Person

Kirsten Johnson

Directing · Born 1965-10-12 · Seattle, Washington, USA

Kirsten Johnson (born 12 October 1965, Seattle) is a cinematographer and documentary filmmaker. She graduated from Brown University in 1987, with a BA in Fine Arts and Literature. After two years in West Africa working on local fiction and documentary film projects, she attended the FEMIS (the French National Film School) in Paris. Her film "Cameraperson" premiered at Sundance 2016 and her short "The Above" premiered at 2015 New York Film Festival. Her work as a cinematographer appears in Oscar-winning "Citizen Four," Academy Award-nominated, "The Invisible War," Tribeca winner, "Pray the Devil Back to Hell," "Fahrenheit 9/11", Academy Award-nominated "Asylum," "This Film is Not Yet Rated," and "Derrida."

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  Point of View

  Director of Photography

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  Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter

  Self

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  Frontline/World

  Camera Operator

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  Fahrenheit 9/11

  Additional Camera

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  Cameraperson

  Self (archive footage)

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  This Film Is Not Yet Rated

  Self - Interviewer (voice)

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  Citizenfour

  Co-Producer

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  A Decade Under the Influence

  Additional Camera

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  Wide Angle

  Camera Operator

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  Fatal Assistance

  Director of Photography

• 2024Sabbath QueenCinematography
• 2024Helen and the BearExecutive Producer
• 2024A Photographic MemoryExecutive Producer
• 2023The Arc of OblivionSelf
• 2023SubjectSelf
• 2021Arctic SummerThanks
• 2020The Viewing BoothExecutive Producer
• 2020MotherExecutive Producer
• 2020On the RecordAdditional Camera
• 2020Dick Johnson Is DeadSelf
• 2019Elliott Erwitt - Silence Sounds GoodDirector of Photography
• 2019Museum TownDirector of Photography
• 2018Cradle of ChampionsAdditional Camera
• 2018A Thousand ThoughtsDirector of Photography
• 2018Crime + PunishmentCamera Operator
• 2018ROOM H.264: Brooklyn, NY, June 2016self
• 2018Brooklyn InshallahConsulting Producer
• 201732 Pills: My Sister's SuicideAdditional Photography
• 2017Atomic HomefrontAdditional Camera
• 2017Rolling Stone: Stories from the EdgeDirector of Photography
• 2017RiskCo-Producer
• 2017In the Service of the Filmself
• 2016A Thousand MothersDirector of Photography
• 2016The Joy of Extreme PossibilityDirector of Photography
• 2016Audrie & DaisyAdditional Camera
• 2016CamerapersonSelf (archive footage)
• 2016Betting on ZeroAdditional Director of Photography
• 2016TrappedDirector of Photography
• 2015The AboveDirector
• 2015Close Up with The Hollywood ReporterSelf
• 2015Very Semi-SeriousDirector of Photography
• 2015The Armor of LightAdditional Photography
• 2015A Woman Like MeDirector of Photography
• 2015Buffalo ReturnsDirector of Photography
• 2015Once a Month on SundayDirector of Photography
• 2014That Film About MoneyDirector of Photography
• 2014CitizenfourCo-Producer
• 2014The Wound and the GiftDirector of Photography
• 20141971Director of Photography
• 2014Born to Fly: Elizabeth Streb vs. GravityDirector of Photography
• 2013Seeds of TimeCamera Operator
• 2013Fatal AssistanceDirector of Photography
• 2013ANNIE: It's the Hard-Knock Life, from Script to StageAdditional Photography
• 2012Here One DayDirector of Photography
• 2012The ProgramProducer
• 2012Virgin TalesDirector of Photography
• 2012A Place at the TableDirector of Photography
• 2012The Invisible WarDirector of Photography
• 2011I Came to TestifyDirector of Photography
• 2011Yelling To The SkyStill Photographer
• 2011The Lady Is a Fighting LionDirector of Photography
• 2011This Very LifeCinematography
• 2010The OathDirector of Photography
• 2010No Woman, No CryDirector of Photography
• 2010The Edge of JoyAdditional Camera
• 2009Waiting for Mercy: The Case Against Mohammed Hossain and Yassin ArefEditor
• 2009OutrageAdditional Camera
• 2008Throw Down Your HeartDirector of Photography
• 2008Pray the Devil Back to HellDirector of Photography
• 2008Oscar's ComebackDirector of Photography
• 2008LionessDirector of Photography
• 2007Darfur NowDirector of Photography
• 2007Slacker UprisingDirector of Photography
• 2007Small Steps: Creating the High School for Contemporary ArtsDirector of Photography
• 2007How Much Is Your Life Worth?Additional Camera
• 2007Election DayDirector of Photography
• 2007Crime FictionDirector of Photography
• 2006This Film Is Not Yet RatedSelf - Interviewer (voice)
• 2006Welcome Back to the BarrioSecond Assistant Camera
• 2005Project Leap: Learning Out LoudDirector of Photography
• 2005Red Hook JusticeDirector of Photography
• 2004DeadlineDirector
• 2004The Venetian DilemmaAdditional Photography
• 2004Ladies FirstDirector of Photography
• 2004Fahrenheit 9/11Additional Camera
• 2004Building to ExtremesCamera Operator
• 2004Innovation: Life, InspiredCamera Operator
• 2003Rokia: Voice of a New GenerationDirector of Photography
• 2003Starring Osama Bin LadenCamera Operator
• 2003IndiaCamera Operator
• 2003A Nation on EdgeCamera Operator
• 2003Chasing the VirusCamera Operator
• 2003A Decade Under the InfluenceAdditional Camera
• 2003AsylumDirector of Photography
• 2003Boys Will Be GirlsDirector of Photography
• 2003Risk/RewardAdditional Photography
• 2003Heart of AmericaArt Direction
• 2002Wide AngleCamera Operator
• 2002Ancient Poison, Modern CureCamera Operator
• 2002The HamptonsAdditional Camera
• 2002Frontline/WorldCamera Operator
• 2002DerridaDirector of Photography
• 2002Two Towns of JasperAdditional Camera
• 2002American StandoffDirector of Photography
• 2001Trembling Before G-dAdditional Camera
• 2001Profit & Nothing But! Or Impolite Thoughts on the Class StruggleDirector of Photography
• 2001Perpetua 664Director of Photography
• 2001Journey to the West: Chinese Medicine TodayDirector of Photography
• 2001Brother Born AgainDirector of Photography
• 1999Innocent Until Proven GuiltyDirector
• 1997Science TimesCamera Operator
• 1995Bintou in ParisDirector
• 1994Il faut que je l'aimeDirector of Photography
• 1988Point of ViewDirector of Photography
• —SontagScreenplay