Embassy of Dreams : new entry director Richard LADKANI with emotionally and visually striking stories on the Vatican, to the Andes and commercial spots

Richard Ladkani is a new director at Embassy of Dreams. Apart from his sense and fascination of all things human, Richard’s greatest strength is to tell stories with a high emotional and visual impact, which make use of seemingly magical imagery.

The Austrian started his career in Paris where he completed his photography degree in 1991. Not much later, he spent fourteen months as a photojournalist in South America, working for magazines such as GEO. In 1996, Richard focussed on moving images, studied at a renowned film school in the USA and lived in New York for six years, where he realised countless films, documentaries and ads, filling in various positions.

In March 2000, ZDF made him the co-director and camera operator for the ‘Fluch über den Himalaya’ (curse of the Himalayas) documentary. The film won numerous awards at festivals all over the world and constituted a turning point in Richard’s career. Richard has lived in Munich since 2001.

His most recent impressive high-gloss documentary ‘Vatikan – Die verborgene Welt’ (Vatican – the hidden world) offers a never-before-seen glance into a fascinating universe and takes the audience on a journey behind hermetically closed off walls to secretive places. Richard and team had the honour of accessing places which us mere mortals can only dream of. St.Peter’s grave is but one of the projects which have never been caught on camera before.

However, the film tends to focus on the people whose work stays in the background. First and foremost, it is the empathic way of approaching the individuals that surround the pope that makes the film an impressive and emotional experience.

The film draws its quality from a very special photographic technique. For the first time, special camera helicopters were used: small, remotely controlled constructions which can just about carry an HD-camera and are so manoeuvrable that they can even be used in closed rooms. That explains the aerial images of the Sistine Chapel. Director and author Richard Ladkani was awarded the Bavarian television award 2011 for his documentary on the Vatican.

At present count, Richard Ladkani has shot over 40 different documentaries, ad spots (including McDonalds, Audi or Danone) and one full-length features film. If we have whet your appetite, feel free to contact the Embassy of Dreams for more information. Here are some spots on GoSee.