Ivan Abreu is a filmmaker, photographer and multimedia journalist from Brazil based in Hong Kong.

He has over 20 years experience in film, TV and online audiovisual productions.

Working around the globe, he takes editorial and commercial assignments, while also realising his personal projects.

As storyteller, he believes images can contribute to shedding light on lesser-known stories. Ivan enjoys working on longer-term, in-depth documentary narratives.

Besides, Ivan regularly teaches video and visual storytelling workshops and mentors international journalists and students.

He has been invited to speak about visual narratives for online platforms and documentary storytelling at The University of Hong Kong, SCAD, FIPP Asia, Hong Kong Baptist University, Asia Society, amongst others. 

His academic background is in Communication and Arts.

Editorial clients include:

Getty Images, Channel 4, TVE Spain, Great Big Story, NRC Handelsblad, Bloomberg, Greenpeace, AJ+, Globo News, UNAIDS, International Labour Organisation (ILO), Nieuwsuur & NOS (NL), Red Cross Netherlands, MSF, TEDxAmsterdamED, NOOR Photo Agency, Initium Media, Brazilian Public Television, MTV Brasil, the Contemporary Cultural Centre of Barcelona/CCCB.

Corporate clients include:

AFP Service, Geometry Global, Calvin Klein, Huawei, Bulgari, Lagardère Sports, Nikon Europe, Hong Kong Tourism Board.

His photos and video were publish in international and local publications as The Guardian, National Geographic, The Washington Post, CNN, South China Morning Post, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Amnesty International, Der Spiegel, BBC, Financial Times, NRC Handelsblad, Wall Street Journal, Deutsche Presse Agentur, Clarín Argentina, Business Insider, Yahoo News, El País, Ming Pao and elsewhere. 

Exhibitions & Festivals:

“The Price of Justice” – official selection at the “Festival Internacional de Films Identitaires et Solidaires du Bénin” – Benin, 2023;

“The Price of Justice” – official selection at the “Construir Cine Film Festival” – Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2022;

“Hong Kong, Times of Dissent” photo series – official selection “Paraty Em Foco” Photo Festival, Brazil, 2021;

“Impact HK” – collective exhibition and book “The Other Hundred – Healers”, 2021;

“Be Water” – collective exhibition at “World Press Photo House” – Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2020;

“The Price of Justice” – official selection at the “Workers Unite! Film Festival” – New York, USA, 2020;

“Minas Quad Rugby” – collective exhibition and book “The Other Hundred – Educators”, 2017;

“The Fall of a Village” – multimedia project exhibition – “International Urban Images Festival”, Shenzhen, China, 2016;

“Shang Mei Lin, an Urban Melody” – short-documentary – “International Urban Images Festival”, Shenzhen, China, 2015;

“Dolores – Mimulus” & “Arquitetura do Samba” – short-documentaries, screenings during “Holland Dance Festival”, The Hague, The Netherlands, 2014;

“Paso” – feature documentary, screenings at the “Conexão BH – Music Festival” – Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 2013;

“Bike Culture Amsterdam” – collective photo exhibition “Nós em Foco” – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during Rio+20 UN Climate Change Summit, 2012;

“Dias Inteiros” – short-documentary, “Seminário Cultura e Pensamento” – Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 2010;

Filmography:

“Tambor de Crioula – Resistir para Existir” – director, editor & cinematographer – short-documentary, 2023

“The Price of Justice” – director & cinematographer – feature length documentary, 2021;

“The Fall of a Village” – director, editor & cinematographer – short-documentary, 2016;

“Between a Rock and a Hard Place” – director, editor & cinematographer – short-documentary, 2016;

“Beyond My Walls” – cinematographer – feature documentary, 2014;

“Paso” – director & cinematographer – feature documentary, 2013;

“El Paso del Tiempo” – editor – short-film, 2012;

“A Música Audaz de Toninho Horta” – editor – feature documentary, 2010;

Awards:

“The Crime Against Txopai”– Shortlisted – HIPA Photography Awards 2023;

“Hong Kong, Times of Dissent”– 1st Place – International Freelance Photojournalist Awards 2021, Xposure International Photography Festival;

“Hong Kong, Times of Dissent” – Pictures of the Year Asia 2021 Awards Issue Reporting Picture Story;

“Hong Kong, Times of Dissent” – 2nd Place photo series at the Paraty Em Foco Foto Festival, Brazil, 2021;

Vienna International Photo Award 2021 – Honourable Mention;

“Blue Light, Yellow Fire” – 3 Shots Festival, Milan, Italy, 2021;