man’s solo rowing journey around the world; Bark Europa Chronicles, documenting a 70-day tall ship voyage from Namibia to Brazil to Portugal; and East Greenland – Arctic Horizons, an intimate portrait of Inuit culture, climate, and resilience in a rapidly changing Arctic.

She also directed a short documentary filmed in West Point, Liberia, examining the human and ecological costs of overfishing along West Africa’s coast. In addition, Isley collaborated behind the scenes on Ocean with Sir David Attenborough, supporting production efforts in West Africa.

Her work has been featured by National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveler, and Lonely Planet, and is driven by a deep commitment to visual storytelling that is immersive, ethical, and emotionally resonant.