Peter Mettler is widely regarded as one of the most singular voices in contemporary cinema. Working at the intersection of documentary, essay film and experimental practice, his films resist categorisation while remaining deeply accessible, guided by intuition, curiosity and a sustained attention to perception, time and transcendence.
Across an extensive career, Mettler has created works often considered impossible to make until they exist. His cinema blends travelogue, observation, interview, fiction and critique, always grounded in a strong sense of craft and visual discipline. Rooted in personal experience yet expansive in scope, his films explore the relationship between nature and technology, belief and science, control and surrender, inviting the viewer to actively participate in the construction of meaning.
His landmark film Gambling, Gods and LSD stands as the fullest expression of this approach. Produced over a decade and filmed across multiple continents, it is considered his magnum opus and a key work of essay cinema. Closely related in spirit are Picture of Light, an exploration of the northern lights and the paradoxes of media, and The End of Time, a philosophical journey through scientific, spiritual and geological landscapes in search of how humans understand time.
In addition to his own films, Mettler has collaborated extensively as a cinematographer and creative partner. He has worked with Atom Egoyan, Jennifer Baichwal, Robert Lepage, Stéphanie Barbey, Luc Peter, Emma Davie and David Abram, among many others. His collaborations extend across cinema, theatre, music and visual arts, reflecting a practice rooted in exchange and adaptation.
Mettler’s work has been the subject of major retrospectives at international festivals and cinematheques, and he is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Genie Award for Best Documentary, prizes at Visions du Réel, Locarno and Hot Docs, and wide critical recognition. His films have also inspired scholarly attention, with multiple books dedicated to his work.
Beyond filmmaking, Mettler has developed live cinema performances that apply improvisation and montage in real time, collaborating with musicians, dancers and artists in diverse contexts. These projects extend his cinematic language into ephemeral, performative spaces, continuing his lifelong exploration of perception, wonder and the unseen currents shaping everyday life.
