About us
At Ashwater Films, we believe powerful communication begins with people, the audiences we’re trying to reach, and just as importantly, the people doing the work. We’re an Indigenous-owned company built around genuine craft and genuine values, bringing production, strategic communications and community engagement together under one roof.
We’re critical thinkers first and storytellers second. Every project starts with the same question, not just what needs to be filmed, but why it matters and who it’s really for.
Our Story
connecting the dotS, bringing people together.
Storytelling has always been more than pointing a camera. For Ash and the Ashwater team, it’s about understanding the why behind a project before working out the how.
That way of thinking grew out of a career spent moving between two worlds that don’t always speak the same language: government/ corporate and community. Across roles in community services, community development and filmmaking, Ash built a rare position as a genuine conduit between the two, someone both sides trust, backed by the storytelling craft to carry that trust through into work that actually holds up.
That’s what led Ashwater beyond production into strategic communications and community engagement, not a pivot, but the natural next step of the same idea.
Today, that means bringing together the industry’s top talent under one roof: a production team with over 50 Australian Cinematographers Society awards and multiple AACTA nominations, with breadth across documentary, scripted, advertising, corporate and brand storytelling, a level of craft most organisations only ever get through a broadcast production house, now applied across the full life of a project.
Meet the founder
Ash Gibb is a proud Wiradjuri and Quandamooka man and the founder of Ashwater Films.
With over 20 years of experience spanning organisational leadership, community services, community development and engagement, working across both government and grassroots service delivery, alongside a parallel career in filmmaking, Ash brings a rare combination of cinematic craft and deep human understanding. His work is grounded in the belief that powerful storytelling begins with trust, and that meaningful communication comes from genuinely understanding people, context and purpose.
As an AACTA-nominated, multi award-winning director and cinematographer, Ash has worked across broadcast television, IMAX and commercial productions, delivering award-winning work recognised for both its visual quality and emotional depth. This experience informs a rigorous, end-to-end approach to production, from concept through to final delivery, ensuring every project meets the highest standards of craft and clarity.
Ash has contributed to some of Australia’s most respected screen productions, including Australia’s Wild Odyssey (ABC), Tony Armstrong’s Extra-Ordinary Things (ABC), The Assembly (ABC), Ambulance Australia (Network 10), Lost for Words (SBS), Bondi Rescue (Network 10) and Alone (SBS). His work also extends internationally through multiple IMAX feature films such as Sea Otters 3D, Butterfly Journey 3D, Caves: The Last Frontier and Wild Safari, exhibited in giant-screen theatres worldwide.
What sets Ash apart is the ability to navigate complex environments and draw out authentic stories. A background in social work and community engagement brings sensitivity and insight to every project, particularly work involving culture, community or organisational change.
Through Ashwater Films, Ash leads a curated network of trusted collaborators, bringing together the right people for each project while maintaining a consistent, director-led approach to storytelling, quality and delivery.
Working With the Right People
We work with a trusted network of leading creatives, carefully selected based on the needs of each project.
Rather than a fixed in-house team, Ashwater Films holds a core team whilst bringing together the right people for each brief — from award-winning cinematographers to additional editors for large projects with tight deadlines.
This flexible model allows us to scale intelligently while maintaining a consistent standard of quality, collaboration and care across every project.