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About
Project A
Project B
Project C
Project D
Project E
aqua mater studio
is an experimental documentary film studio founded byFrancesco Majo & Nataly Cadavid.
We develop long-term experimental documentary projects exploring consciousness, memory, water and the invisible connections between human beings and nature.
Our films have been awarded at international film festivals and are developed through a process of deep research, listening and visual integrity.
Our approach
We work at the crossroads of:
• documentary cinema
• scientific research
• human testimony
• poetic visual language
Our films are not explanatory.
They are experiential.
We collaborate with cultural institutions, foundations, researchers and independent producers.
Contact us for partnerships, screenings and co-productions.
About us:
Francesco Majo
Photographer & Filmmaker
Visual storyteller with 30 years of experience in photography and filmmaking.
His work focuses on light, time and the human presence, with a background in commercial and editorial production and a current focus on long-form documentary cinema.
www.francescomajo.com
⸻
Nataly Cadavid
Research & Direction
Born in Colombia, with a deep sensitivity for human processes, memory and symbolic languages.
Nataly works at the intersection of research, intuition and narrative structure, guiding the films through coherence, depth and ethical integrity.
⸻
Together, Francesco and Nataly create films where vision and perception, image and memory, form and meaning are held in balance.
Crew:
⸻
Juan Pablo Majo
Photographer & Filmmaker
www.pablomajo.comPhotographer & Filmmaker
⸻
Emanuele Colombo
Photographer
Photographer
into CONSCIOUSNESS
★★★★
Italian
Italy
2024-2025
Italian
88 min
https://www.lonelywolfjournal.com
Into CONSCIOUSNESS is an experimental documentary film that proposes an intimate and collective investigation into the meaning of consciousness. Through the voices of 12 protagonists - therapists, philosophers, artists, scientists, educators and spiritual researchers - the film composes a mosaic of reflections, experiences and insights that challenge our ordinary understanding of self, time and reality. The story unfolds through themes ranging from the memory of ancient grains to the constitutional identity of Italy, from Bert Hellinger's family constellations to the Mayan synchronarium. Each encounter takes place in an intimate and authentic way, without forcing, creating a space in which the word becomes resonance. Far from the rhetoric of the didactic or militant documentary, in CONSCIOUSNESS he searches for the invisible, the unspoken, what vibrates beneath the surface. The editing is slow, essential, built to favour the silence between one word and another, offering the audience an inner space to take in, remember, question. Conceived and directed by Francesco Majo and Nataly Cadavid, the film is the result of a totally independent and self-financed work. It is an artistic and human gesture of openness and connection, addressed to all those who feel the need to return to a more conscious, profound and true dimension of existence.
Director's Statement: This film was born from a personal urge: to understand, through the gaze of the other, what we really mean by consciousness. After years of work as photographers and filmmakers, we felt the need to explore less visible and more intimate territories, allowing the language of listening and silence to replace that of the controlled image. in CONSCIOUSNESS is an experiment and a research: it does not offer answers, but opens spaces for reflection. It was realised without subsidies, with personal resources, because we felt that this journey had to be made regardless of time or return. The constant confrontation` between us allowed us to combine different but complementary visions: the symbolic and aesthetic gaze intertwined with a more systemic and intuitive sensitivity. This exchange has given shape to a work that is, first and foremost, a shared act of research and awareness.
Starring: Andrea Gherpelli, Davide Monguzzi, Edward Rozzo, Stefano Silvestri, Mauro Scardovelli, Elena Pellegrini, Vincenzo D'Amato, Paola Sai, Elisabetta Mura, Alessandro Sironi, Stefania Marinelli, Adolfo Vaini.
WATER MEMORIES Vol.01
A DROP IN THE OCEAN
Spanish
Cyprus
Cyprus
2025 - 2026
Yes
“A drop in the Ocean," the inaugural episode of Water Memories, invites viewers into a mystical exploration of the divine interplay between water, memory, and cosmic consciousness through the resonant words of Dakini. The narrative weaves together the sacred rhythms of Sufi dance, insights from ancient mythology, and the vibrational messages encoded in polar crystals. By unveiling the transformative power of water, the episode reveals its essential role as a conduit for galactic memories and spiritual awakening, traversing through time and space.
Introduction Water Memories – "A drop in the Ocean" presents a profound cinematic journey highlighting the spiritual significance of water as the essence of creation, transformation, and collective awakening. With poetic narration and the expressive art of Sufi dance, filmed in the enchanting landscapes of Cyprus, this episode immerses viewers in the sacred bond between water and consciousness. It serves as an invitation to reconnect with the primordial energies that shape our existence, awakening the depths of our cosmic lineage intertwined with the waters of our planet.
Directed by: Francesco Majo & Nataly Cadavid
Photography: Francesco Majo, Juan Pablo Majo and Emanuele Colombo
Starring: Dakini
WATER MEMORIES Vol. 02
MYTHS & HARP
Italian
Italy
2025
https://caravaniff.com/water-memories-myths-harp/
Water Memories Myths & Harp – The Memories of Water is a captivating journey through ancient myths, legends, and stunning landscapes of Emilia-Romagna, where Fabio Bortesi shares timeless stories about water’s significance, accompanied by the enchanting sounds of Celtic harpist Agatha Bocedi. Set against three evocative locations—the Olmo Park in Guastalla, the Trebbia Valley, and the Parcellara lava stone—this poetic visual and musical experience celebrates water’s symbolic power, its role as a source of renewal, and its deep connection to mystery and spirituality. An immersive tribute that invites viewers to rediscover the element that has shaped us and continues to influence our existence.
Introduction: Water Memories – The Memories of Water is a poetic and evocative experimental short film blending myth, nature, and music into a sensory journey. Directed by Francesco Majo and Nataly Cadavid, with aerial footage and an intimate narrative, the film explores water’s profound symbolism through ancient stories and breathtaking landscapes, encouraging reflection on our relationship with this essential element. A lyrical homage to the liquid memory that grounds our roots and whispers of the mysterious forces that flow through our lives.
Directed by: Francesco Majo & Nataly Cadavid
Starring: Fabio Bortesi & Agatha Bocedi
Words by: Fabio Bortesi
Harp: Agatha Bocedi
Photography: F. Majo, E. Colombo, J. P. Majo,
Drone operator: Juan Pablo Majo
Stage photographer: Emanuele Colombo
Editing: N. Cadavid
Prod: Aqua Mater Studio
WATER MEMORIES Vol. 03
FAMILY CONSTELLATIONS
English / Italian
Africa / Europe
2026
to be filmed
25.000€
Water Memories vol. 03 — Constellations
Logline
An immersive art-film and participatory installation that weaves Bert Hellinger’s Family Constellations with the living poetics of water—tracing how stories flow across generations like rivers through land. Filmed around a great baobab, in co-creation with Zulu knowledge keepers, a psychotherapist, and an anthropologist.
Concept
Water carries, remembers, and reshapes. Family Constellations reveals unseen currents—belonging, order, balance—moving through our lineages. Water Memories vol. 03 brings these currents into view: bodies as riverbeds; voices as ripples; the baobab as a living archive where roots meet sky. We listen for what wants to surface and offer it a form—sound, image, gesture—so it can finally move.
Artistic Approach
- Metaphor, not dogma: “water memory” as poetic frame for relational resonance and embodied remembrance.
- Systemic dramaturgy: sequences inspired by Hellinger’s principles (belonging, order, exchange) translated into spatial compositions, choral movement, and camera “placements.”
- Site as character: a centuries-old baobab—axis of kinship and time—shapes the score, pacing, and choreography.
- Polyphonic authorship: Zulu elders and cultural practitioners co-create protocols, songs, and narratives; Western clinical and anthropological lenses are present but not dominant.
- Sensory immersion: hydrophones, breath, heartbeat percussion, and water textures build a tactile soundscape; slow cinema and close-up ethnographic detail invite contemplative attention.
Why Family Constellations x Water
- Lineage flows like a watershed: tributaries converge, diverge, and carry sediments of memory.
- Symptoms as signals: turbulence appears where flow is obstructed; ritual, witnessing, and right placement restore movement.
- Resonance over rhetoric: what is acknowledged can circulate; what circulates can transform.
Key Collaborators
- Psychotherapist: Stefano Silvestri (clinical supervision, ethical framing, trauma-informed practice).
- Anthropologist: [Name] (context, consent processes, cultural mediation).
- Zulu community partners: elders, singers, and knowledge keepers from [location], engaged as co-authors, with prior agreements on representation, credit, and benefit sharing.
- Aqua Mater Studio creative team: direction, sound design, camera, production.
Structure (draft)
1) Opening Listening: silent arrival, offering at the baobab, water bowls arranged by lineage lines.
2) Placements: symbolic constellations with participants and objects; camera and microphones “stand in” as witnesses.
3) Flow and Return: guided breath and water-based micro-rituals; songs and stories invited by the hosts.
4) Integration: naming, gratitude, and redistribution of roles; closing circle and quiet dispersal.
Ethics and Care
- Informed consent, co-editing invitations for featured community members, and the right to withdraw.
- Cultural protocols led by local partners; no reenactment of sacred ceremonies without explicit permission.
- Trauma-aware facilitation; this project is art-led and does not replace therapy or medical care.
Location
- Primary: beneath and around a grand baobab in [region], filmed at first light and dusk to honor cyclical time.
- Secondary: water sites (spring/river) for hydrophone recording and reflective sequences.
Deliverables
- Short art film (12–18 min) for festivals, museums, and online release.
- Immersive installation (4-channel sound, 2-channel video, water-light textures).
- Original soundtrack album (30–40 min) featuring water recordings and choral elements.
- Photo-text essay and a digital zine documenting process, voices, and imagery.
- Learning kit (facilitation notes, ethics guidelines) for community screenings.
Audience and Impact
- For communities exploring identity, belonging, and healing through art.
- For cultural institutions seeking cross-disciplinary, decolonial, and participatory practices.
- For funders investing in ethical collaboration and mental health–adjacent cultural work.
Production Timeline (indicative)
- Research and agreements: 6–8 weeks
- Fieldwork and filming: 10–14 days on site
- Editing and post (sound-led): 8–10 weeks
- Preview with partners + revisions: 2 weeks
- Premiere and rollout: from month 6
Budget Focus (high level)
- Community collaboration fees and benefit sharing
- Local production, access, and translation
- Creative team (direction, sound, camera, edit, color, mix)
- Ethical oversight and legal (consent, rights)
- Impact screenings and educational materials
Call for Support
We seek partners who value poetic rigor, ethical collaboration, and care-centered production. Your support will enable fair compensation for our Zulu collaborators, trauma-informed facilitation by Stefano Silvestri, and a world-class sound-image experience that lets audiences feel systemic belonging move—like water—through time.
Notes
- Inspired by the systemic principles articulated by Bert Hellinger. This project is an artistic exploration and does not constitute therapy.
Logline
An immersive art-film and participatory installation that weaves Bert Hellinger’s Family Constellations with the living poetics of water—tracing how stories flow across generations like rivers through land. Filmed around a great baobab, in co-creation with Zulu knowledge keepers, a psychotherapist, and an anthropologist.
Concept
Water carries, remembers, and reshapes. Family Constellations reveals unseen currents—belonging, order, balance—moving through our lineages. Water Memories vol. 03 brings these currents into view: bodies as riverbeds; voices as ripples; the baobab as a living archive where roots meet sky. We listen for what wants to surface and offer it a form—sound, image, gesture—so it can finally move.
Artistic Approach
- Metaphor, not dogma: “water memory” as poetic frame for relational resonance and embodied remembrance.
- Systemic dramaturgy: sequences inspired by Hellinger’s principles (belonging, order, exchange) translated into spatial compositions, choral movement, and camera “placements.”
- Site as character: a centuries-old baobab—axis of kinship and time—shapes the score, pacing, and choreography.
- Polyphonic authorship: Zulu elders and cultural practitioners co-create protocols, songs, and narratives; Western clinical and anthropological lenses are present but not dominant.
- Sensory immersion: hydrophones, breath, heartbeat percussion, and water textures build a tactile soundscape; slow cinema and close-up ethnographic detail invite contemplative attention.
Why Family Constellations x Water
- Lineage flows like a watershed: tributaries converge, diverge, and carry sediments of memory.
- Symptoms as signals: turbulence appears where flow is obstructed; ritual, witnessing, and right placement restore movement.
- Resonance over rhetoric: what is acknowledged can circulate; what circulates can transform.
Key Collaborators
- Psychotherapist: Stefano Silvestri (clinical supervision, ethical framing, trauma-informed practice).
- Anthropologist: [Name] (context, consent processes, cultural mediation).
- Zulu community partners: elders, singers, and knowledge keepers from [location], engaged as co-authors, with prior agreements on representation, credit, and benefit sharing.
- Aqua Mater Studio creative team: direction, sound design, camera, production.
Structure (draft)
1) Opening Listening: silent arrival, offering at the baobab, water bowls arranged by lineage lines.
2) Placements: symbolic constellations with participants and objects; camera and microphones “stand in” as witnesses.
3) Flow and Return: guided breath and water-based micro-rituals; songs and stories invited by the hosts.
4) Integration: naming, gratitude, and redistribution of roles; closing circle and quiet dispersal.
Ethics and Care
- Informed consent, co-editing invitations for featured community members, and the right to withdraw.
- Cultural protocols led by local partners; no reenactment of sacred ceremonies without explicit permission.
- Trauma-aware facilitation; this project is art-led and does not replace therapy or medical care.
Location
- Primary: beneath and around a grand baobab in [region], filmed at first light and dusk to honor cyclical time.
- Secondary: water sites (spring/river) for hydrophone recording and reflective sequences.
Deliverables
- Short art film (12–18 min) for festivals, museums, and online release.
- Immersive installation (4-channel sound, 2-channel video, water-light textures).
- Original soundtrack album (30–40 min) featuring water recordings and choral elements.
- Photo-text essay and a digital zine documenting process, voices, and imagery.
- Learning kit (facilitation notes, ethics guidelines) for community screenings.
Audience and Impact
- For communities exploring identity, belonging, and healing through art.
- For cultural institutions seeking cross-disciplinary, decolonial, and participatory practices.
- For funders investing in ethical collaboration and mental health–adjacent cultural work.
Production Timeline (indicative)
- Research and agreements: 6–8 weeks
- Fieldwork and filming: 10–14 days on site
- Editing and post (sound-led): 8–10 weeks
- Preview with partners + revisions: 2 weeks
- Premiere and rollout: from month 6
Budget Focus (high level)
- Community collaboration fees and benefit sharing
- Local production, access, and translation
- Creative team (direction, sound, camera, edit, color, mix)
- Ethical oversight and legal (consent, rights)
- Impact screenings and educational materials
Call for Support
We seek partners who value poetic rigor, ethical collaboration, and care-centered production. Your support will enable fair compensation for our Zulu collaborators, trauma-informed facilitation by Stefano Silvestri, and a world-class sound-image experience that lets audiences feel systemic belonging move—like water—through time.
Notes
- Inspired by the systemic principles articulated by Bert Hellinger. This project is an artistic exploration and does not constitute therapy.
WATER MEMORIES Vol. 04Spanish / English
Mexico / Colombia
2026 - 2027
To be filmed
Support
35.000€
Water Memories — Vol. 04
Mexico (Amatlán de Quetzalcoatl)
Logline
An immersive art-film and participatory project exploring water as sacred, life-giving, and a vessel of collective memory—in dialogue with Maya histories, Janzu aquatic practice, and local knowledge keepers.
Synopsis
Set in Amatlán de Quetzalcoatl, this episode follows the currents where myth, ritual, and ecology meet. Through Janzu—“pacified river”—bodies become conduits for remembrance; voices, drums, and underwater sound weave a tactile score. Guided by Colectivo Agua, Janzu practitioners, and a Maya history expert, we listen to water as archive and teacher: cenotes as portals, hands as oars, breath as bridge. The camera moves like a stream—slow, attentive—inviting viewers into a contemplative experience where ancestral narratives surface and contemporary care practices take form. Water is not only subject but collaborator, shaping pacing, framing, and the ethics of encounter.
Artistic Approach
- Sensory cinema: hydrophones, breath-led rhythm, reflective light on skin and stone.
- Ritual dramaturgy: offerings, circle work, and gentle Janzu sequences as living score.
- Co-creation: protocols, stories, and consent processes led with local partners.
Key Collaborators
- Colectivo Agua (aquatic facilitation, community bridges)
- Janzu practitioners (embodied practice and safety)
- Maya history expert (contextual grounding and narrative integrity)
- Aqua Mater Studio (direction, sound, camera, production)
Deliverables
- Short art film (festival/museum/online)
- Immersive sound-video installation
- Original soundtrack and photo-text zine
Impact
- Revives water-centered cosmologies to inspire contemporary stewardship
- Models ethical, cross-cultural collaboration and trauma-aware practice
- Offers audiences a felt experience of interdependence and reverence
Support Invitation
We seek partners who value poetic rigor and cultural respect. Funding will sustain fair collaboration with local contributors, aquatic safety, and sound-led postproduction—ensuring a work that carries a universal message of care for water and the stories it holds.
Mexico (Amatlán de Quetzalcoatl)
Logline
An immersive art-film and participatory project exploring water as sacred, life-giving, and a vessel of collective memory—in dialogue with Maya histories, Janzu aquatic practice, and local knowledge keepers.
Synopsis
Set in Amatlán de Quetzalcoatl, this episode follows the currents where myth, ritual, and ecology meet. Through Janzu—“pacified river”—bodies become conduits for remembrance; voices, drums, and underwater sound weave a tactile score. Guided by Colectivo Agua, Janzu practitioners, and a Maya history expert, we listen to water as archive and teacher: cenotes as portals, hands as oars, breath as bridge. The camera moves like a stream—slow, attentive—inviting viewers into a contemplative experience where ancestral narratives surface and contemporary care practices take form. Water is not only subject but collaborator, shaping pacing, framing, and the ethics of encounter.
Artistic Approach
- Sensory cinema: hydrophones, breath-led rhythm, reflective light on skin and stone.
- Ritual dramaturgy: offerings, circle work, and gentle Janzu sequences as living score.
- Co-creation: protocols, stories, and consent processes led with local partners.
Key Collaborators
- Colectivo Agua (aquatic facilitation, community bridges)
- Janzu practitioners (embodied practice and safety)
- Maya history expert (contextual grounding and narrative integrity)
- Aqua Mater Studio (direction, sound, camera, production)
Deliverables
- Short art film (festival/museum/online)
- Immersive sound-video installation
- Original soundtrack and photo-text zine
Impact
- Revives water-centered cosmologies to inspire contemporary stewardship
- Models ethical, cross-cultural collaboration and trauma-aware practice
- Offers audiences a felt experience of interdependence and reverence
Support Invitation
We seek partners who value poetic rigor and cultural respect. Funding will sustain fair collaboration with local contributors, aquatic safety, and sound-led postproduction—ensuring a work that carries a universal message of care for water and the stories it holds.