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Hailing from the Italian Alps, Thomas Cristofoletti is an award-winning documentary cinematographer and photojournalist who has been working in Southeast Asia since 2012. Based between Bangkok, Thailand, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia, he’s also the co-founder of RUOM, a multimedia collective specializing in documentary film, photography, and investigative visual journalism. Especially passionate about climate change, Thomas’ long-term project focuses on the effects of development on the Mekong region. Thomas’ work has been published in international outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, The BBC, and Bloomberg. His videos and photos have been featured in campaigns for international non-profit organizations such as USAID, WWF, The Obama Foundation, and UNICEF. He’s fluent in English, Italian and Spanish.
Portfolio
From the 1980s to the early 2000s, microfinance loans to the world’s poor were heralded as a silver bullet for global poverty. While globally its effectiveness has been reevaluated since its inception, microfinance in Cambodia is still considered a tool for poverty alleviation. Born on the backbone of a wider research project from the Royal Holloway University of London and Nottingham University, Strangled challenges this narrative. The stories of the 3 Cambodian families in this film debunk the myth of microfinance as a tool that serves the poor. Instead, they portray a bleak scenario where microfinance lending has induced suicide, forced migration, and torn vulnerable families apart. Through the eyes of the protagonists and their intimate experiences, the film intends to present the struggle so many Cambodians face when dealing with microfinance indebtedness.
The Mekong River ecosystem is on the verge of collapse due to the accumulative effects of climate change. Hydropower dams, drought and human-made activities such as deforestation and sand mining have also caused water levels to drop to their lowest in more than 60 years. The Mekong flows for nearly 5,000km (3,100 miles) from Himalayan glaciers in Tibet, through China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia before reaching the South China Sea in Vietnam. “Together, climate impact and dam restrictions are changing the way that the Mekong flows - much for the worse", says Brian Eyler who runs the Mekong Dam Monitor at the Stimson Center in Washington DC.
Karmila Purba takes a lot of flack for her choice of profession. She rides a modified motorbike around the sides of a Tong Setan – or “Satan's barrel” – what Indonesians call the carnival attraction commonly known as the "Wall of Death." While critics accuse her of not being a "good woman" for working in the male-dominated carnival world, others applaud her for breaking stereotypes in the conservative country. Purba’s loyal followers have even given her a nickname – "Princess of the Tong Setan".
“Seat at the Table” aims to paint a truly global picture of the climate emergency facing our world. Jack Harries, 28, filmmaker and activist, has talked with farmers and firefighters, inventors and activists. People whose voices need to be heard at the COP26’s global climate conference. I shot one of the story of episode one, the story of Chhum Shim (min 5.00), a Cambodian rice farmer impacted by weather patterns altered by climate change. To pay back the loan she took out for her farm, she and her family left their home in the countryside to work in a brick kiln in the capital. She, like many others, is a climate migrant.
“Incredible Edibles” is a show about the world’s most incredible people, making the world’s most incredible edibles. In these pilot episodes, we follow producer and host Vanessa Lavorato on her journey through Thailand to meet local cannabis legends, discover local entrepreneurs and learn how to cook their favorite food.
Fisherman Piseth and his family live on the edge of the Tonle Sap Lake and they’re experiencing first-hand the consequences of climate change and the construction of the hydroelectric dams on the Mekong. Fish stocks have plummeted and the family is becoming increasingly worried about how they are going to feed themselves.
How the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos became a notorious hub for drugs, scammers and human traffickers.
Iran’s Booming Consumer Culture
Iran is experiencing a surge in consumer culture, with a growing obsession among young people, especially women, for smartphones, tablets, flat screen TVs, beauty products, and high-end western brands. Despite governmental censorship and economic challenges, shopping has become a significant activity, with traditional bazaars facing competition from new shopping malls offering international brands and entertainment options. Iran is described as a promising economy with potential for significant growth.
The Disease Detectives Trying to Keep the World Safe From Bird Flu
Dr. Sreyleak Luch, a doctor in Cambodia's Mekong river delta, suspected a 9-year-old boy's severe illness might be due to bird flu (H5N1) after learning the family had eaten a dead rooster. Despite skepticism from colleagues, she contacted the local public health department, which quickly collected a sample for testing. The boy was transferred to the capital, Phnom Penh, for further treatment.
Cambodian Temple, Once Overcrowded, Wants Tourists Back
Angkor Wat, a renowned Cambodian temple, once crowded with tourists, now sees significantly fewer visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has transformed the experience from a bustling theme park-like atmosphere to a serene and almost solitary visit, as recounted by a recent visitor, Rares Ispas.
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