PAWEL ACHTEL

Executive Producer/Cameraman/Editor/Director

I took an interest in film making about 4 years ago when, impressed by the beauty of Australian marine life, I decided to take a diving course. Since my 2nd dive after the course I had a broadcast quality camera in my hands and never made a dive without one. Shortly the list of equipment grew to a bunch of cameras, lenses, housings, about a dozen lights, broadcast quality editing studio and I was on the right track to produce my first video, "Aliens of the Sea". After thousands of hours of film making, developing concept and script, directing, editing, designing artwork and finally promoting the production, I went to the premiere in New York to show my video for the first time. I was very pleased with a standing ovation I received in Manhattan's Le Bar Bat and 1st prize in the underwater documentary section. Following the award at the New York International Film Festival, "Aliens of the Sea" received another two awards at the International Wildlife Film Festival in Montana. In June 2000 the video won the 1st Prize Gold Camera Award at the 33rd US International Film and Video Festival, where, it was competing against 1,600 other entries from 30 countries. Many people are surprised that I've been filming and diving for not much more than 4 years. Well, I have.

Pawel Achtel, Sydney 22 July 2000