About
A palimpsest, derived from the Greek work palimpsestos, is a papyrus or document on which writing has been imperfectly erased and replaced by new writing.
The word evokes layers of narrative—stories erased, rewritten, but never fully gone. Documentary filmmaking, we believe, is an act of uncovering, of revealing what lingers beneath the surface from layers of context, memory, and meaning.
Palim Pictures is a production company founded on the conviction that intimate stories can create real-world change. We write, shoot and edit purpose-driven, award-winning documentaries, advocacy films, and photography for the film and television, news media, and non-profit sectors, driven by a desire to tell stories that make audiences feel on a deeper level.
We work across Asia and are headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand.
Meet the Team
Nicolas Axelrod
Nick is a cinematographer and filmmaker specialising in documenting the adverse impacts of industrial development on local communities and the environment. He has been based in Southeast Asia since 2008.
Nick works with international broadcasters and streaming services including National Geographic, CNN, Netflix, HBO, NBC, ABC and more.
He has also developed films for humanitarian organisations including UN agencies, WWF, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. His photography has been featured in the world’s top publications, including The New York Times, The Guardian, Time Magazine and National Geographic.
Mailee Osten-Tan
Mailee is a documentary producer, filmmaker, and photojournalist, based in Thailand since 2017. Her personal work focuses on gender and minority inequalities.
Mailee directs documentary films that have gone on to be showcased at international film festivals. She also manages large-scale multimedia projects for third sector organisations such as UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women, World Vision, and Oxfam.
As a photojournalist, her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, The Telegraph, and CNN. She is a Pulitzer Centre grantee, a member of Women Photograph, and an alum of the Eddie Adams Workshop and Missouri Photo Workshop.