Documentary Cinematographer in Bangkok (Thailand), CAMBODIA, and Southeast Asia
I am a documentary cinematographer, director, and filmmaker with over a decade of experience working on investigative, environmental, and character-driven films across Southeast Asia and beyond.
I regularly work as Director of Photography, while also directing and producing projects from early research and development through shooting, editing, and final color grading. This end-to-end involvement allows me to shape both the visual language and narrative arc of a film from its inception to its final delivery.
My work combines observational cinematography with a strong editorial sensibility, often developed through long-term field engagement with communities affected by climate change, environmental degradation, and large-scale development projects.
From the collapsing fisheries of Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake to deforestation in indigenous territories and community-led conservation efforts, I have collaborated with international media outlets such as The New York Times, Bloomberg, Mongabay, and BBC, as well as development and environmental organisations including UNEP, USAID, and WWF.
Whether working independently or within larger production teams, I bring a flexible, field-tested approach to documentary cinematography—comfortable operating in remote environments, collaborating closely with local producers, and crafting visually rigorous stories that balance intimacy, context, and impact.
Interested in WORKING TOGETHER?
DEBT INC. - THE CAMBODIAN MICROFINANCE MACHINE
My latest film is an investigative documentary exposing the role of international and European financial institutions in Cambodia’s microfinance crisis.
MONGABAY - MOKEN OCEAN GUARDIANS
A documentary following Ngui, a Moken sea nomad in Thailand’s Andaman Sea, as his community adapts to environmental change.
Through the Moken Ocean Guardians, plastic waste is transformed into income while preserving marine ecosystems and cultural knowledge.
STRANGLED
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.
VICE MUNCHIES - THE INCREDILE EDIBLES
Incredible Edibles is a series exploring the people, cultures, and stories behind some of the world’s most unexpected and creative food experiences.
In these pilot episodes, producer and host Vanessa Lavorato travels across Thailand to meet local cannabis pioneers and emerging entrepreneurs, uncovering how food, tradition, and innovation intersect. Along the way, she learns to cook their favourite dishes, using cannabis not as a gimmick, but as a lens to explore identity, community, and changing social norms.
SCMP - The LAST BREATH OF THE TONLE SAP
Fisherman Piseth and his family live on the edge of Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake, where they are experiencing firsthand the accelerating consequences of climate change and the construction of hydroelectric dams along the Mekong.
Fish stocks have collapsed, and with each passing season the family grows more uncertain about how they will continue to feed themselves and sustain their way of life.
I’m Thomas Cristofoletti, an award-winning documentary cinematographer and photojournalist based in Bangkok (Thailand), working across Cambodia, Southeast Asia, and internationally.
My work focuses on investigative and environmental storytelling, documenting issues related to climate change, development, and human rights for international media outlets and development organisations.