Nicolas Fransolet is a Belgian-born director, cinematographer and photographer based in Montreal, Canada. With over five decades behind the camera, 35 years directing film and television, and more than 40 years in advertising, he has built a career that bridges commercial filmmaking, documentary storytelling and independent cinema.
Fransolet began photographing the streets of Brussels at the age of fourteen, developing a visual language rooted in observation, spontaneity and human connection. His cinematic approach is shaped by thousands of images captured over the years, allowing him to create emotionally resonant work with a strong sense of authenticity and a unique sensitivity to landscapes, portraits and human stories.
As a director, he has created documentaries, short films and hundreds of television commercials produced across Belgium, Canada, France, Switzerland and Thailand. He directed and shot the feature-length biographical documentary “L’Homme que l’on n’attendait pas”, on former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, for Radio-Canada/CBC. His work as second unit director includes the feature film “War Witch” (“Rebelle”), directed by Kim Nguyen, nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2013 Academy Awards, awarded at Berlin and Tribeca, and winner of multiple Canadian Screen Awards, as well as “Tokyo Fiancée”, directed by Stefan Liberski. He has also worked as director of photography on acclaimed documentaries, including “Le Nez” (“The Nose”) by Kim Nguyen and “What Lies Below” by Emmanuel Hoss-Desmarais, bringing a distinctive visual approach to nonfiction storytelling.
Before focusing fully on filmmaking, Fransolet was guitarist and songwriter for the influential Belgian punk-funk band Allez Allez, with whom he earned a double gold record and played two hundred concerts across Europe, from the Torhout-Werchter Festival and Forest National in Belgium to the Grand Rex in Paris, Paradiso and Melkweg in Amsterdam, Heaven in London and the Haçienda in Manchester. He was also co-founder, writer, director and performer of the cult Belgian satirical television show “Les Snuls”, and co-directed the group’s feature film “Film Belge” for Canal+. These experiences in music, performance and comedy continue to influence his creative vision, combining rhythm, humour and an unconventional perspective.
His photographic work has been exhibited internationally and commissioned by major brands, cultural institutions and organizations. Throughout his career, he has directed more than 500 television commercials and received numerous awards in advertising and visual communication, and has composed music for thousands of commercials.
Today, Nicolas Fransolet continues to explore the relationship between image and emotion, creating films and photographs that reveal the poetry of everyday life with sensitivity, depth and a deeply human perspective.
www.nicolasfransolet.com
