Giulia Schelhas (1989) is a Berlin-based cinematographer with a passion for storytelling through images and light.
She began her studies in Visual Arts at the Università IUAV in Venice, where she specialized in video art and photography. After gaining hands-on experience in the camera department on various film sets, she moved to Berlin to continue her education at the Film and Television Academy Berlin (DFFB).
At the DFFB, she attended masterclasses with renowned filmmakers such as Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Carlos Reygadas, and Lucrecia Martel, among others. These experiences enriched her understanding of cinematography as both a collaborative and creative art form.
Giulia’s work includes short films, medium-length features, and full-length feature films. Skilled in both analog and digital formats, she explores the unique qualities of each medium to craft evocative and visually compelling narratives.
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“The work of a cinematographer is to serve the story or the director’s concept, finding a coherent cinematic language that translates atmospheres and emotions into light and movement. In every project, I aim to create what Fred Kelemen so beautifully describes as ‘cinegraphic moments’: moments that transcend words, capturing the poetry of presence, fragility, and eternity through the interplay of body and time.”
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Awards and Festival (Selection)
IL COMPLEANNO DI ENRICO
Best Cinematography FILMSCHOOLFEST MUNICH (2024, Germany)
Cinematography award winner - Watersprite Film Festival (2024, England)
Best Cinematography - Incanto film Festival (2024, Italy)
Cannes Directors’ Fortnight (2023, France)
Nominirung Deutscher Kurtzfilmpreis (2023, Germany)
Grand prix de jury Premiers Plans - Angers festival (2024, France)
Sélection Officielle Court Métrage de Fiction Cesar (2025, France)
I WANT TO RETURN RETURN RETURN
Cinefondation 3rd Prize at Cannes Film Festival (2020, France)
Grand Jury Prize at Premiers Plans - Festival d!Angers (2021, France)
Best Short at Kiev Molodist (2021, Ukraine)
San Sebastian International Film Festival (NEST) (2020, Spain)
Max Ophüls Prize (2021, Germany)
Best Short Film Award of the German Film Critics 2021 (2022, Germany)
RONDO
72. International Film Festival Berlin / Perspektive Deutsches Kino (2022, Germany
PERFORMER
Munich International Film Festival - Neues Deutsches Kino (2022, Germany)
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Nominated for Best Cinematography Watersprite Film Festival (2019, England)
Nominated for Student Academy Awards (2021, USA)
ALTRI CANNIBALI
Best Debut Film at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (2021, Estonia)
Torino Film Festival (2021, Italy)
BLINDE FLECKEN
55. International Hofer Filmtage (2021, Germany),
Next Generation Tiger (2022, Germany)
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