Bryan Smith
Bryan Smith is a filmmaker and adventurer whose cinematic storytelling brings science and exploration to life. Celebrated for his recent work on the IMAX film Einstein’s Incredible Universe, Bryan combines real-world adventure, cutting-edge visuals, and big ideas—taking audiences from remote landscapes to breakthrough moments that reveal how curiosity drives discovery.
Giant Screen Storyteller
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Wonder Seeker
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Risk Taker
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Giant Screen Storyteller • Wonder Seeker • Risk Taker •
More about Bryan
When Bryan Smith bought his first camera at Walmart in 2007, he had no idea his passion and persistence would carry him through the ranks of the industry in the span of just a decade. His first film, 49 Megawatts, documented a community’s struggle with a hydroelectric project on the Ashlu River and eventually led him to the hallways of National Geographic. He received an Expedition Council grant to lead a team of kayakers into the wilds of Kamchatka and went on to direct The Man Who Can Fly for the Nat Geo channel. After several years as a freelance director of photography for the network, Bryan founded Reel Water Productions, a boutique production company based in Squamish, British Columbia specializing in documentary, expedition, and commercial content.
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Known for taking cameras into some of the most extreme and inhospitable places on the planet, Bryan is now using his skills behind the lens for the giant screen. He has just completed one of the most anticipated IMAX films in the industry, Einstein’s Incredible Universe.
Bryan chooses projects that pass his 60/40 rule—an anticipated 60% success and 40% failure rate—because a healthy chance of failure produces the tension, emotion, and breakthroughs necessary for gripping and transformative stories. Onstage, he talks about calculated risk, 360-degree leadership, and how to get everyone on the team to share a singular vision and perform at their highest potential.
Speaking Topics
Leadership
Team Dynamics
Exploration
Adventure
Innovation
Overcoming Obstacles
Watch Bryan in action
Presentations
The Risk Gene
Humans are wired to take risks—and fear them. Award-winning filmmaker Bryan Smith shows how imagination overcomes that fear. With more than 20 years capturing extremes—from adventurers negotiating jungles and mountains to scientists breaking new ground—he reveals how embracing discomfort fuels innovation. Living by his 60/40 rule, Bryan proves that progress, creativity, and achievement come from challenging the status quo.
Capturing the Impossible
Bryan Smith takes us to some of the planet’s most remote places, from Papua New Guinea’s jungles to North America’s highest peaks. With curiosity, humor, and emotion, he shares human stories and breathtaking landscapes. Through calculated risk-taking, Bryan shows how embracing failure and the unknown can push boundaries, inspire audiences, and create unforgettable, transformative experiences.
“I only take on projects with a 50% or greater failure rate. The risk of failure sharpens the saw and brings out the best in everyone on the team.”
– Bryan Smith