Olivier Bourgeois began his career as a commercial TV producer. In 2009, he produced and directed the first film of the documentary trilogy “HERITAGE.” The feature documentary,“HERE TO STAY” (“Nous Resterons sur Terre”), co-produced with Gaumont Company, featured Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Mikhail Gorbachev and Wangari Maathai, environmentalist James Lovelock, and philosopher Edgar Morin. Released theatrically and on TV in 25 countries with support from UNESCO and UNEP, the film offered a powerful perspective on Earth’s environmental challenges.
In 2015, Olivier developed an audiovisual archive documenting the preservation of Syrian heritage in the midst of armed conflict. During his many stays in Syria, he directed and produced the second opus of the “HERITAGE” trilogy. Based on the true story of ordinary people who saved the ancient collections of the Aleppo Museum during the war, the docudrama“THE OATH OF CYRIAC” was released in 2021 and has enjoyed a successful career at festivals around the world, receiving more than 20 awards.
Since 2017, Olivier has dedicated himself to marine conservation through his acclaimed underwater series“BLUE PARADISES.” His remarkable cinematography has earned him international recognition as an award-winning underwater filmmaker. After two successful seasons, a third is currently underway.
Forget everything you think you know about filmmaking!
This is the first lesson (of many) I received from the underwater world.
Filming underwater isn’t just a new skill—it’s a whole new world. After years in cinematography, I had to relearn everything: from understanding ocean behavior and marine life to mastering buoyancy and reinventing post-production. No magic formula—just persistence, deep knowledge, and passion. The result? BBC- and Netflix-quality footage shot with mid-range gear. Dive in and discover the journey behind the scenes.