The AFI Conservatory presents a spotlight of the extraordinary visual storytelling talent’s of this year’s Cinematography class. Click on a fellow headshot to see their bio, contact information and film.
www.louiseyunjuchendp.com | hekuan.louise@gmail.com | IG: @louiseyunjuchendp
“Louise” YunJu Chen is a Taiwanese cinematographer with 14 years of experience across narrative, experimental, documentary filmmaking and streaming television productions, including Netflix series. After years working as a first assistant camera, she transitioned into a director of photography role in 2019, bringing with her a strong technical foundation. Her work has screened at festivals including the Golden Harvest Awards and the San Diego Independent Filmmaker’s Festival. Chen holds an MFA in Cinematography from the American Film Institute, where she worked across both digital and 35mm formats. She is a recipient of the Women in Film Cinematography Fellowship. Driven by a belief that cinematography should serve both story and social consciousness, she is passionate about crafting images that amplify underrepresented voices and resonate emotionally beyond the frame. Growing up, Chen was deeply influenced by animation and East Asian cinema, which quietly shaped the way she sees emotion, rhythm and human connection.
“Louise” YunJu Chen
www.joxchoi.com | jo@joxchoi.com | IG: @joxchoi
Jo Choi is a Los Angeles-based cinematographer drawn to the intuitive sense of visual storytelling. His recent film premiered at the Academy Award®-qualifying Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and he won the Best Cinematography award at the Burbank International Film Festival for his work on EN POINTE. He was recently announced as one of four cinematographers to join ColorCreative’s Find Your People Program — a leadership program created by Issa Rae, four-time Emmy nominated producer Deniese Davis and Talitha Watkins that provides participants the opportunity to develop and produce a short film. He holds an MFA in Cinematography from the American Film Institute and is a member of IATSE International Cinematographers Guild.
Jo Choi
www.luca-cioci.com | luxcioci@gmail.com | IG: @_lucacioci
Luca Cioci is an Italian Director of Photography with a background in painting and animation. His early interest in storytelling and moving images led him to explore filmmaking. While attending the Experimental Animation program at CalArts, Cioci specialized in cinematography and motion control. His thesis short film was screened at over 200 film festivals worldwide. Since graduating, Cioci has worked on projects ranging from independent productions as well as for major studios, such as Laika, the animation studio behind a Golden Globe-winning Best Animated Feature. His expertise in motion control contributed to restoring the Dykstraflex camera, developed for the original STAR WARS, and operating its custom motion control rig at the Academy of Motion Pictures. His technical expertise in in-camera work, coupled with a passion for storytelling, enables him to tackle both emotionally rich and technically demanding projects. Cioci’s commercial work spans brands such as Hermès, Honda, Red Bull, Expedia, Nationwide, Disney and Adult Swim. His latest narrative and documentary work has screened at festivals including Sundance and SXSW. Cioci is an active member of the Television Academy, ASIFA, Local 600, and works out of Los Angeles, where he has recently completed an MFA in cinematography at the American Film Institute.
Luca Cioci
www.cinesilas.com | cinesilas@gmail.com | IG: @silas_35mm
Silas Croddy is an international cinematographer with a love for the bizarre. Their academic background includes a Master’s Degree in Film Aesthetics from Oxford University, which in tandem with their industry experience, lends them a deep knowledge and love for the legacy of film, as well as a holistic approach to storytelling. As a queer filmmaker, Croddy is passionate about telling stories of queer love and liberation across all genres, from cosmic horror to period dramas and everything in between. Above all, they believe in cinema’s ability to explore the real through the unreal, and that, through fiction, we can find a way forward through the unknown.
Silas Croddy
www.charlieflitton.com | charlieflitton@me.com | IG: @Charlie.flitton
Based in Los Angeles, Charlie Flitton’s work spans an array of commercials, narrative shorts, documentaries and corporate promotional films. A graduate of the American Film Institute, Flitton has developed his cinematographic style around life experiences gained while living around the world, with a keen emphasis on story and character with a love of rich shadows and expressive lighting. His career began following his transition from photography and marketing for branded content to a focus on documentary and narrative filmmaking. Flitton has lensed projects for various brands and athletes such as Ford, Ducati, Bell, Diamond Art Club, Kilgore, Oddjob hats and many others.
Charlie Flitton
www.lesgaddis.com | contact@lesgaddis.com | IG: @lesgaddis
Les Gaddis is a Los Angele-based cinematographer who is passionate about photographing character-driven stories. He focuses on transforming the director’s vision into striking visual narratives that balance artistic ambition with practical production demands. He is known for staying calm under the pressures of production and enjoying the process of shooting on film. He is collaborative and promotes inclusivity on set while consistently delivering a grounded, soulful perspective to every frame.
Les Gaddis
www.adityagosar.com | agosar@afi.edu | IG: @adityagosar
Aditya Gosar is a cinematographer based in Los Angeles, originally from Mumbai, India. He began his journey in filmmaking as a writer and director and was selected as one of only 10 participants nationwide for the prestigious AIB First Draft writers’ residency program. Drawn to the visual language of storytelling, he later transitioned into cinematography. Over the years, Aditya has worked on more than 100 commercials and branded films, contributing to campaigns for global brands including Amazon, Apple, Lakmé, Netflix and Facebook, among others. Seeking to further ground himself in narrative filmmaking, Gosar moved to Los Angeles to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Cinematography at the American Film Institute Conservatory. His work is driven by a commitment to emotionally resonant storytelling, combining a strong visual sensibility with a deep appreciation for character, atmosphere and human experience.
Aditya Gosar
gabrielhz.myportfolio.com | gheredia@afi.edu | IG: @gabo_h.z
Gabriel Heredia is a Mexican cinematographer based between Los Angeles and Mexico City. He recently graduated from the AFI Conservatory with an MFA in Cinematography after earning a degree in Animation and Digital Art from Tecnológico de Monterrey. His background in animation and visual effects gave him a strong technical understanding of cameras, lighting, optics and color science, which continues to influence the way he works today. Interested in both the craft and the creative side of filmmaking, Heredia is drawn to stories that find the extraordinary in everyday moments. He enjoys collaborating with directors to create images that feel thoughtful, honest and true to each story.
Gabriel Heredia
www.terravisuals.com | lisajbacon@gmail.com | IG: @janae.lisa
Lisa Janae is a Black queer filmmaker born and raised in South Central Los Angeles whose work blends visceral storytelling with emotionally grounded human narratives. She has worked with collaborators including Amazon, Hulu and Sony across the commercial, documentary and narrative space. After more than 10 years in the human rights sector with organizations such as the United Nations and Amnesty International, Janae merged her passion for film with genre storytelling infused with social and emotional truth. Janae is the founder of the award-winning production company TERRA Visuals LLC, a member of IATSE Local 600, SAG-AFTRA, a SONY Alpha Female+ Award recipient and holds an MFA in Cinematography from AFI and an MA in International Affairs from Columbia University.
Lisa Janae
www.austinkwok.com | kwkaustin@gmail.com | @kwkaustin
Austin Kwok is a Los Angeles-based cinematographer working primarily between Canada and Los Angeles. His work on ROOTS has been featured on the ARRI Alexa 35 showreel and his most recent short film, MY DAD THE ROCKSTAR, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. He is currently an Affiliate member of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers and a graduate of the American Film Institute.
Austin Kwok
www.sydlawson.com | sydneylawson438@gmail.com | IG: @sydlawsondp
Sydney Lawson has shot four feature films, including THE HOLIDAY CLUB and WOLVES AGAINST THE WORLD, as well as commercial and branded content for clients such as Architectural Digest’s Open Door and L’Oréal’s Women of Worth. Originally from Ohio, Lawson is a member of the International Collective of Female Cinematographers and holds an MFA in Cinematography from the American Film Institute.
Sydney Lawson
www.ellalubienski.com | ella.lubienski@gmail.com | IG: @ellalubienski
Ella Lubienski is a Los Angeles-based cinematographer hailing from the Midwest, who works locally and internationally. She gravitates towards stories that shine light on less-shared experiences and create an emotional connection with the audience. Her subjective style of elevated naturalism stems from close collaborations with creatives and crew members to build character-motivated visual languages. Lubienski has a decade of experience in film and television, having worked for studios such as HBO, Apple TV, Showtime and more. She studied at the American Film Institute and is a member of IATSE ICG Local 600. When not on set, she loves baking and hiking with her dog.
Ella Lubienski
www.olivialunafilm.com | olivia.luna.cinema@gmail.com | IG: @olivia.luna_
Olivia Luna is a cinematographer from Chicago working in narrative and experimental film. With a passion for photochemical image-making, she is drawn to the creative possibilities of shooting on film. Her work has explored genre filmmaking, especially comedy and horror, in the pursuit of finding spaces for visual experimentation and expressive storytelling.
Olivia Luna
www.alejandromaytodop.com | alejandromaytom@gmail.com | @alexmayto
Alejandro Maytorena is a director of photography from Guadalajara, Mexico, currently based in Los Angeles. With over seven years of experience, his work has always focused on creating emotional imagery that drives the story. He specializes in both fiction and documentary films. His work has received awards at international festivals such as the Experimental Film Festival, Surf City Festival, Santa Cruz Film Festival and Toronto Beaches Film Festival. In addition to cinematography, he is also a still photographer, and one of his photographs won the FFIEL Award in 2020.
Alejandro Maytorena
www.emilymarquet.com | emily.marquet@gmail.com | IG: @emilymarquet
Emily Marquet (she/her) is an emerging cinematographer and recent graduate from AFI with an MFA in Cinematography. Notable work as a cinematographer includes the award-winning indie feature films WITHDRAWAL (Best Cinematography – Queens World Film Festival) and SHANIDAR (Best Cinematography – Chicago Women’s Film Festival). Notable short films include IN THE DARK, THE GALLERY, UNTOUCHABLE, INFINITY GIRLS, SNOWFALL, WILDMAN and ACADEMIC SUPPORT. She studied acting at NYU Tisch School of the Arts before moving behind the camera. Following NYU, she established a performing arts program at the Louverture Cleary School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, developing and directing original adaptations of theatre in Haitian Kreyol, including world premiere Shakespeare adaptations. She holds an MA with Honors from London Film School. Highlights from her film and television career while working in the UK include THE CROWN (Netflix), SLAUGHTERHOUSE RULEZ, TELL ME EVERYTHING (ITV) and CRIMINAL RECORD (Apple TV), as well as many other indie shorts and features. She believes cinema is one of our most powerful tools for communicating ideas, emotions, empathy and the sublime.
Emily Marquet
www.annamendesc.com | annalmcr@gmail.com | IG: @anna.mendesc
Anna Mendes is a Brazilian cinematographer based in Los Angeles. Her work includes commercial campaigns for Uber Eats and Google, as well as narrative work that has screened at the American Cinematheque’s PROOF Film Festival and reached over 250,000 views on DUST. As part of the inaugural ColorCreative Find Your People Program cohort, she shot JUST ONE, executive produced by Issa Rae.
Anna Mendes
www.CharliePearceDP.com | cpearce@afi.edu | IG: @cpearce_DP
Charlie Pearce is a cinematographer based in Los Angeles, CA with over a decade of professional experience as a gaffer, camera operator and director of photography. While getting his start in Austin, TX, he developed a story-first and collaborative approach with a focus on elevating the narrative by providing subtext and universality to human-driven imagery. Pearce has garnered several accolades for his work, including multiple Best Cinematography awards at film festivals, American Advertising Awards, as well as a CMT Music Award nomination for Breakthrough Video of the Year. He is most known for shooting two #1 music videos on CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown, including Scotty McCreery’s “DAMN STRAIT.” Before making his mark in cinematography, Charlie honed his skills as a freelance photojournalist photographing for The New York Times, USA Today and The Associated Press. When not on set, Pearce enjoys getting outside and being lost in the mountains.
Charlie Pearce
www.wara-dp.com | waradop@gmail.com | @wara_dp
A Thai cinematographer, Wara Pornkulwat brings joy and positive energy to every set. Growing up in Asia gave him different perspectives on both his work and life. His previous work from Thailand, TERROR TUESDAY EXTREME, is on Netflix.
Wara Pornkulwat
www.giulianatambellinidp.com | giuliana.lanzoni@gmail.com | IG: @giuliana.tambellini
Giuliana Tambellini is a Brazilian cinematographer based in São Paulo and Los Angeles. Her work has screened at festivals including Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, Festival de Brasília, BlackStar International, Havana Film Festival and Guadalajara International Film Festival. In 2021, she received the Best Student Film Cinematography Award from the Brazilian Society of Cinematography and was later selected for the Women in Film Fellowship in Los Angeles. She holds an MFA in Cinematography from the American Film Institute and a BA in Audiovisual Studies from the University of São Paulo. Working across narrative, documentary and commercial projects, Tambellini brings a story-first approach to crafting images that are both visually compelling and emotionally resonant.
Giuliana Tambellini
victoriakwarren.com | victoriaisrabbit@gmail.com
Victoria K. Warren is a cinematographer based in Los Angeles & Atlanta, and working worldwide. With a background in music, dance, and video performance art, her work focuses on narrative, documentary and music videos, with particular interest in broadening our perspectives and bringing people closer together by exploring the dark parts of what it means to be human. Her work has screened at Sundance, SXSW, Austin Film Festival and FrightFest, to name a few. She believes in the power of movies to help change the world.
Victoria K. Warren
www.hannahcine.com | hannahcine@gmail.com | IG: @hannah.cine
Hannah Xie is a cinematographer based in Los Angeles and New York City with a background in film and media studies. Prior to her studies at the American Film institute, Xie worked on indie shorts and features screened at festivals such as Slamdance, Palm Springs, Hollyshorts and the New York Asian Film Festival. Her own debut film, BREIF ENCOUNTERS, shot on super 16mm, was screened at the Museum of the Moving Image in NYC. Xie is particularly interested in stories that examine identity, displacement and the complexities in everyday life.
Hannah Xie
txu2@afi.edu | IG: @tingyang894
Tingyang Xu is a recent graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in film and television. During his four-year college career, he produced 10 narrative short films. The films are all in post-production and will participate in film festivals upon completion.
Tingyang Xu
www.benzaech.com | bf.zaech@gmail.com | IG: @ikbenbenfrancesco
Raised in a rural environment in Switzerland, Ben Zäch approaches cinematography with a quiet and hands-on sensibility. His work is shaped by close observation of people, places and light. Zäch enjoys constructing stylized worlds while maintaining a grounded, human approach to storytelling. His work includes mainly fiction and documentary projects, always in close collaboration with directors and the production designer.
Ben Zäch
