Helen Vaaks is an audiovisual anthropologist, documentalist from Tallinn, Estonia, based in Vienna, Austria. Having worked on documentaries, audiovisual ethnographies, marketing videos, and music videos, she has gained experience as a cinematographer, editor, director, and colourist. Deeply interested in exploring personal stories and people’s inner worlds, she focuses on lives shaped by environment, sport, music, migration, care, and more. She loves filming handheld, with a bit of wobble that feels raw, but also enjoys stepping back and observing still, letting the world settle into its own rhythm.
email: helenvaaks@gmail.com
phone: +372 5362 5725
Films (selection)
2025 EMCY [in production]
producer, director, camera, edit. Collaboration with the University of Vienna, Vienna University of Technology, stape e.U. URBAN CONSULTING, and klarFakt e.U. Vienna.
2024 work in between [audiovisual anthropology]
assistant director, camera, graphics. Collaboration with Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft.
2023 Do I Do [music video]
director, camera, edit, colour
2023 The Dream Team of Sunset Beach [short documentary]
edit, sound, colour
2023 Working With the Mussels [audiovisual anthropology]
director, camera, edit, sound, colour
2022 Frauen in Fahrt [audiovisual anthropology]
director, camera, edit
2022 What is on the minds of Viennese people? [audiovisual anthropology]
director, camera, edit
2022 Wiener Waschbären [short documentary]
director, camera, edit, sound, colour
2022 Lobau Bleibt [audiovisual anthropology]
director, camera, edit, sound, colour
2021 Salty, Spicy, Crunchy [short documentary]
director, camera, edit, sound, colour
2021 Papa [short documentary]
director, camera, edit
2020 Fridays For Future [short documentary]
edit, sound
2020 City Symphony [short documentary]
director, camera, edit, sound
+
2022 - 2024 Wiener Würstelstand (hot dog stand)
social media content creator