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Thomas Au is a narrative film cinematographer and documentary director/cinematographer. He has worked on feature films, series, and documentaries across the world. His work has appeared on streaming networks such as Viu, local cinemas and screened at film festivals worldwide.
In addition to working as a cinematographer, Thomas is also a cinephile. You will often find him at film festivals and underground theaters. He enjoys talking to fellow filmmakers and discuss about the craft.
I embarked on my filmmaking journey at the age of 16, balancing part-time work alongside my studies. After earning a bachelor’s degree in International Business at the University of Groningen, I moved to Amsterdam to build my career as a documentary cinematographer. My filmmaking approach is a blend of my academic background and my passion for crafting beautiful scenes. In every project, I will want to understand the backstory (and more often than not, the business model) of my character.
I have vast experience working across different cultures as I come from a melting pot of cultures – Malaysia, and I also spent a few years in Europe. With the command of six languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese, French, Dutch, and Malay, I can help to smoothen the film production when working across cultures and languages, while fostering a deeper understanding of the stories. In other words, I know where to point the camera before an action happens, because I can understand the foreign context.
If you have read till the end, why not send me an email and let’s start from there!
In January of 2022, I went to Uganda to make a few documentaries, without even knowing what a documentary was. I explored so many great local stories in Uganda and saw some of the kindest people who sacrificed themselves for their community. That was when I first discovered the world of documentaries and I have been shooting documentaries ever since.
The power of documentary lies in there that we can do so many things with it. Among others, I’m most interested in education and instilling awareness using documentary films. When a film is coupled with campaigns, the film can be a tool to spread the message and help the audience understand an issue through a different lens. I wish to go beyond entertainment and use documentaries as a tool to educate and create change in society.
I embarked on my filmmaking journey at the age of 16, balancing part-time work alongside my studies. After earning a bachelor’s degree in International Business at the University of Groningen, I moved to Amsterdam to build my career as a documentary cinematographer. My filmmaking approach is a blend of my academic background and my passion for crafting beautiful shots. In every project, I will want to understand the backstory (and more often than not, the business model) of my character.
I have vast experience working across different cultures as I come from a melting pot of cultures – Malaysia, and I also spent a few years in Europe. With the command of six languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese, French, Dutch, and Malay, I can help to smoothen the film production when working across cultures and languages, while fostering a deeper understanding of the stories. In other words, I know where to point the camera before an action happens, because I can understand the foreign context.
Documentary is all about storytelling. Each frame serves a purpose, contributing to the narrative of the story. It’s not just about creating visually appealing shots; it’s about creating scenes that tell the story.
If you have read till the end, why not send me an email and let’s start from there!