Asa Mader has spent the majority of his career working between London, Paris and New York.

His first film LA MALADIE DE LA MORT starring Anna Mouglalis and based on the novel by Marguerite Duras premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2003.

He has since put his name on numerous films, music videos, branded content and immersive installations featuring:
the young icons of French cinema Léa Seydoux, Mélanie Laurent and Lou Doillon, supermodels Christy Turlington and Carmen Kass, as well as preeminent photojournalist James Nachtwey (subject of the Oscar-nominated "War Photographer") and legendary dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov.

His music video for the Coldplay single 'Violet Hill' was nominated for Best UK Video at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards and Best Video at the Q Awards in London.

Mader recently collaborated with filmmakers Arthur Jafa, Kahlil Joseph and Malik Sayeed to produce DREAMS ARE COLDER THAN DEATH, a haunting meditation on the question: "What does it mean to be black in America in the 21st century?" The film premiered at the New York Film Festival, the Los Angeles Film Festival and received the Best Documentary Feature Award at BlackStar Film Festival.

His work has been commissioned by international brands such as Issey Miyake, Persol, Puma, Ralph Lauren and NOWNESS, has shown on European television (ZDF, Arte, Paris-Premiere, SND / M6) and in international exhibitions including Pitti Uomo (Florence, Italy) and Lille3000 (France).


PRESS

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

FILMOGRAPHY

 

DREAMS ARE COLDER THAN DEATH

PRODUCER

Feature-length documentary by the African-American collective of Arthur Jafa, Kahlil Joseph, Malik Sayeed. Commissioned by ZDF/ARTE to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington.

Premiered at the New York Film Festival, Los Angeles Film Festival, Play-Doc (Spain) and was Awarded Best Documentary Feature at BlackStar Film Festival. 


 

 

Time Doesn’t Stand Still

WRITER / DIRECTOR

Short film (12-minute) starring Léa Seydoux and Benjamin Millepied. 

Commissioned by Ralph Lauren and NOWNESS.


 

Pigalle: with Lou Doillon

Writer / Director / cinematographer

52-minute episode for television series commissioned by Paris-Premiere.

Official Selection Paris-Cinema Festival 2006. Distributed by SND / M6 Video.


 

Little Italy: Wiseguys, Bullets, Backrooms

DIRECTOR / CInematographer / EditoR

52-minute pilot for television series for Voyage channel.

Broadcast on Voyage and Paris-Premiere (France). Distributed by SND / M6.


 

La Maladie de la Mort
The Malady of Death

Writer / Director / Producer / Cinematographer / editor

Fiction film (38 minutes) adapted from the novel by Marguerite Duras and starring French actress Anna Mouglalis.

Premiered in Official Selection of the Venice Film Festival 2003. Additional festivals include Belfort (France), Premiers Plans d’Angers (France), Intl. Festival of Kerala (India), French Film Festival (USA), Kino-Otok Izola (Slovenia), Rencontres Internationales Paris-Berlin, Pulsar Caracas (Venezuala), FICA (Ivory Coast) and Innsbruck International Film Festival (Austria).

 

MUSIC VIDEOS / BRANDED CONTENT

Persol: Ceci n'est pas une femme

Writer / DIRECTOR

Global music video campaign to raise awareness for Kofi Annan’s Global Call for Climate Action.

Commissioned by Persol


 

Ray of LIfe: Carmen Kass

DIRECTOR

An immersive film in 3D panoramic and holographic projection starring Carmen Kass.

Commissioned by Jay Ahr and Dassault Systemes' FashionLab, presented by Luisa via Roma at Pitti Uomo (Florence, Italy). Exclusive Director's Cut premiered on NOWNESS.


 

CAntabile doloroso: Charlie Siem

WRITER / DIRECTOR

A short film featuring English violinist Charlie Siem performing "Cantabile Doloroso" by Ole Bull.

Commissioned by NOWNESS, wardrobe by Dior Homme.


 

MELANIE LAURENT & BENJAMIN MILLEPIED

DIRECTOR / CINEMATOGRAPHER

A short "video polaroid" starring French actress Mélanie Laurent and dancer/choreographer Benjamin Millepeid.

Commissioned by LAST Magazine.


 

Ulysses Syndrome

DIRECTOR / cinematographer

A short film based on Soundwalk's "Ulysses Syndrome" - retracing the steps of Ulysses in a 3D sound environment. 

Commissioned by SOUNDWALK, performed at MOCA Napoli


 

Kofi Annan/Global Humanitarian Forum

DIRECTOR

Global music video campaign to raise awareness for Kofi Annan’s Global Call for Climate Action.

Featuring over 60 artists including Mark Ronson, Marion Cotillard, Milla Jovovich, Fergie, Lily Allen, Bob Geldof, Duran Duran and Youssou N'Dour, who unite to cover Midnight Oil’s hit song "Beds are Burning.”


 

GOASTT: JARDIN DE LUXEMBOURG

DIRECTOR / PRODUCER

Short film / music video for Ghost of the Saber-Toothed Tiger - featuring Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl. 

Chimera Records.


 

AMAZON AID / AMAZON CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

DIRECTOR / CINEMATOGRAPHER

Public Service Announcement and viral video campaign for the Amazon Conservation Association to raise awareness for the endangerment and necessary protection of the rainforest.

Shot entirely in Peru, in association with MIT’s “One Laptop per Child” program.


 

IZIA: So Much Trouble

DIRECTOR

Music video for the first single and title track from the album “So Much Trouble.”

Universal Music A/Z.


 

Coldplay: Violet Hill

 DIRECTOR / CINEMATOGRAPHER / EDITOR

Music video for the first single from the album “Viva la Vida.” Parlophone/EMI.

Nominated for two MTV Awards: Best UK Video and Best Special Effects as well as Best Video at the Q Awards.


 

PLAY THINGS

PRODUCER

A short film by Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl. 

Presented at the Festival of Cannes 2009.


 

GOASTT: Britney jean

produceR

Music video for Ghost of the Saber-Toothed Tiger - featuring Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl. 

Chimera Records.


 

PUMA: Christy turlington

DIRECTOR / PRODUCER / CINEMATOGRAPHER / EDITOR

Branded content film for sportswear line developed by Puma and Christy Turlington.


 
Puma_Trainaway

PUMA: TrainAway

DIRECTOR / PRODUCER / CINEMATOGRAPHER / EDITOR

Series of 4 branded content films for Trainaway sportswear line developed by Puma.


INSTALLATIONS

CARMEN KASS

DIRECTOR

Film portrait and installation of supermodel Carmen Kass.

Premiered at Pitti Uomo (Florence, Italy) in association with Luisa Via Roma.


 

Portrait of the artist: MIKHAIL BARYSHNIKOV

DIRECTOR

Film portrait and multi-channel installation on 3 screens of dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Exclusive Director's Cut premiered on NOWNESS.


 

PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST: JAMES NACHTWEY

DIRECTOR

Film portrait and installation of war photographer James Nachtwey.

Commissioned and exhibited alongside James Nahtwey's photographs at Le Laboratoire (Paris).

 


 

PORTRAIT OF SCIENTISTS: PETER SINGER, ABDALLAH DAAR, ANNE GOLDFIELD, EDWARD NARDELL

Film portrait and installation of the leading scientists in fight against tuberculosis, as featured in exhibit with James Nachtwey.

Commissioned and exhibited alongside James Nachtwey's photographs at Le Laboratoire (Paris).


 

Western Line

DIRECTOR / Producer / Editor

Large-format anamorphic film installation, shot on location in Bombay.

Commissioned by Lille3000 (France) as part of the exhibition "Bombay: Maximum City."

 


 

Marine Drive

DIRECTOR / Producer / Editor

Large-format anamorphic film installation, shot on location in Bombay.

Commissioned by Lille3000 (France) as part of the exhibition "Bombay: Maximum City."

 


 

BOMBAY Regards

DIRECTOR / Producer / Editor

Large-format anamorphic film installation, shot on location in Bombay.

Commissioned by Lille3000 (France) as part of the exhibition "Bombay: Maximum City."


 

Portrait of the Author: Suketu Mehta

DIRECTOR / Producer / Cinematographer / Editor

Film portrait of Pulitzer Prize nominee Suketu Mehta, author of "Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found."

Commissioned by Lille3000 (France) as part of the exhibition "Bombay: Maximum City."

 


 

Portrait of the Author: Pavan Varma

DIRECTOR / Producer / Cinematographer / Editor

Film portrait of Pavan Varma, author of "Being Indian."

Commissioned by Lille3000 (France) as part of the exhibition "Bombay: Maximum City."


 

Art of the dance: Sharmila Desai

DIRECTOR / Producer / CINEMATOGRAPHER

Multi-channel installation on 3-screens featuring dancer/choreographer Sharmila Desai.

Commissioned by Lille3000 (France) as part of the exhibition "Bombay: Maximum City."