Katalin Hanappi is a Vienna- and at times sailboat-based film director. She started working for television at the age of thirteen as the anchor of a youth news format on the Austrian National Broadcast ORF.
She grew up in Austria, the U.S., United Kingdom and Canada. Always with her head in books, enrolling in creative writing- and photography classes and constantly realizing plays and short films just for fun, her passion naturally grew into a profession.
After graduating from university, Katalin directed over 3 dozen film projects for broadcast and cinema, most of them in the documentary genre. Her films have taken her across Africa, Oceania, the Americas and Europe. She is accustomed to filming in the most far flung of locations, with wild animals and ambitious set-ups.
In 2015 she received the Austrian „Best 30 under 30“ journalism award.
Katalin Hanappi is known for her exceptionally sensitive and intuitive approach to challenging stories. Her work often shines a light on environmental issues and wildlife conservation - matters close to her heart. She is ambassador to “The European Nature Trust” and was chosen to represent #BeLoving for the BE JANE-campaign for the Jane Goodall Institute Austria in 2023.
Katalin likes to have her photo camera with her. Her portrait of a Norwegian environmental activist sharing a kiss with an elder from the indigenous Ju’Hoansi community appeared on the cover of ELLE Norway.
In 2022 her debut fictional short film “Aya’s dream” was honored with the “Best Film on African Cultural Issues” film prize at the Lake International Panafrican Film Festival.