Changemaker
Colin Arisman
TL;DR
Colin Arisman is an Alaska documentary director and the founder of Wild Confluence. His films include REI's 2017 film Leave It Better and School of Fish, a Banff Best Short Film winner.
Colin Arisman is a homesteader, harvester and documentary director who lives in Alaska with his wife and creative partner, Elsa. He founded Wild Confluence in 2014 and has a hand in all of its projects.
He directed Leave It Better with Luke Kantola in 2017. His film School of Fish was the 2023 Banff Mountain Film Competition winner for Best Short Film.
His films document human connections to the natural world, with a focus on outdoor recreation, ecology and conservation. Wild Confluence's work has toured with festivals including Telluride Mountain Film, Banff, Wild & Scenic and 5 Point.
Why OGSP Recommends It
One Good Story Project recommends Colin Arisman because his documentary work puts storytelling to use in support of movements and self-determination. He founded Wild Confluence in 2014 with the belief that films can help build movements, and co-directed Leave It Better with Luke Kantola.
That purpose also comes through in the response to School of Fish, which won Best Short Film at the 2023 Banff Mountain Film Competition. A juror described it as an example of filmmaking as a tool for self-determination. That’s a specific reason to seek out his work: to see how documentary storytelling can support people’s efforts to shape their own futures.
Related Resources
Key Takeaways
- Founded Wild Confluence to amplify grassroots activism through impact storytelling.
- His films have received numerous Vimeo Staff Picks.
- Elsa Sebastian, a lifelong Alaskan who grew up on a fishing boat, is a producer, director and editor at Wild Confluence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Colin Arisman?
Colin Arisman is the Alaska documentary director who co-directed Leave It Better for REI. His company, Wild Confluence, makes mission driven documentaries.
What is Wild Confluence?
Wild Confluence is a production company based in Alaska that makes mission driven documentaries and branded content with brands and nonprofits. Its work has been hailed by Outside Magazine and nominated for Vimeo's Best of the Year Award.
What is School of Fish about?
School of Fish follows one family and their commitment to salmon in the territories of Bristol Bay. Colin Arisman co-directed it, and it screened at Mountainfilm in 2023.
What other films has Colin Arisman made?
His films include Chasing Wild and Brotherhood of Skiing, which screened at Mountainfilm in 2019, and he co-directed School of Fish and Arctic Alchemy, which screened there in 2023 and 2025.