9 Talented Filipina Cinematographers Who Deserve the Hype

Filipino-American cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history as the first woman ever to win Best Cinematography at the Oscars. It was a historic win, one that broke a nearly 100-year-old glass ceiling and also highlighted how women are making a space for themselves in a field that has typically been male-dominated. The conversation on representation of women behind the camera goes beyond positions such as director and scriptwriter. While those roles are important, there are dozens and even hundreds of creatives who make and shape what we watch and consume.

​Arguably, one of the more underrated but vital roles is the cinematographer or Director of Photography (DOP). They are responsible for filming, framing, and translating the ideas of the director and producers visually. And on that front, there are Filipinas who have made and are continuing to make a name for themselves through their work in the industry.

​A cinematographer’s work is no joke, and whether it be in movies, TV, or commercials, the following creatives have a vision that cuts through the noise to help frame unique, different, exciting, and necessary stories. When some say only men have what it takes to handle film cameras, these ladies prove them wrong and then some.

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​Cesca Lee – The Woman Framing Your Favorite Shows

With experience both locally and abroad, such as being accepted as a cinematography fellow in the Asian Film Academy (AFA) in Busan under the Busan International Film Festival in 2018 and participating in the Kyoto Filmmaker’s Lab in 2019, Cesca Lee has proven herself to be adept at working on all kinds of projects. Starting with indie films such as T.P.O. Temporary Protection Order and Purgatoryo, Cesca transitioned to more mainstream work such as the GL series Sleep With Me, the DonBelle-led film Love Is Color Blind, the hit ABS-CBN series Senior High, and teen sports drama Love at First Spike.

Aside from that, Cesca, who is currently serving as the VP for External Affairs of the Philippines’ Cinematography guild, Lupon ng Pilipinong Sinematograpo, has also been credited as a camera operator on multiple major films such as Fan Girl and Rewind.

Tey Clamor – One of The Best in The Business

Tey Clamor doesn’t just know how to hold a camera; she’s a storyteller in her own right. The award-winning creative’s work ranges from indie darlings Metamorphosis, Balota, The Woman in Unit 23B, and Lola Igna to mainstream hits such as Isa Pa With Feelings, Five Breakups and a Romance, Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes, and Sosyal Climbers.

Her collaborations with director and writer Rae Red have been particularly well-loved by movie fans, as she served as the cinematographer for the feminist-coded Babae at Baril, for which she won a FAMAS and Gawad Urian for Best Cinematography. They would continue their collaboration with Tey serving as the cinematographer for the gritty drama series Roadkillers starring Nadine Lustre. Outside of her work in movies and TV, Tey also runs Water Gun PH, a female-led underwater cinematography team based in Manila.

Martika Escobar – Multi-Hyphenate Creative

Director Martika Escobar went from directing short films to landing on the global movie map with her critically acclaimed, globally-recognized, and award-winning directorial debut Leonor Will Never Die. But she has also flexed her talents in a multitude of fields, most notably cinematography.

She’s served as the cinematographer for music videos of top musicians such as The Juans, Zack Tabudlo, and Ace Banzuelo, and movies like When This Is All Over and A Catholic Schoolgirl. Most recently, she was the cinematographer for Open Endings, a queer film about love and friendship that was an entry to Cinemalaya 2025 and starred Janella Salvador, Klea Pineda, Leanne Mamonong, and Jasmine Curtis-Smith.

Lee Briones – Industry Legend

While they may not get as much attention as directors and actresses, Filipina cinematographers have been slowly but surely building their ranks in the industry. On that front, Lee Briones is considered a pioneer and trailblazer for women in the field with her artistry and vision. The two-time FAMAS and one-time Gawad Urian winner for Best Cinematography has built a reputation as one of Philippine cinema’s best cinematographers. Her decades-long career has seen her responsible for the visual storytelling behind classics and timeless stories such as Tanging Yaman, Baler, Crying Ladies, and more.

Kara Moreno – Lensing Mainstream Hits

Ask a Filipino cinephile who the best Filipino cinematographers working today are, and chances are they’ll give Kara Moreno as one of the names, and for good reason. Her work as a cinematographer and DOP has brought to life numerous projects, such as Hello, Stranger, Third World Romance, Suntok Sa Buwan, and MMFF 2023 entries Becky and Badette and Kampon.

She had a particularly eventful 2025, where she started the year as the DOP of Jolina Magdangal and Marvin Agustin’s long-awaited movie comeback Ex Ex Lovers and ended it with the well-received MMFF 2025 entry UnMarry. Kara also holds a leadership position in Lupon ng Pilipinong Sinematograpo, where she currently serves as VP for Internal Affairs.

Shayne Sarte – A Filipina Pioneer

With four FAMAS nominations and two Gawad Urian wins to her name, Shayne Sharte is a master of her craft whose expertise and collaborations with some of the industry’s best directors have had a hand in shaping many favorites of Filipino moviegoers. Her filmography is diverse, lensing films such as Kailangan Kita, Got 2 Believe, Kimmy Dora, Everything About Her, and Milan to recent Metro Manila Film Festival entries When I Met You in Tokyo and The Kingdom.

Anne Monzon – A Filmmaking Favorite

Name a box office hit in the last ten years, and chances are you’ll find Anne Monzon’s name in the credits as either a cinematographer or a camera operator. From Fantastica, Miracle in Cell No. 7, Barcelona: A Love Untold, A Second Chance, Four Sisters and a Wedding, She’s Dating The Gangster, and more, she helped film all those. Aside from her work in movies, Anne, who was the former president of Lupon ng Pilipinong Sinematograpo, has also lent her visual talents in the music video space, where she served as the cinematographer to SB19 member FELIP’s visually stunning Bulan and ROCKSTA music videos.

Sasha Palomares – When Craft Meets Cool Girl Energy

From the lovestruck mountains in That Thing Called Tadhana, to the tense classrooms in Bar Boys, the sapphic energy of Baka Bukas, the otherworldly landscapes of Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre, and more, FAMAS, Gawad Urian, and FAP nominee Sasha Palomares has been through it all as a cinematographer, DOP, and camera operator.

Sandra Valde-Hansen – Another Fil-Am Cinematographer To Watch

Autumn Durald Arkapaw isn’t the only Filipina cinematographer working in Hollywood. Another creative to have on your radar is Sandra Valde-Hansen, who was born in Miami, Florida, to a Filipino family. Over the years, the Filipina-American cinematographer, who holds an MFA from the American Film Institute, has shot numerous projects across film, TV, and documentaries. Her resume includes shooting shows The L Word: Generation Q and Now Apocalypse, and Sundance entries Kaboom and White Bird in a Blizzard.

Younger audiences may know her best for her most popular projects as the cinematographer for season one of XO, Kitty, and multiple episodes of seasons two and three of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Yes, the teen series that had social media debating between Team Conrad and Team Jeremiah last year was filmed in part by a Filipina. She’s currently a member of both the American Society of Cinematographers and Lupon ng Pilipinong Sinematograpo.