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On Sunday 8th March it was International Women’s Day – a day that gives us an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements, creativity, dedication and remarkable contribution of women across the world.
In the film industry, we have seen some positive change in recent years with more women in film and TV receiving recognition for their work. This year, Suzie Lavelle picked up the Best Cinematography in a TV Drama at the BSC Awards, while Anna MacDonald won the British Short Film Award BAFTA for her short documentary This is Endometriosis. While there is still significant progress to be made, it is great to see women acknowledged for their work and important female-led stories told.
As part of the IWD celebrations, we are highlighting some standout female cinematographers who have shot some incredible films, television shows, music videos and shorts from around the world in recent years.
Ashley Barron ACS is an acclaimed cinematographer known for her work on Dangerous Liaisons (2022), Rivals (2025) and, more recently, Netflix’s How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (2026).
In 2018, Ashley became one of just 15 women to receive accreditation from the Australian Cinematographers Society, a significant achievement that reflects her growing influence within the industry.
Throughout her career, Ashley has earned numerous awards for her work, including Best Cinematography at the 2023 Australian Cinematographers Society Awards, and continues to be recognised for her distinctive visual storytelling across film and television.
Ashley Barron ACS
Apoorva Shaligram’s cinematography career began more than a decade ago when she joined UNICEF as a documentary filmmaker, travelling across more than 11 states in India to capture powerful real-world stories.
Her first feature film, Cinemabandi, was a unique project that was shot without using a single cine light, relying entirely on natural and available light sources. The film received international attention for its inventive approach and authentic visual style.
From there, Apoorva established herself as a respected cinematographer, working on projects including the action feature Agents and the documentary Ugly Side of the Beauty.
We recently interviewed Apoorva about her career and time using Cooke on her work. Read the full interview here.
Apoorva Shaligram
Alana Mejía González is an award-winning Mediterranean/Colombian cinematographer currently based in London. She works across narrative and commercial filmmaking, combining film formats such as 16mm and 35mm with digital cinematography, documentary work and art films.
In recent years, several of the short films she has shot have screened at major international film festivals. Among them, The Girl With Two Heads, directed by Betzabé García, won the Best Short Film award at the 66th San Sebastián International Film Festival. More recently, Lady (2026) won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival.
Alana has also spoken openly about the challenges faced by women and minorities working on set.
“There are many important conversations happening at the moment regarding toxic attitudes on set, including racist, sexist and homophobic behaviour that many of us have experienced. This progress is incredible and happening so rapidly.”
Alana Mejia Gonzalez
Ksenia Sereda is perhaps best known for her cinematography on the hit post-apocalyptic series The Last of Us (2023), based on the critically acclaimed video game of the same name.
She has also been widely recognised for her earlier work, including the film Beanpole (2019), which earned her the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Cinematography. The film was also selected as Russia’s entry for the 92nd Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film.
Ksenia has been praised by prominent producer Alexander Rodnyansky, who described her as “a symbol of the feminisation of the cinematography profession in Russia.”
Ksenia Sereda
Lucy Teng completed advanced studies in cinematography at the Beijing Film Academy in 2014.
Her work has been associated with internationally recognised projects such as An Elephant Sitting Still, which received numerous honours including Best Film at the Hong Kong Film Awards and the FIPRESCI Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film also received a nomination for Best Cinematography at the Golden Horse Awards.
In 2022, Lucy participated in the Golden Rooster Film Project Market with the feature film Pugongying (Dandelion) as both director and screenwriter.
As a director, her short film June Ice Peak, produced for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, won the Outstanding Work Award at the Asian Micro Film Festival.
Lucy Teng
Yamini Yagnamurthy is known for her distinctive visual style and contributions to contemporary Indian cinema.
Her work includes the Tamil comedy feature Hot Spot (2024), which tells the story of a rebellious young woman, Kayalvizhi, who must choose between her principles and the expectations of a patriarchal society. The film was shot using Cooke Panchro/i Classic FF lenses.
Yamini has also gained recognition for her innovative visual storytelling on films such as Sillu Karupatti and Saani Kaayidham, where her cinematography plays a key role in shaping the emotional tone of each story.
Cooke recently interviewed Yamini about her career and her experience working on these films. Read the full article here.
Yamini Yagnamurthy
Rina Yang BSC is a British cinematographer who has worked on acclaimed projects including Top Boy Season 3 (2023) and the upcoming feature Mother Mary (2026).
In 2020, Rina became the first Asian woman to join the British Society of Cinematographers and was named a BAFTA Breakthrough talent. She was also the first woman cinematographer to be nominated for a BAFTA Cymru award in the fiction category.
Her work spans film, television and music videos, and she has received numerous accolades, including an MTV Video Music Award for her cinematography on Taylor Swift’s Anti-Hero.
Rina Yang
Los Angeles–based cinematographer Megan Stacey is an emerging talent who has quickly begun to establish herself within the industry.
With a background studying at Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television, Megan has worked across several feature and independent projects, including the film Sketch (2024).
Early in her career she was awarded the Ian Connor Cinematography Award, recognising her skill and promise as a developing cinematographer.
Megan Stacey
Shelly Sharma is a dynamic and innovative cinematographer whose journey began with a background in mass communication before she discovered her passion for cinematography.
After working on a number of film sets as a second-unit DOP, Shelly transitioned into commercials and documentary filmmaking, gradually developing a distinctive visual style.
Throughout her career she has worked with Cooke lenses to shape the mood and texture of her imagery, using their characteristics to support the emotional tone of the stories she tells.
“I’ve always been drawn to cinematography because of my love for movement and light—watching how the sun filters through leaves, or how the world is bathed in different hues as I travel. Once, while riding a bike through Meghalaya, I was mesmerised by the dramatic dark clouds and the way life’s colours seemed to pop against the greys of the sky.”
Cooke recently caught up with Shelley to discuss her work – the full conversation here.
Shelley Sharma
Mridul Sen is known for her distinct visual style across narrative films, short films and music videos. Her work often blends strong visual composition with an expressive use of colour and lighting.
Her music video Sukoon is featured on our Shot on Cooke Showcase.
Mridul Sen
Qian Tiantian graduated from the Beijing Film Academy with a degree in film cinematography and is currently a council member of the China National Society of Cinematographers (CNSC).
Since entering the industry in 2012, she has worked as a cinematographer on dozens of feature films, as well as hundreds of commercials and music videos. In 2017 she began working as a lead DOP and gained wider recognition through her collaborations with director Dapeng on films such as Post Truth and One and Only.
Alongside her cinematography work, Qian has also contributed to screenwriting, including the public welfare film One Day. She later directed the short film The Solitary Theory, which received a nomination for the Chinese Nebula Awards.
Qin Tiantian
We want to thank all the talented women in the industry, whether you are a cinematographer, director, gaffer, 1st AC, runner or anyone else, your work is profound and important. We hope that in the coming years we will see even more positive change and recognition for women behind the lens.
