Olivier Azam

January 01, 1971

Olivier Azam (born in 1971 in Narbonne, France) is a French filmmaker specializing in documentaries that address social and political issues. In addition to directing, he has worked as a cinematographer, editor, composer, and producer. In 2000, he co-founded Zalea TV, a free television channel that operated until 2007. In 2002, he directed his first documentary, Je déboule à Kaboul, based on his experience in Afghanistan shortly after the fall of the Taliban. In 2005, he co-founded the audiovisual cooperative Les Mutins de Pangée. That same year, he directed Désentubages cathodiques, a critique of the media. In collaboration with journalist Daniel Mermet, he co-directed Chomsky & Cie (2008) and its sequel Chomsky et le Pouvoir (2009), focusing on Noam Chomsky's thought. Other notable works include Grandpuits et petites victoires (2011), about a strike by oil workers, and Howard Zinn, une histoire populaire américaine (2015), about the American historian. In 2017, he directed La Cigale, le Corbeau et les Poulets, a documentary that combines humor and social critique. Azam is known for his critical approach and commitment to social causes, using film as a tool for reflection and change.