Asgeir Helgestad

Asgeir Helgestad completed his education as an engineer in 1991, but his part-time job as a journalist and wildlife photographer and cinematographer, that had helped finance his studies, had a greater allure than a future in technological industries, and Helgestad chose the call of the wild in lieu of a perhaps more bankable desk-job as an engineer.

Since then Helgestad has worked full time as a photographer, cinematographer and author, and has become a very well respected and acclaimed professional in his craft. He's published three books and delivers audiovisual material to the national Norwegian Broadcasting Companys (NRK) wildlife-programmes on a regular basis. He has also produced over 100 promotional clips and commercials for Norwegian outdoor/wildlife clothing manufacturer Bergans. After placing second in 1992, he was named BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 1993, with a portfolio of six photographs.

After years of contributing footage to (amongst others) NRK, he made his debut as a documentary film director with the short documentary Wild Reindeer in 2002. The film was nominated at several competitions around the world, and garnered Helgestad the prestigious BBC Newcomer Award at the Wildscreen Film Festival. He followed his debut with another award-winning film, The boy who adored the wilderness, in 2005.

Norsk Filminstitutt