Wolfgang Tonninger

Wolfgang Tonninger is an Austrian filmmaker, storyteller, and consultant whose work seamlessly intertwines documentary cinema with philosophical and literary depth. Having studied philosophy and literature in Salzburg, he has cultivated a career that revolves around storylistening, storytelling, and storydoing—a dynamic framework that shapes his creative and consulting endeavors.

Tonninger’s documentary filmmaking defies conventional distinctions between fact and fiction. He posits that narrative structure is not merely an overlay on reality but a fundamental aspect of perception itself. His approach challenges the notion of pure observation, asserting that storytelling inherently influences the reality it seeks to depict.

Two pivotal moments ignited Tonninger’s deep passion for film. In 1995, he worked on Seven Years in Tibet as a mountain guide, stunt double, and actor alongside Brad Pitt, David Thewlis, and longtime friend Tom Raudaschl. Later, the global Covid pandemic reshaped his trajectory. After contributing to Shadows of Light (2020) as a story architect—a film that won Best European Independent Documentary in Paris—he ventured into directing with Everyman on Journey: The World Survey of a Homeless (2021). This documentary, characterized by a distinctive narrative form, received widespread acclaim within the film industry.

In 2023, Tonninger further expanded the documentary genre with Wild in the Mountains: Meditations on Hunting. This film enriched nature cinema with innovative stylistic elements, drawing audiences into a poetic and intimate exploration of hunting. Its success was marked by numerous international awards.

Looking ahead to 2025, Tonninger embarks on his most ambitious project yet: Head of Mountains: A Border Crossing Through the Centre. This feature documentary delves into the mountainous chambers of the Austrian soul – revealing what is behind the heroizing or kitschifying embellishments of mountain experience. Combining essayistic storytelling with cinematic action, the film aims to uncover the vanishing essence of the elemental—a pursuit that he enigmatically describes as a “true-crime documentary of nature.”