ILJA WILLEMS
Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker
Cultural Correspondent & Chief Explorer
New York City & the world
I tell the kind of stories that change your perspective
I’m Ilja, documentary filmmaker, cultural correspondent, and creative director of global explorations. From sailing around the world in the footsteps of Charles Darwin to uncovering hidden worlds in my own NYC neighborhoods, I create bold, unforgettable films that reframe how we see people, possibilities, and cultures.
Work With Me
Whether you’re a broadcaster, organization or global brand, I bring over 20 years of media experience to create powerful storytelling. I work internationally and locally, from concept to delivery, including documentary filmmaking, creative production, cultural correspondence, and speaking engagements.
Let’s Make Something Unforgettable!
About
Ilja is a documentary filmmaker and creative producer with a fearless curiosity and a love for stories that cross borders. Her work explores social justice, cultural traditions, environmental change, and female-led narratives, always with a cinematic eye and a human heart.
As founder of BureauNY.tv and TRIBUTE-Films, she has filmed everywhere from remote tropical islands to the hidden corners of New York City. Whether documenting revolutions, celebrating local traditions, or uncovering untold histories, Ilja blends investigative journalism with storytelling that makes you see differently.
With Illy’s Worlds of Wonders, she dives into extraordinary human creativity and the magic hidden in plain sight. When she is not filming, she moderates conversations, organizes female gatherings, and occasionally plays the nose flute (especially on Fridays).
