A 50 Minute programme showing 5 films:
Below a trailer and lower down the descriptions of the films that are part of the Featured Programme.
The Seasons, a Hmong story
This short film shows part of the working seasons for most of the Hmong living in the mountains of Northern Laos. The film follows a couple while they slash and burn the hillside to prepare for planting rice. The rice will be mainly used for their own subsistence and after the harvest stored in the village where they live.
London Eco Film Festival
On May 12th, 2013 the first London Eco Film Festival takes place in the Rich Mix event space.
http://www.richmix.org.uk
Links for the organisers:
http://www.whalenation.org/
http://www.slieff.org
I’ll be showing projects I have worked on over the last few years in Laos:
SCREENING
Title: Free the Bears (directed and produced by Adri Berger)
7.30 minutes documentary featuring Jude Osborne and Jane Clegg
Made for Free the Bears, an Australian NGO set up to rescue the Asian Black Bear. This film shows the rescue centre in Luang Prabang, Laos and through interviews gives an insight into the murky world of bile farming and other practises undermining the existence of this now endangered species.
directed and produced by Adri Berger
Production Assistence by Ka Xiong
http://www.freethebears.org
Title: Song of the Lao Elephant
50 minute documentary made for KBS (Korea Broadcast Systems)
Directed and written by: Hyun Cheol Son, KBS
Director of Photography: Adri Berger.
Produced in Laos by Adri Berger and Sebastien Duffillot.
Local production assitance by Ka Xiong.
Produced by © KBS Korea Broadcasting Systems 2012
This documentary shows the imminent disaster facing the Asian Elephant in Laos. The numbers are swiftly decreasing and this film shows the challenges to preserve this species. It shows the hardship of logging elephants in the Lao Jungle and follows one old mahout, showing his elephant’s predicament.
The film was made for Korean Broadcast Systems as part of their environment specials.
Korean Narration with English subtitles. More useful information on the subject: http://www.elefantasia.org
Below the Trailer for the 50 minute doc SONG of the LAO ELEPHANT
During the festival a cross section our work will also be shown in the
FEATURED SECTION:
Voices from Laos
Length: 15 minutes.
Showing a food security program, set up by CESVI an NGO from Italy, in Phonexay District, Northern Laos, through interviews with the project leader and locals.
Chit’s story
Length: 3 Minutes
A case study showing the impact of Save the Children in Northern Laos.
The short films tells the story of a midwife and how she recued a newborn from potential death durng child birth. Chit was recued and the midwife goes over the reasons as to why she was able to rescue the little baby.
Portraits from Luang Prabang
Length: 20 minutes Format: HD
Short description;
The film incorporates interviews with local people to create a ‘window’ on Luang Prabang in Laos from a different perspective. Many visitors see the traditional arts and culture of Luang Prabang when they buy souvenirs, go to a show or visit museums. However they don’t often get to see how these traditions are kept alive by the people who work as local artisans and in small village industries. This film goes behind the scenes and depicts a vital part of life in Luang Prabang. We created simple ‘moving’ portraits (vignettes) of the people who are the heartbeat of this small heritage town in SE Asia.
Way of the Mahout
Length: 5 Minutes
The film takes us to the Elephant Conservation Center in Sayaboury Province, Laos.
In the story the beauty of the animal is central and explains what the Center stands for. Since this film was made the practise of riding elephants was abandoned.
The Centre in Sayaboury:
For more information about the Elephant Conservation Centre please visit their website HERE
ElefantAsia Mobile Clinic
A mission to see the new born baby elephant in Hongsa District, Laos. Not many new elephants are born each year so to see and film this 4 day young very cute baby was an amazing experience. We interviewed the Elephant Asia veterinarians who run many clinics around Laos looking after the health of these majestic animals.
Film by Adri Berger
Edit by Ka Xiong
Stills by Adri Berger and Ka Xiong
www.elefantasia.org
www.elephantconservationcenter.com
Luang Prabang Film Festival
Dec 1st until Dec 5th
The SE Asian film festival kicks of on the 1st of December and for more detailed information and a program please check the website;
http://luangprabangfilmfestival.org/
We are showing some of my own work in T’Shop Lai gallery:
Portraits from Luang Prabang
Free the Bears
Song of the Lao Elephant (made for KBS TV in Korea)
Please contact us for more information; info@adriberger.com
Poster design by Paul Bloxham
International Photography Awards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
2012 International Photography Awards Announces Winners of the Competition
Adri Berger was awarded in the International Photography Awards Competition. International Photography Awards (IPA) has announced the winners of 2012’s competition.
Adri Berger was Awarded: Honorable Mention in Moving Images – Moving Images category for the winning entry “Portrait of an Abbot.”
About the Winner:
Adri Berger is a photographer with over 20 years experience of shooting commercial assignments across the world for a wide range of international clients. His impressive client list includes: multinational corporations, international publications, press associations and high profile arts organizations.
He is based in Laos and works for clients around SE Asia with a base in Bangkok, as well as for clients further afield. His interests have expanded over recent years into the realm of video and film and to see some of this work please click here: www.adriberger.com/films
ABOUT IPA:
The 2012 International Photography Awards received nearly 18,000 submissions from 104 countries across the globe. IPA is a sister-effort of the Lucie Foundation, where the top three winners are announced at the annual Lucie Awards gala ceremony. The Foundation’s mission is to honor master photographers, to discover new and emerging talent and to promote the appreciation of photography. Since 2003, IPA has had the privilege and opportunity to acknowledge and recognize contemporary photographer’s accomplishments in this specialized and highly visible competition. Visit www.photoawards.com
Adri Berger
info@adriberger.com
IPA Contact
Jade Tran
Competition Director
International Photography Awards
jtran@iawardsinc.com
Portraits from Luang Prabang
Over the last few months we have been working on a film incorporating interviews with local people to create a ‘window’ on Luang Prabang in Laos from a different perspective. Many visitors see the traditional arts and culture of Luang Prabang when they buy souvenirs, go to a show or visit museums. However they don’t often get to see how these traditions are kept alive by the people who work as local artisans and in small village industries. This film goes behind the scenes and depicts a vital part of life in Luang Prabang. We created simple ‘moving’ portraits of the people who are the heartbeat of this small heritage town in SE Asia.
https://vimeo.com/48537515
Direction and Photography by Adri Berger
Creative direction by Paul Bloxham
To read more about how the drawings were done, click here.
Additional steadicam work by Rob van Gelder
Music by Michael Bishop
Offline editor: KA Xiong
Online editor: Adri Berger
Bangalore, India
A CITY FULL OF LIFE
Bangalore or Bengaluru is the capital of Karnataka in the South of India. It’s India’s third most populous city and mostly known for being the hub of India’s information technology sector. On assignment for a Singapore based client I managed some time to capture part of street life and the colourful people living here, a city experiencing an incredible fast paced change, and becoming one of the top ten entrepreneurial locations in the world.
The city is full of life, and the food an absolute treat almost anywhere. One of my favourite places is the 13th Floor with great views over town. Yes a bit pricey but worth a visit at least once. Early evening is a good time to see the light change over the city and I had the lovely company of the people I was working for from Singapore. I left that evening with a heavy heart on the red eye to Bangkok.
Portrait of an Abbot – IPA Awarded
Adri Berger was awarded in the International Photography Awards Competition. International Photography Awards (IPA) has announced the winners of 2012’s competition.
Adri Berger was Awarded: Honorable Mention in Moving Images – Moving Images category for the winning entry “Portrait of an Abbot.”
Creative direction by Paul Bloxham
www.photoawards.com
Over the last few months we have been working on a film incorporating interviews with local people to create a ‘window’ on Luang Prabang in Laos from a different perspective. Many visitors see the traditional arts and culture of Luang Prabang when they buy souvenirs, go to a show or visit museums. However they don’t often get to see how these traditions are kept alive by the people who work as local artisans and in small village industries. This film goes behind the scenes and depicts a vital part of life in Luang Prabang. We created simple ‘moving’ portraits of the people who are the heartbeat of this small heritage town in SE Asia. ‘Portrait of an Abbot’ is part of the longer 20 minute film but is here presented as a stand alone vignette and shows the Abbot of Wat Xieng Thong at work.
Direction and Photography by Adri Berger
Creative direction by Paul Bloxham
To read more about how the drawings were done, click here.
Additional steadicam work by Rob van Gelder
Music by Michael Bishop
Offline editor: KA Xiong
Online editor: Adri Berger 
PX3 AWARDS, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 02, 2012 Prix de la Photographie Paris Competition Announces its 2012 Winners
Adri Berger received Silver and Bronze awards in the 2012 Prix de la Photographie Paris competition, which received thousands of entries from over 85 countries. He received Silver in catagory PRESS / Nature and Environmental, for his entry titled: BURNING CHARCOAL. He also received a Bronze in catagory Portraiture / Culture, for his entry titled: BATHING, NORTHERN LAOS.
Px3 is juried by top international decision-makers in the photography industry: Carol Johnson, Curator of Photography of Library of Congress, Washington D.C.; Gilles Raynaldy, Director of Purpose, Paris; Viviene Esders, Expert près la Cour d’Appel de Paris; Mark Heflin, Director of American Illustration + American Photography, New York; Sara Rumens, Lifestyle Photo Editor of Grazia Magazine, London; Françoise Paviot, Director of Galerie Françoise Paviot, Paris; Chrisitine Ollier, Art Director of Filles du Calvaire, Paris; Natalie Johnson, Features Editor of Digital Photographer Magazine, London; Natalie Belayche, Director of Visual Delight, Paris; Kenan Aktulun, VP/Creative Director of Digitas, New York; Chiara Mariani, Photo Editor of Corriere della Sera Magazine, Italy; Arnaud Adida, Director of Acte 2 Gallery/Agency, Paris; Jeannette Mariani, Director of 13 Sévigné Gallery, Paris; Bernard Utudjian, Director of Galerie Polaris, Paris; Agnès Voltz, Director of Chambre Avec Vues, Paris; and Alice Gabriner, World Picture Editor of Time Magazine, New York.
ABOUT Px3:
The “Prix de la Photographie Paris” (Px3) strives to promote the appreciation of photography, to discover emerging talent, and introduce photographers from around the world to the artistic community of Paris. Winning photographs from this competition are exhibited in a high-profile gallery in Paris and published in the high-quality, full-color Px3 Annual Book.
For Press Inquiries: info@px3.fr
Contact Adri Berger: hello@adriberger.net
Silver in Press, Nature & Environment
Bronze in Portraiture & Culture
WWF Campaign
The rampant trade of wildlife in Viet Nam has pushed many animal and plant species dangerously close to extinction, threatening not only the species and natural resources of the country and its neighbours, but Vietnamese livelihoods as well.
The survey conducted was done by TRAFFIC Southeast Asia Indochina, the wildlife trade monitoring network of WWF and the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
The survey revealed the use of wildlife products in Ha Noi is widespread. Forty five per cent of wild animal product users consume wildlife animal products up to three times per year, and up to 19 per cent consume the products more than three times per year.
WWF Greater Mekong Programme announced a variety of activities that are part of a campaign targeting the illegal and unsustainable consumption of wildlife products in Ha Noi. Using the information gained from the survey and employing the talents of Dutch photographer Adri Berger, Saatchi & Saatchi have designed visual concepts for a series of highly original, eye-catching ads.
WWF has chosen to publish the ads in Vietnamese newspapers and magazines whose readership reflects the largest groups of wildlife consumers, which includes businessmen, government officers, and well-educated, wealthy people.
