TERESA CARANTE
International Documentary Cinematographer
Director, Cinematographer & Editor
The Awakening of the Vietnamese Elephant
The film is currently going through it festival round and has already won Best Asia Short at the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival and an Honorable Mention at the Jackson Wild Media Awards 2022.
Story
A short observational documentary about an Asian elephant who falls sick and the local mahouts (elephant caretakers) who fight to save her life.
The story takes place inside the Yok Don National Park where Animals Asia homes a few retired elephants who used to work carrying tourists in the Dak Lak province, Vietnam. Together with H'Plo, AAF hired her mahout, Nhat, to work for the park close to his elephant. This is a story of resilience, camaraderie and trust between two different species who have always lived alongside each other.
The Power of Films
Since this film was made, Animals Asia has signed a historic agreement to end elephant riding in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam.
Moreover three more elephants have joined H'Plo at Animals Asia's ethical elephant tourism project to live out their lives in peace.
