“L’île 2023” is a short independent documentary about the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. The film was imagined as a reflection and tribute to César Manrique – a Spanish artist, sculptor and nature activist from Lanzarote, known in particular for the architectural projects in which he was involved as artistic director on his island. The film captures many of the island’s landmarks and merges them with quotes by Manrique from the book “César Manrique – In His Own Words” by Fernando Gomez Aguilera.

Note from Croatian director Alen Spionjak;

“This was our second visit to the island of Lanzarote and although I had produced a short film video about our first visit in 2022 entitled Biosphere, my idea was to film a new, more personal and complex view of the island while introducing a local narrator into the film to read and enact Manrique’s memoirs of his life on the island and the impact he left for the future.”

• Shooting date; 12.01-19.01.2023
• Shooting & Editing: Alen Špionjak
• Camera assistants: Ivana Tomić, Nikolina Vuković, Teodor Korodi
• Narrator: Carmen Pérez Medina
• Music : “Ryan Taubert – Fool”

I had the great honor of traveling to Indonesia for three weeks this summer. As well as the spectacular scenery of Bali, Komodo and Java, I wanted to find out more about the culture and the people. Bali, the island of the gods, is full of stories and myths. During my stay, there was Galungan, a Balinese festival celebrating the victory of dharma (good) over adharma (evil). It marks the beginning of the most important recurring religious ceremonies and the moment when ancestral spirits visit the Earth.

The Barong dance depicts the battle between Barong and Rangda, representing the eternal struggle between good and evil. The Barong is the king of spirits, the leader of the armies of good and the enemy of Rangda, the queen of demons and mother of all guardian spirits in Bali’s mythological traditions.

An important part of Bali’s magic is understanding that everything flows here – the divine, humanity and nature – with each individual contributing in some way to the overall energy that is transmitted across the island.

Each home offers its reverence and hospitality through offerings and prayers. A “penjor” – a curved bamboo pole decorated with offerings of coconut and palm leaves and flowers – winds its way along the roads, an enchanting reminder of the island’s ancient past.

In addition to the celebration, I also had the opportunity to photograph traditional Balinese dancers. One of the most beautiful dances is the Rejang. Dressed in superb costumes and headdresses, this dance is traditionally performed by young women during a ceremony in the inner courtyard of the temple. This dance is also one of the most sacred sacrificial dances, intended to entertain visiting gods and spirits.

Another very common dance is the Legong. It tells the story of 13th-century Java and is one of Bali’s cultural treasures, known for its physically demanding postures and rapid movements that demand great flexibility from its performers, usually young women.

Thanks to my friend and fellow photographer Daniel Kordan (check out his workshops in Bali and Java) and to Odi Gudang (who knows every corner of Bali). Without you, I would never have been able to get to know all these wonderful places and people.

• Filmed with a Sony Alpha 7 IV and a Sony Alpha 7S III).
• Camera, editing and color-grading: Dennis Schmelz
• Sound design: Friedhelm Mund
• Text and speaker: Claudina Hoff ter Heide
• Visual effects: Pascale Kanew
• Scouting: Daniel Kordan
• Local preparer: Odi Agung

In mid-August 2022, Mathieu Rivrin asked me to go to Iceland with the aim of filming the erupting volcano. I had just finished my BTS and was keen to discover new landscapes. But not everything went according to plan… The volcano went out a week before we arrived. Despite this initial annoyance at the start of the trip, I had a blast! It’s a trip to remember.

We are all familiar with the tragic events of the Rwandan genocide in the mid-1990s. Yet, beyond this dark chapter in its history, Rwanda boasts a rich heritage and countless wonders. One of my passions is to highlight global destinations by challenging prevailing stereotypes. This mission is at the heart of my work. I set out on a journey to discover another side of Rwanda, one that is not often described in mainstream accounts. With its friendly people, diverse wildlife and breathtaking landscapes, I invite you to discover the true essence of Rwanda.

• Shooting locations: Rwanda: Kigali – Akagera National Park – Nyungwe National Park – Lake Kivu
• Sound design : melodio.fr
• Voice over script: Guillaume Biollay

In two minutes and 45 seconds, Destination Nord compiles the most beautiful landscapes in the Hauts-de-France region, from the coalfields to the beaches of Dunkirk, captured from morning to night, but also… over the four seasons. This journey, both geographical and temporal, took a year to complete. Each shot is like a painting inspired by the Romantic painters, from the crash of the sea on a lighthouse to the rays of the sun on a belfry. This journey was built up over 4,000 kilometers of road, both with a drone and a fixed camera. More than twenty local contributors have shaped this film, from a Dunkirk fisherman to a Bergues carillonneur, from a Flanders miller to a Benedictine monk… All of them opened the door to their lives, for a moment to tell us about their daily lives. The theme of this journey is the seasonal moments that shape this land. From the dawn of a spring morning to the twilight of winter, each of these seasons has been meticulously chosen to highlight these places. It’s an invitation to travel, for those who still have preconceptions about this region. But perhaps through this film, someone will note in their travel diary their next destination, azimuth due north.

Shooting: January 15, 2022 – October 1, 2022 Locations (in order of appearance) :

• Raismes earthworks
• Arenberg Creative Mines
• Douai Belfry
• Champs de Houblons – Mont des Rats
• Lille’s Grand Place from the Hotel Bellevue
• Lille CCI Belfry
• Lille Palace of Fine Arts Museum
• Mount Cassel
• Moulin de Boeschepe
• Boeschepe Hot-air balloon
• Mont des Cats Abbey
• Porte d’Aire Cassel
• Champs d’Eolienne Solesmes
• Clairmarais Coté Nord
• Bergues belfry
• Hondschote flax fields
• Saint Pol bonfire
• Bray-Dunes sector boat
• Zuydcoote Beach
• Zuydcoote wreck Stakeholders (in order of appearance) : – Douai Town Hall
• Hôtel Bellevue – Boris Delecroix
• Now coworking Lille
• Palais des Beaux Arts de Lille
• Association du moulin de Boeschèpe – Les Ballons Migrateurs
• Brother Bernard Marie – Mont des cats Abbey – Cassel Tourist Office
• Les Faiseurs de Bateaux
• Bergues Town Hall & its municipal police force
• Jacques Martel – Carillonneur
• Decock Lin Hondschoote
• Chalutier l’étoile II Dunkerque – Stéphane Roseau and Alain Lalau – Les Écuries de Gaia – Manon Lozano
• Port of Dunkerk & Musée Portuaire de Dunkerque

“The film “South Africa” retraces the travel adventures of a few, friends with a thirst for discovery, across South Africa for almost 15 days. The essence of the film is to highlight the beauty and richness of this country and those who embody it.” Shooting locations

• Drakensberg Mountains (KwaZulu-Natal)
• Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Reserve (KwaZulu-Natal)
• Kruger National Park

November 2021, I decide to cross Reunion Island, also known as Intense Island. Alone and on foot, via the famous GRR2 trail. The objective? See the famous Piton de la Fournaise, the world’s most active volcano, before it erupts.

Mathis Behaegel, aka La Tortuga, is an adventurer and adventure filmmaker. During his expeditions, he sets off camera in hand to make documentaries. In November 2021, he decided to set himself a challenge, to take up his courage and his bag and cross Reunion Island, the intense island. And so, alone and on foot, he traverses this incredible territory of the southern hemisphere. The route includes the famous GRR2 trail. His objective is well known: he wants to observe the famous Piton de la Fournaise, the world’s most active volcano.

In January 2023 I hiked for 10 days on the Island of Madeira. I started in the small town of Porto Moniz in the west and headed up the great plateau of Paul da Serra. I visited the 25 Fontes waterfalls and passed through a 2-kilometers tunnel to get to the coastal town of Seixal. Back on the pleteau I headed east towards Pico Grande, the second tallest peak on the island. I slept in a cave and descended down to the remote town of Curral Das Freiras (the valley of the nuns) hidden in a deep valley. I climbed up to the main ridge but was forced to descend down again the next morning due to unseasonable amounts of rain and cold. The next morning I climbed back up via a different route and merged onto trail PR1 via Pico do Arieiro. PR1 is the most beautiful trail on the island. I climbed to the top of the island: Pico Ruivo at 1862 meters. I camped overlooking the valley of Curral Das Freiras with an astonishing sunset. The last day I arrived on the peninsula Ponta de Sao Lourenco, the furthest one can walk east. Full itinerary on https://harmenhoek.com/itinerary.

In this video I travel to Naples, in Italy’s stunning Campania region. I delve into this beautiful, chaotic city to discover what makes up the unique Neapolitan culture. Through talking with the locals I show how Neapolitan society is based around four key pillars, food, religion, family and soccer. I wanted to show the intense passion the Neapolitans have for these four things, and this was made possible through multiple interviews with locals and cinematography of a breathtakingly beautiful, and raw.

The Hemis Festival, one of Ladakh’s most important festivals, is celebrated every year to mark the anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava’s birth. Discover the real Ladakh in this offbeat destination. The culture and traditions of Ladakh are beautifully and fascinatingly represented in this festival. This is the real Ladakh, beyond road trips. Discover the vibrant colors of Ladakh’s Hemis Festival. A grandiose celebration marking the anniversary of the birth of the Buddhist guru Padmasambhava. Expect a show rich in culture and tradition, presented in the form of an enchanting story where good triumphs over evil. Immerse yourself in the rhythm of Ladakh and let the story unfold amidst music, dance and joy.

It tells the story of Khaled, a young shepherd from the Tabook clan who does everything in his power to preserve his way of life and traditions. We were inspired by his story, and hope to pass on to you some of the moments we spent with the Tabook family.

The tradition of the ramade cart in Graveson, Provence, goes back several centuries, combining pagan superstition and religious dogma. What remains today is an impressive horse-drawn carriage race and a mysterious cart decorated with branches in honor of Saint-Eloi.”

Since we saw Tenerife and Fuerteventura we decided to travel to every Canary Island. This time we thought about Lanzarote but at the end we traveled to Gran Canaria and it was great decision. Gran Canaria is sometimes called a “continent in miniature” due to the presence of several types of landscape and several climatic zones. We fell in love with dunes in Maspalomas on the south of the island, in the mountains on the north west. Every of Canary Islands has it own vibe but Gran Canaria has so many to offer. We saw there so many people riding bikes, running, hiking and soaking up the sun on the beach.

MARSELHA plunges us into the heart of Marseille, a city in its own right, emblematic of diversity and life. An immersive visual experience where raw, powerful elements mingle with the city’s vibrant culture, revealing the many facets of this Mediterranean city, blending ancestral traditions with vibrant modernity. MARSELHA is an intimate, multicultural portrait and a vibrant tribute to Marseille, a fiery symphony that bewitches us.

Shooting date:
Between January and June 2023. Locations: Marseille and surrounding area. Technical team: Directors, scriptwriter, cinematographers, editors and colorists: Roxane PERROT & Ugo ISOARD Music, sound design & mix: Timotée Pédron (Musiques Chroniques) Production: Zéké Film Voice-over: Gwenaëlle David Singer: Léa Béchet

Making this video was very close to my heart, as I’ve been living in Toulouse for several years now, and I’m very fond of the city’s architecture, culture and activities. I wanted to showcase this beautiful pink city, and the Wonder France Festival was the perfect opportunity! In this video, you’ll discover the city of Toulouse through the eyes of a subject strolling through the pink brick streets, exploring the main monuments, discovering different activities and enjoying the city’s ambience.

Immerse yourself in the mesmerizing mosaic of Marseille, filmed in August 2022. Jan Haeusler’s travel film “This is Marseille” attempts to portray Marseille in all its complexity – from its architectural beauty to the deep emotions that resonate in its streets. I crossed the dynamic city center, felt the electric atmosphere of the Stade Vélodrome and enjoyed the natural splendor of the Parc National des Calanques. I’ve visited many cities, but Marseille had something special that caught my eye. It made me want to know more about its culture and the people who live there. In this video, you’ll see that Marseille is more than just a place to visit; it’s a living community, full of stories and feelings. Many thanks to my friend Raphaël Rajzman.