Nicole Leghissa

Workshop: OWSD Visions: Telling science stories through film OWSD Film Consultant and Director of Hyphae

OWSD Film Consultant and Director of Hyphae

Nicole Leghissa collaborates with international organizations who provide grants, funds and support to talented scientists in the poorest countries of the world - mainly in Africa and Asia - giving visibility to researchers and communities that are generally under-exposed in global media.  She is interested in human beings, in their personal journeys, challenges and struggles. Coming from a family of refugees from ex-Yugoslavia and growing up in a border town troubled by conflicts and ethnic diversity, she has always been curious about geo-political dynamics and different cultures.

She graduated in International and Diplomatic Sciences with a thesis in macro-economy in Cuba.  In Havana she dived into many interesting personal stories that intrigued her more than academic research. It became clear that she wanted to be a story-teller. She moved to Rome where I worked for theatre festivals and television, being executive producer, assistant director and researcher for British and North-American independent production companies producing long feature historical documentaries, broadcasted on PBS, Discovery Channel, Channel 4 and HBO.  She learnt by doing, starting from scratch, becoming step by step the author and director she is today.

Since then, she has directed reportages and documentaries for RAI, ARTE, Histoire and Associated Press Television News.  She is currently a consultant filmmaker for OWSD and the director of Hyphae, production company.