Tom Volf is a French author, author, filmmaker, stage director, photographer, photographer, producer and curator. Born in St. Petersburg, he grew up in France and studied in the United States before returning to France in 2015. He is president of the Maria Callas Endowment Fund which he co-founded in 2017.
First steps — music and stage
Between 2001 and 2007, Tom Volf is a singer-songwriter (concerts, album) and actor-comedian (TV films, cinema). He trained in directing and acting at theActor’s Studio in New York, where he studied the Strasberg method.
Théâtre du Châtelet — 2007/2011
His career in directing began in Paris in 2008, when he joined the team of Théâtre du Châtelet. Initially a videographer, he filmed shows and interviewed international artists — Plácido Domingo, Sting, David Cronenberg — between 2007 and 2011. Then, between 2009 and 2011, he collaborated on the staging of several productions, notably Welcome to the Voice and Vespro della Beata Vergine (Monteverdi). Over the seasons, he gained solid experience with Wagner productions (Die Feen), Alfano (Cyrano de Bergerac) and original creations (The Fly by Howard Shore).
In 2011-2012, at the same time, he developed a practice of medium format film fashion photography, especially with the brand The Label, and signs several campaigns and advertising clips. During the same period, he produced fashion campaigns and institutional films, including a collaboration with theOECD.
Maria Callas — a five-year journey
In 2013, now installed at new York, there discovery of Maria Callas becomes a turning point. What follows is a five-year journey to create the film Maria by Callas, in her own words — directed, written and co-produced by Tom Volf (Elephant Doc, mk2 Films), narrated in French by Fanny Ardant. The film was released in France in 2017 then in more than 50 countries in 2018. Selected in more than fifteen international festivals (Rome, Toronto TIFF Docs, New York, Chicago, Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, Thessaloniki, etc.), it was crowned in 2018 “most seen French film internationally” by UniFrance, and receives the Prize for Best Documentary (Music & Dance) at the Master of Art Film Festival.
The same year, he was the creator and curator of the major eponymous exhibition in Paris, La Seine Musicale (September 16 – December 14, 2017, more than 30,000 visitors), then the following year at Grimaldi Forum of Monte-Carlo, inaugurated by H.S.H. Prince Albert II.
Tom Volf publishes three works on Callas: Maria by Callas (Assouline 2017, reed. 2023), Callas Confidential (La Martinière 2017) and Maria Callas: Letters & Memoirs (Albin Michel 2019) — bringing together more than 350 unpublished letters and the singer's unfinished memoirs, the fruit of two years of research. The book is translated into Italian (Rizzoli), Greek (Patakis), Spanish and Russian.
The theatre, with Monica Bellucci
In December 2019, Tom Volf approaches Monica Bellucci, who agrees to go on stage for the first time in her career, in the show he is directing from his book Maria Callas: Letters & Memoirs. Tom Volf also designed the lights, sound and poster.
After the Parisian creation in Théâtre Marigny and the recovery to Bouffes Parisiens, the show begins an international tour (2021–2023): Rome, Milan, Venice, Barcelona, Lisbon, Athens, Istanbul, London (Her Majesty’s Theatre), Paris (Théâtre du Châtelet) and New York, where the last performance is sold out at the Beacon Theatre January 27, 2023 — Maria Callas' centenary. Three languages on the tour: French, Italian, English.
Immersive exhibitions — Jam Capsule
In 2020, Tom Volf designs two immersive experiences presented at the Great Hall of La Villette in Paris: Maria Callas — The Experience and Mystic Gardens, immersive journey through 15th century Flemish paintinge century (Van Eyck, Bosch, van der Weyden). The Jam Capsule system — 2,500 m² of 360° 4K projection — welcomes the creation with narration by Fanny Ardant.
Norma — at the foot of the Acropolis
In August 2023, for the centenary of Maria Callas, he is staging a new production of Norma from Bellini toOdeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens — ancient theatre where Callas made her debut. Two sold-out performances in front of more than 9,000 people, with Joyce El-Khoury making her role debut, under the direction ofEugene Kohn. Critics hail Volf's debut in opera directing; ConcertoNet notes that “Volf’s stage directions at El-Khoury were reminiscent of Visconti’s with Callas at La Scala”.
Callas restored — and a new film
At the end of 2023, Tom Volf completes Callas: Paris, 1958, complete restoration in 4K and first colorization of the legendary recital given by Maria Callas at Palais Garnier on December 19, 1958, from the original reels found in 2021 in a cellar in Athens. Distributed by Piece of Magic Entertainment, the film is broadcast in more than 60 territories. Simultaneously, he completed the film adaptation of the show with Monica Bellucci, Maria Callas: Letters & Memoirs.
Véronique
In March 2026 releases in theatres Véronique, intimate and cinematic portrait of Véronique Sanson, co-production INA with France Télévisions. The film is broadcast on France 3 on April 3, 2026.
Photography
Tom Volf is passionate about film photography Rolleiflex and Hasselblad. His portraits appear on the cover of the international press; he notably signed a series of portraits of Monica Bellucci in the role of Maria Callas. His exhibition On the Road from Tibet (2010, Galerie Orenda in Paris) and his series Svalbard — a journey through the North Pole (2009) were presented in Paris.
Awards & distinctions
- Goddess Artemis Award — Euro-American Women’s Council (EAWC), Athens, 2022
- Best Achievement in Cinematography Award — Better World Fund, Cannes, 2023
- Best Documentary Award (Music & Dance) — Master of Art Film Festival, 2018
Public interventions
Speaker at the Cinémathèque française, At TIFF, at theUNESCO, in Strasbourg and at the University of Turin. Member of the jury of the Vilnius International Film Festival. Facilitator of masterclasses (documentary, directing, photography).
Tom Volf lives and works in Paris.