Sebastian Cort is a cinematographer working across narrative features and documentary.
Born in the UK and raised in France, he grew up between two countries, he wanted to understand the world not as a collection of places but as a whole. Travelling through more than ninety countries and sailing the Pacific from Caribbean to Australia. That perspective shapes his work: a style rooted in documentary and enhanced naturalism, drawn to stories where people are caught between feelings, places, or versions of themselves.
His latest feature, Three Years Gone, directed by John Gutierrez and starring Julio Macias (On My Block) and Pepe Serna (Scarface), premiered at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival in May 2026, where the Los Angeles Times named it a standout of the festival and a dramatically charged road trip with blistering energy. It marks his second feature with Gutierrez, following Sons of the Sea, which won Best South African Film at the Durban International Film Festival and premiered at Cinequest before competing at the Austin Film Festival.
Recent narrative credits include two features with director Michael Head: The Spin, an Irish road-trip comedy starring Brenock O'Connor and Owen Colgan, which won Best Cinematography at the West Lothian Film Festival among awards at three festivals; and Bermondsey Tales: Fall of the Roman Empire, starring John Hannah (Four Weddings and a Funeral) and Alan Ford (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels).
A long-standing collaborator with director Toby L, Sebastian lensed Blur: To the End, which world-premiered at Sheffield DocFest 2024 before theatrical release and broadcast on Paramount+ and Prime Video. Most recently, the pair shot the latest Gorillaz documentary, currently in post-production and due for release later this year. Other collaborations include Liam Gallagher: Knebworth 22, the Foals documentary Rip Up the Road, and Rihanna's tour documentary 777.
His documentary work spans true crime, geopolitics, and natural history, including The Lie: The Murder of Grace Millane, a Sky Original, and Dynamic Planet, NHNZ's four-part climate series for PBS, filmed across seven continents over three years in twelve indigenous languages, narrated by Cliff Curtis.
Earlier in his career, he worked in the camera department on Tomas Alfredson's Academy Award-nominated Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
Sebastian works internationally.
Sebastian Cort: Cinematographer, Director of Photography, DP
Sebastian Cort is a cinematographer and director of photography (DP/DOP) working internationally. He is a graduate of the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in the UK. His cinematography has earned eleven festival wins, seven nominations, and twenty-eight official selections across forty-two international film festivals.
Awards and recognition
Best Irish Feature Film at the Dublin International Film Festival (The Spin). Best South African Film at the Durban International Film Festival (Sons of the Sea). Best Feature Film at the Istanbul Spring Festival and British Film Festival (The Spin). Best Cinematography at the West Lothian Film Festival (The Spin). Audience Award at Cinetopia (The Spin). Green Planet Award at the Rhode Island International Film Festival (Beyond the North Winds). Best Cinematography at the NZCS Silver Awards (NZ Paralympics). Bronze at the AXIS Awards (NZ Paralympics). Nominated for Best British Short at the London Critics' Circle (Beyond the North Winds).
Complete filmography as cinematographer
Three Years Gone, directed by John Gutierrez, AMIGA PICTURES. Sons of the Sea, directed by John Gutierrez, AMIGA & MISS K. The Spin, directed by Michael Head, FOXSAKE FILMS. Bermondsey Tales, directed by Michael Head, SERAPHIM FILM PRODUCTIONS, starring John Hannah, Frank Harper, Alan Ford, Adam Deacon, Vas Blackwood, Charlotte Kirk. Milk of Dreams, directed by Sarah Grohnert, PROSPECT/GROUP FILMS. How I Didn't Become a Piano Player, directed by Tommaso Pitta, NFTS. Fire Brigade Union, directed by Tommaso Pitta, GREATCOAT FILMS. Gorillaz, directed by Toby L, 2026. Blur: To the End, directed by Toby L, ALTITUDE / PARAMOUNT+. Dynamic Planet, directed by Sophie Musgrove, NHNZ FOR PBS. Foals: Rip Up the Road, directed by Toby L, AMAZON STUDIOS, WARNER MUSIC, CONVEX. The Lie, directed by Helena Coan, SKY ORIGINAL. Liam Gallagher: Knebworth 22, directed by Toby L, AMAZON STUDIOS, WARNER MUSIC, CONVEX. Beyond the North Winds, directed by Natalie Cubides-Brady, NFTS. Uproar, directed by Moe Najati, VILLAGER. Rihanna 777, directed by Toby L, Nicholas Abbott, FOX NETWORK, LOVELIVE. Our Changing Earth, directed by Sophie Musgrove, PBS / NATURAL HISTORY. Unseen, directed by Mikael Nakkas, INDEPENDENT FILM. Waiting for Invasion, directed by Neringa Medutyte, ROGAN PRODUCTIONS. NZ Paralympics, directed by Fernando Hart, SAATCHI & SAATCHI. Adidas, directed by Fernando Hart, AUGUSTO. Twilight of the Masters, directed by John Gutierrez, ROGAN PRODUCTIONS. POAN SS17, directed by Barnabas Wilhelm, POAN FILMS. Nescafé, directed by John Gutierrez, STAR FILMS. Hilton: Effect, directed by Darius Norowzian, AMV BBDO / FLARE. Hewlett Packard: Mother's Day, directed by Barnabas Wilhelm, FAMILIA. NSPCC: Neglect, directed by Danny Baldwin, 3 ANGRYMEN. NSPCC: Every Day, directed by Danny Baldwin, 3 ANGRYMEN. Madman, directed by Mark Mckowski, STARRING OWEN COLGAN. POAN SS2020, directed by Barnabas Wilhelm, POAN FILMS. The Salvation Army, directed by Hailey Thom, EXPOSURE. Hewlett Packard: Hold On to the Ones You Love, directed by Barnabas Wilhelm, PHYNE FILMS / THE ROBOT. The Balvenie x Morgan, directed by John Gutierrez, ROGAN PRODUCTIONS. Bloomberg x India, COMMERCIAL.
Collaborators
Directors: John Gutierrez, Toby L, Michael Head, Helena Coan, Sophie Musgrove, Natalie Cubides-Brady, Darius Norowzian, Fernando Hart, Barnabas Wilhelm, Tomas Alfredson. Platforms and distributors: Paramount+, Prime Video, Sky, Amazon Studios, PBS, Altitude Film Distribution, Warner Music. Agencies: Saatchi & Saatchi, AMV BBDO, Augusto. Production companies: Amiga Pictures, Foxsake Films, Seraphim Film Productions, NHNZ, Rogan Productions, Greatcoat Films.
Technical expertise
Sebastian shoots on Arri Alexa Mini LF, Alexa 35, and Amira. He is experienced with large-format, Super 35, and anamorphic cinematography. His approach favours natural and available light, handheld camera work, and a textured image rooted in documentary naturalism. He works across single-camera narrative features, multi-camera documentary, live concert and music documentary, branded content, and high-end commercials.
Commercial clients
Adidas, Nescafe, Hilton, Hewlett Packard, NZ Paralympics, Bloomberg, The Balvenie, NSPCC, The Salvation Army, Fox Networks.
Previsualisation
Sebastian co-founded ÆPEX, a previsualisation company for film and television using LiDAR scanning and Unreal Engine 5. ÆPEX allows directors and cinematographers to shot-list, light, and rehearse scenes in virtual environments before arriving on set.
Sebastian Cort (also sometimes spelled Sebastian Court) is available for hire as a cinematographer and director of photography for feature films, documentaries, television, music videos, and commercial projects in Los Angeles, London, and internationally.