Welcome to
Artesian Films
Artesian Films was founded in 1989 by Tamás Wormser. Under his creative vision, we often explore simple but universal subjects across time and culture to reveal their physical, emotional, spiritual and social dimensions: Faces of the Hand, is a visual journey that looks at the hand as a mirror to human nature, and Touched by Water is a documentary on water rituals around the world.
The paths of active idealists also fascinate us. Extraordinary individuals have inspired us to make several films, such as Step Up!, about a young dancer’s journey from losing a foot to dancing with Baryshnikov, and the theatrically released Travelling Light, following five nomadic artists’ remarkable lives.
We have produced films in other genres as well: fiction, such as The Ring, The Hat and Prometheus, and dance films like the seven episodes of The Three Marias. The poetic Hand to Hand was commissioned by the Vancouver Winter Olympics to be viewed by a vast public.
Our films have been seen on all continents and have won dozens of international festival awards.
Tamas_Wormser
Tamás Wormser
Producer, Director

Tamás Wormser was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary. In 1986 he moved to Canada, where he completed the Film Production program at Concordia University.

In 1989 Wormser founded Artesian Films. His first professional work was THE THREE MARIAS, a series of seven feminist themed dance films, shown on Canadian and Hungarian TV. His documentary FACES OF THE HAND, was broadcasted in over 40 countries and received widespread critical acclaim.

In 1998 he made the fiction film THE RING. His festival favorite STEP UP! followed a dancer, having lost a foot, to dance with Baryshnikov. CBC’s Magazine, Canada’s most watched documentary program, ZDF ARTE and others presented it.

In 2003 he completed THE BALL OF THEIR LIVES, about Hungarian-Canadian galas, the biggest debutante balls in North America, and in 2006, TOUCHED BY WATER a film shot in 13 countries about bathing traditions and water-rituals. The film was presented at numerous festivals, TV stations and events around the globe.

His 2008 production, the “charming and intoxicating” TRAVELLING LIGHT is a theatrical documentary on modern-day nomadic artists. “Captivating… blurs the distinction between art and life” praised the media. The film won several awards, just like HAND TO HAND, the Vancouver Cultural Olympiad commissioned short film, viewed by millions around the world.

In 2014, Wormser completed THE WANDERING MUSE, a feature documentary film and web site that explores Jewish identity through the music of the diaspora. The film had a theatrical run in Canada, and screened around the globe.

He lives with his two teenage sons in Montreal.

Our Partners
Broadcasters
Broadcasters in over 50 countries presented works of Artesian Films, including CBC, Radio-Canada, Bravo!, ARTV, Omni TV, SCN, ARTE, ZDF, and more.
Funders
Over the years Artesian Films have received funds from the Canada Media Fund, Telefilm Canada, SODEC, Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Quebec, National Film Board, CTF, Canada Council, FACTOR and more.
Press
Critical reviews appeared in The Globe and Mail, National Post, The Toronto Star, The Gazette, Mirror, The Hour, Voir, cbc.ac, CBC Radio, Video Librarian (USA), MC Journal (USA), American Libraries (USA), Arte Magazine (France) and more.
Our Films
Shalom Putti
Shalom Putti
Bukharian Fire
Bukharian Fire
Specifically, Maurice El Medioni
Specifically, Maurice El Medioni
The Wandering Muse
The Wandering Muse
Travelling Light
Travelling Light
Touched by water
Touched by water
Step up!
Step up!
Believe in me
Believe in me
Ball of Their Lives
Ball of Their Lives
Faces of the Hand
Faces of the Hand
Under the Chateau’s Roof
Under the Chateau’s Roof
The Ring
The Ring
The Three Marias
The Three Marias
The Hat
The Hat
Lama Geshe Kenrab
Lama Geshe Kenrab
Prometheus
Prometheus
Hippo Sapiens
Hippo Sapiens