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Stefan Ciupek

Stefan Ciupek

Cinematographer, also editor · Born March 24, 1976 (50) · Zossen, Germany

Stefan's early work on films like Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire (OSCAR, BAFTA and ASC award winner for Best Cinematography) and 127 Hours (starring James Franco), helped shape his path in becoming one of cinema's most exciting, emerging cinematographers. He's been at the forefront of digital cinematography on films such as Alexander Sokurov's epic one-shot opus Russian Ark, Lars von Trier's Antichrist and the graphic novel adaptation Dredd. His contribution as digital cinematography supervisor, 2nd Unit DOP and film colorist on these projects, as well as his association with Europe's most acclaimed filmmakers, laid the foundations for Stefan's own cinematic vision. Most recently, Stefan shot the stylish, neo-noir - actioner / graphic novel "Guns Akimbo" {starring Daniel Radcliffe and Samara Weaving} which premiered at TIFF & Sitges. The film is coming to cinemas worldwide in 2020. In 2019, "Babenco, Tell me when I Die" won the Venecia Classici award at the Venice International Film Festival and the "The Invisible Hand" premiered in Locarno. Making the transition to lensing high end Television, Stefan just wrapped Principal Photography on the Lionsgate / Starz period series "The Spanish Princess". His cinematography credits include Posthumous (from director Lulu Wang "The Farewell"), mystery thriller The Super (starring Val Kilmer, shot on location in New York), actor Ulrich Thomsen's (Celebration, The International, Banshee) directorial debut In Embryo, as well as cinematic experiences created by renowned artists Omer Fast and Eder Santos, which screened at venues like the MoMA in New York, Centre Pompidou in Paris and Martin Gropiusbau in Berlin. Stefan's work transcends genres and borders, having worked with crews and directors in countries as diverse as South America, Cambodia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Europe and the US. His films have won awards at festivals around the world including Venice, Los Angeles, London, Beijing and Shanghai. Stefan was also part of the Oscar winning team behind Slumdog Millionaire. In addition to this Stefan also conducts cinematography Masterclasses and Workshops for the Berlinale Talent Campus, the European Film Academy and various Film Schools all across the world.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
March 24, 1976 (50)
From
Zossen, Germany
Works as
Cinematographer, also editor
Titles
21 on MovieCove · 32 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 17% in 30 days

What are Stefan Ciupek's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Survival.

Genres

Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
32%
Survival
22%
Morality
21%
Power
7%
Bonds
7%
Ideas
7%
Society
4%
Survival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt2 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 3 · Serious 0 · Dark 10

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 8 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 3

Intense: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their intense movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 3 · Intense 8

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 2 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 3 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 2 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 6

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 5 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Dread
6
Melancholic
7
Contemplative
3
Absurd
2
Other
4

How their films linger

Unsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous7

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Stefan Ciupek's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 21 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Stefan Ciupek's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

32 credits, 21 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Hair of the Bear(2025)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • 28 Years Later(2025)

    "B" Camera Operator · Second Unit Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Girassol Vermelho (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Cinematographer

  • Rumours(2024)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Gassed Up(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Good Neighbor(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • A Violent Man(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The House(2021)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Babenco: Tell Me When I Die(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Guns Akimbo(2019)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Made in Heaven(2019)

    Show 9 episodes · Second Unit Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • The Super(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Hex(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Herzblut. Ein Kluftingerkrimi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Cinematographer

  • In Embryo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Cinematographer

  • The Dark Side of the Moon(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Apartment 407(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Posthumous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Cinematographer

  • The Policeman's Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Post Production Supervisor

  • Blue Desert(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • In der Überzahl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Cinematographer

  • Lost in Siberia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Cinematographer

  • 127 Hours(2010)

    Digital Imaging Technician

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Womb(2010)

    Colorist

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Slumdog Millionaire(2008)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • My Black Little Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Camera Supervisor · Color Timer

  • Trip to Asia: The Quest for Harmony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Additional Photography · Camera Operator

  • Play Your Own Thing: A Story of Jazz in Europe(2006)

    Digital Colorist

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Manderlay(2005)

    Color Grading

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Russian Ark(2002)

    Camera Supervisor · Editor

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Color Your Hurt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Cinematographer

  • Kung Fury 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 29 titles, 27 of them dated from 2002 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Russian Ark (2002)

$8.7M worldwide

Highest rated

Russian Ark (2002)

Midcredits 87th

Most popular right now

Guns Akimbo (2019)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography20 of 29: 19 only cinematography, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score51stEditing1 of 29: 0 only editing, 1 with another roleOther crew10 of 29: 8 only other crew, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score81st

By decade

2000s6 · crew2010s11 · crew2020s10 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Stefan Ciupek's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 53rd percentile, the median of all 20; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 33rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 21 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 21 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · cinematographer

Blue Desert (2013)

95th percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Babenco: Tell Me When I Die (2019)

Midcredits 89th · 75% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 63/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as a cinematographer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Stefan Ciupek's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles50–85 · median 73 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles15–62 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 43 · moderateMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 67 · intenseMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles53–80 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Stefan Ciupek work with?

People who share at least 2 of Stefan Ciupek's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Stephan Rick shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers