Every year deliberately lit fires rage across Indonesia. They destroy pristine rainforest, endanger orangutans and contribute to climate change. A young carbon trading entrepreneur goes in search of a solution.

Home > Behind the scenes > Crew bios > Ismail Fahmi Lubis

Ismail Fahmi Lubis - DOP

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Ismail Fahmi Lubis is widely known as ‘Ezther’, a nickname given to him because of his resemblance to the renowned Indonesian comedian by that name. He studied at IKJ, (the Jakarta Institute of Arts), from 1993-1999, graduating with qualifications in cinematography for feature film. Whilst obtaining his degree, Ezther worked on a number of features and also directed a popular Indonesian TV soap opera.

In 1998 he became a protégé of Leonard Retel Helmrich, and was trained in the unique ‘single-shot cinema’ production style. Since that time, Ezther has worked as Leonard’s cinematographer on the much-lauded documentary trilogy, ‘The Eye of the Day’, ‘The Shape of the Moon’, and the upcoming ‘The Position of the Stars’, as well as ‘Flight from Heaven’ and ‘Promised Paradise’. ‘The Shape of the Moon’ won numerous awards, including the Golden Calf at the Netherlands Film Festival and the Grand Jury Prize for documentary at Sundance.

Since partnering with Hatchling Productions for ‘The Burning Season’, Ezther has continued working with them, travelling to New Zealand to shoot segments of their upcoming biography of cinematographer Don McAlpine.

Ezther works as a DOP / cinematographer for features and documentary both in his native Indonesia and worldwide.

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