Perched on a cliff face, camera in hand, Matt Raimondo is a long way from the skate parks of his youth. The Australian filmmaker’s latest short, “IAN,” has just been selected for the prestigious Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour. But Raimondo’s ascent to this rarified air of adventure filmmaking has been as unpredictable and exhilarating as the mountain ascents he now captures on film. His story is one of passion found, lost, and rediscovered – a journey that has taken him from the suburbs of Geelong to the dizzying heights of international acclaim.
Born and raised in Geelong, Victoria, Raimondo’s filmmaking journey began in the urban landscape of skate parks. “I first picked up a camera when I was about 15 years old,” he recalls, “borrowing my mum’s camcorder to start filming my friends at the skatepark.” Those early days of splicing together skate videos using two VHS machines laid the foundation for a career that would eventually take him around the globe and to the heights of adventure filmmaking.
After studying Video Production and working in the industry, Raimondo took a detour into Graphic Design and Motion Graphics. However, the call of filmmaking proved too strong to resist. It was during his travels overseas that Raimondo found his true calling. “Travelling overseas and going on adventures naturally led me to document my experiences,” he explains. This organic fusion of wanderlust and creativity caught the attention of others, launching Raimondo into a 12-year career as a freelance commercial film director.
But Raimondo’s evolution wasn’t limited to his professional life. In his late 20s, a simple invitation to hike Mt Warning sparked a profound love for nature and adventure. This newfound passion led him to the Himalayas, Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro, and eventually to the world of rock climbing. Now based on the Sunshine Coast, Raimondo has found a perfect balance between his twin loves of filmmaking and climbing.
It’s this unique perspective that breathes life into “IAN,” Raimondo’s latest project. The film focuses on Ian Elliot, a senior climber who defies age stereotypes with his incredible feats on the challenging Coolum Cave. “Ian’s climbing is incredible, and he inspires people of all ages,” Raimondo explains. “Young climbers see him and realise they can keep climbing into their senior years, while older people see what’s still possible.”
Bringing “IAN” to life was no small feat. Raimondo and his team, including key collaborator and cinematographer Calab Ware, pushed the boundaries of adventure filmmaking. Their innovative use of a camera on a stabilised gimbal, fixed to climbing ropes and remotely controlled from the ground, allowed them to capture breathtaking shots that even drones couldn’t achieve.
The result is a film that not only showcases Ian’s inspirational climbing but also Raimondo’s growth as a filmmaker. “My goal with IAN was to create something of high quality that would look good on a big screen and do well in various adventure film festivals,” Raimondo shares.
The film’s inclusion in the Banff Mountain Film Festival – which Raimondo describes as “the biggest and best adventure film festival in the world” – is a testament to his success.
As for the future, Raimondo isn’t resting on his laurels. He’s already exploring ideas for new documentaries while balancing commercial work and, of course, continuing to climb as much as possible.
From the skate parks of Geelong to the cliff faces of the Sunshine Coast, Matt Raimondo’s journey is a reminder that sometimes, the most rewarding paths are the ones we discover along the way. As his film “IAN” takes its place on the international stage at the Banff Mountain Film Festival’s Radical Reels Tour, it’s clear that for Raimondo, the ascent is far from over.
See it at the Radical Reels Tour – in theatres all around the country this October.
