Thomas Balmès

Thomas Balmès has been working as an independent director and producer
of nonfiction films, specializing in international co-productions,
since 1992. His initial projects included studies of filmmakers James
Ivory and Michelangelo Antonioni.

Thomas directed his first film in 1996; BOSNIA HOTEL was the story of U.N. Kenyan peacekeepers in Bosnia. This was followed by MAHARAJAH BURGER; Mad Cows; Holy Cows, about the mad cow crisis as seen from the Indian perspective.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE PAPUANS (2000) following the conversion to Christianity of a Papuan Chief, was honored with the Silver Spire Award at the San Francisco International Film Festival. He directed a sequel in Papua the following year, WAITING FOR JESUS.

A DECENT FACTORY, the story of a Nokia executive who inspects a mobile phone factory in China, was screened at more than 50 film festivals and received many honors, including a Europa Award. The film was released theatrically in the U.S. in 2005.

DAMAGES, a.k.a. How Much Is Your Life Worth?, was filmed at a Connecticut law firm specializing in personal injury cases, and was co-produced by 15 countries and broadcast worldwide.

Thomas initiated a series for national Japanese television : NHK, Tokyo Modern; and produced « A Normal Life – Chronicle of a Young Sumo Wrestler », directed by Jill Coulon, which screened at Amsterdam's 2009 International Documentary Film Festival.

His film BABIES takes a look at one year in the life of four babies from around the world, from Mongolia to Namibia to San Francisco to Tokyo.

Thomas Balmès