Kirsten Johnson
Directing1965Seattle, Washington, USA
Biography
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."
Known For
Acting History
2024
A Photographic Memory
Executive Producer
Sabbath Queen
Cinematography
Helen and the Bear
Executive Producer
2023
Subject
as Self
The Arc of Oblivion
as Self
2021
Arctic Summer
Thanks
2020
Dick Johnson Is Dead
as Self
On the Record
Additional Camera
The Viewing Booth
Executive Producer
Mother
Executive Producer
Dick Johnson Is Dead
Director
Dick Johnson Is Dead
Writer
Dick Johnson Is Dead
Producer
Dick Johnson Is Dead
Director of Photography
2019
Museum Town
Director of Photography
Elliott Erwitt - Silence Sounds Good
Director of Photography
2018
A Thousand Thoughts
Director of Photography
Crime + Punishment
Camera Operator
Cradle of Champions
Additional Camera
Brooklyn Inshallah
Consulting Producer
2017
In the Service of the Film
as self
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
TVas Self• 1 eps
Risk
Co-Producer
Risk
Director of Photography
32 Pills: My Sister's Suicide
Additional Photography
Atomic Homefront
Additional Camera
Rolling Stone: Stories From the Edge
TVDirector of Photography
2016
Cameraperson
as Self (archive footage)
Audrie & Daisy
Additional Camera
Trapped
Director of Photography
Betting on Zero
Additional Director of Photography
Cameraperson
Director
Cameraperson
Producer
Cameraperson
Director of Photography
The Joy of Extreme Possibility
Director of Photography
A Thousand Mothers
Director of Photography
2015
A Woman Like Me
Director of Photography
The Armor of Light
Additional Photography
Very Semi-Serious
Director of Photography
The Above
Director
The Above
Producer
The Above
Director of Photography
Buffalo Returns
Director of Photography
Once a Month on Sunday
Director of Photography
2014
1971
Director of Photography
The Wound and the Gift
Director of Photography
Citizenfour
Director of Photography
Citizenfour
Co-Producer
Born to Fly: Elizabeth Streb vs. Gravity
Director of Photography
That Film About Money
Director of Photography
2013
Fatal Assistance
Director of Photography
Seeds of Time
Camera Operator
ANNIE: It's the Hard-Knock Life, from Script to Stage
Additional Photography
2012
The Invisible War
Director of Photography
The Program
Producer
The Program
Director of Photography
Here One Day
Director of Photography
A Place at the Table
Director of Photography
Virgin Tales
Director of Photography
2011
Yelling To The Sky
Still Photographer
I Came to Testify
Director of Photography
The Lady Is a Fighting Lion
Director of Photography
The Lady Is a Fighting Lion
Assistant Editor
This Very Life
Cinematography
2010
The Oath
Director of Photography
No Woman, No Cry
Director of Photography
The Edge of Joy
Additional Camera
POV
TVDirector of Photography• 1 eps
2009
2008
Throw Down Your Heart
Director of Photography
Lioness
Director of Photography
Pray the Devil Back to Hell
Director of Photography
Oscar's Comeback
Director of Photography
2007
Slacker Uprising
Director of Photography
Crime Fiction
Director of Photography
Darfur Now
Director of Photography
Election Day
Director of Photography
Election Day
Producer
How Much Is Your Life Worth?
Additional Camera
Small Steps: Creating the High School for Contemporary Arts
Director of Photography
2006
This Film Is Not Yet Rated
as Self - Interviewer (voice)
This Film Is Not Yet Rated
Director of Photography
Welcome Back to the Barrio
Second Assistant Camera
2005
Project Leap: Learning Out Loud
Director of Photography
Red Hook Justice
Director of Photography
2004
Building to Extremes
Camera Operator
Deadline
Director
Deadline
Director of Photography
The Venetian Dilemma
Additional Photography
Ladies First
Director of Photography
Fahrenheit 9/11
Additional Camera
Innovation: Life, Inspired
TVCamera Operator
2003
Rokia: Voice of a New Generation
Director of Photography
A Nation on Edge
Camera Operator
Chasing the Virus
Camera Operator
Heart of America
Art Direction
A Decade Under the Influence
Additional Camera
Risk/Reward
Additional Photography
India
Camera Operator
Asylum
Director of Photography
Starring Osama Bin Laden
Camera Operator
Boys Will Be Girls
Director of Photography
2002
American Standoff
Director of Photography
Derrida
Director of Photography
Two Towns of Jasper
Additional Camera
Ancient Poison, Modern Cure
Camera Operator
Wide Angle
TVCamera Operator
The Hamptons
TVAdditional Camera
Frontline/World
TVCamera Operator
2001
Brother Born Again
Director of Photography
Trembling Before G-d
Additional Camera
Perpetua 664
Director of Photography
Journey to the West: Chinese Medicine Today
Director of Photography
Profit & Nothing But! Or Impolite Thoughts on the Class Struggle
Director of Photography
1999
Innocent Until Proven Guilty
Director
1997
Science Times
TVCamera Operator
1995
Bintou in Paris
Director
Bintou in Paris
Screenplay
1994
Il faut que je l'aime
Director of Photography