THE PEOPLE BEHIND
WINSTON FILMS
We are a small, senior team. Every project gets the people who know what they are doing:
from the first conversation to the final edit.
23
countries
filmed in
5
languages
9
years in production
THE PEOPLE BEHIND
WINSTON FILMS
Where it started
A van, a camera, and a decision to keep going
In 2018, two friends set off across Australia in a van called Winston. Over 40,000km, they filmed whatever caught their attention: people they met, places they passed, and conversations they never planned for. Somewhere along the way, filming stopped being part of the trip and became something they wanted to keep doing.
They came home as filmmakers, and the van had already given them the name. Winston Films grew from that same curiosity: asking questions, listening closely, and finding the story in what people have to say.
"The collaboration with Winston was extremely smooth and professional, with quick feedback and close communication throughout. They were also very creative and flexible, bringing ideas to the table that ultimately resulted in a final product that was even better than what we had originally envisioned."
Alex Whitcomb
Program Manager,
Erasmus University Rotterdam
How we think
Trained to find clarity where complexity begins
Our backgrounds in research, academic writing, leadership development, and learning design trained us to do one thing well: enter an unfamiliar subject, identify what actually matters, and build a clear argument around it. That process transfers directly into film.
Whether the subject is a new satellite payload, a medical research programme, or an organisational change initiative, the approach is the same: rigorous preparation, structured questioning, and storytelling that makes complex ideas accessible without losing their substance.
“Laurent and Simone are truly passionate about their work. Their dedication and motivation are evident at every stage of our collaboration. Working with them on the production of three episodes for our YPSat documentary was an immense pleasure. Their interviews brought invaluable worth to our project. They have a knack for capturing emotions and eliciting heartfelt responses, all while crafting a compelling narrative and a strong through-line through their editing. Their talent and professionalism are impressive.”
Julien Krompholtz
Technical Coordination Officer,
European Space Agency
"
Laurent and Simone are truly passionate about their work. Their dedication and motivation are evident at every stage of our collaboration. Working with them on the production of three episodes for our YPSat documentary was an immense pleasure. Their interviews brought invaluable worth to our project. They have a knack for capturing emotions and eliciting heartfelt responses, all while crafting a compelling narrative and a strong through-line through their editing. Their talent and professionalism are impressive.
“Laurent and Simone are truly passionate about their work. Their dedication and motivation are evident at every stage of our collaboration. Working with them on the production of three episodes for our YPSat documentary was an immense pleasure. Their interviews brought invaluable worth to our project. They have a knack for capturing emotions and eliciting heartfelt responses, all while crafting a compelling narrative and a strong through-line through their editing. Their talent and professionalism are impressive.”
"Our product is highly technical and much of what it does is invisible, so one of our biggest challenges was explaining not only the technology itself, but how the different parts of our solution work together in a real operational environment. Despite the complexity, Winston Films quickly understood our product and distilled that knowledge into a clear and compelling film without losing what makes our solution unique. The team also handled filming inside gategroup’s fast-moving and highly controlled kitchen environments carefully and respectfully, without disrupting the operation. The final film made a complex product and service understandable in about a minute while still capturing the scale, precision, and value behind it."
Julien Krompholtz
Technical Coordination Officer,
European Space Agency
"
THE CORE TEAM
The people behind every project
Winston operates as a tight core team of four: the people you will meet, work with, and hear from throughout a project. For specialist needs, we draw on a consistent group of collaborators we have worked with across multiple projects. The core stays constant. The team scales to what the work actually needs.
Simone Punzo
Co-founder & Creative Director
Simone Punzo
Co-founder & Creative Director
Simone finds the argument already inside complex work and draws it out - shaped by 600+ interviews across aerospace, education, medical research, and engineering. Alongside Winston Films, he applies the same clarity-first thinking to AI implementation and organisational change
When I'm not working, you'll find me in Nepal, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Colombia, or wherever else I can travel, immersing myself in cultures and realities.
Laurent Masson
Co-founder & Editor
Laurent Masson
Co-founder & Editor
Laurent operates and directs the cameras and shapes the edit, keeping a clear thread from filming through post-production. He thinks about images like language - what a frame is doing, what a cut is saying, and what the sequence is building toward.
When I'm not working, you'll find me sim racing (or more likely fixing my setup), drumming, or travelling in the Mediterranean.
Vanessa Shtrezi
Graphic & Motion Designer
Vanessa Shtrezi
Graphic & Motion Designer
Vanessa brings a background in graphic design, motion design, and editing, with a precise understanding of how visual systems hold together - from brand consistency to making complex ideas visually clear. She ensures every visual choice feels considered, not just finished.
When I'm not working, you'll find me with my dog or in the workshop woodworking.
Silian Schaller
Client Success
Silian Schaller
Client Success
With seven years in leadership development and learning design, Silian specialises in translating complex knowledge between people who think differently. He connects what clients know with what audiences need to understand, bridging learning, organisational development, and film.
When I'm not working, you'll find me on my bike, in a tent, or on a mountain.
Simone Punzo
Co-founder & Creative Director
Simone finds the argument already inside complex work and draws it out - shaped by 600+ interviews across aerospace, education, medical research, and engineering. Alongside Winston Films, he applies the same clarity-first thinking to AI implementation and organisational change
When I'm not working, you'll find me in Nepal, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Colombia, or wherever else I can travel, immersing myself in cultures and realities.
Laurent Masson
Co-founder & Editor
Laurent operates and directs the cameras and shapes the edit, keeping a clear thread from filming through post-production. He thinks about images like language - what a frame is doing, what a cut is saying, and what the sequence is building toward.
When I'm not working, you'll find me sim racing (or more likely fixing my setup), drumming, or travelling in the Mediterranean.
Vanessa Shtrezi
Graphic & Motion Designer
Vanessa brings a background in graphic design, motion design, and editing, with a precise understanding of how visual systems hold together - from brand consistency to making complex ideas visually clear. She ensures every visual choice feels considered, not just finished.
When I'm not working, you'll find me with my dog or in the workshop woodworking.
Silian Schaller
Client Success
With seven years in leadership development and learning design, Silian specialises in translating complex knowledge between people who think differently. He connects what clients know with what audiences need to understand, bridging learning, organisational development, and film.
When I'm not working, you'll find me on my bike, in a tent, or on a mountain.
Extended team
A consistent group of specialists built across years of projects
We keep our core team small and extends it when a project calls for specialist expertise. Over years of working together, we’ve built a trusted network across cinematography, photography, motion design, 3D animation, and multimedia installations - collaborators who know our work, and whose work we know.
