photo by Alice Plati
Lara is an Arab-American cinematographer and director. She spends most of her days trying to craft, find, and photograph moments that feel human. She is excited by ambitious directors, creative limitations, and opportunities to play with genre.
“A director’s DP,” Lara puts character and story first when she collaborates and focuses on building immersive and evocative visual worlds. Her imagery is grounded in emotion and a sense of place. Her favorite thing is capturing a powerful performance.
Lara has been at the helm of award-winning work, including a Cannes Bronze Lion for Facebook’s Black Makes a Way branded video, a Best Short Film award for the short film Pozole at the Oscar-qualifying Cinequest Film Festival, and a CMT Country Music Female Video of the Year award for Heart Like a Truck by Lainey Wilson.
Lara was born in Jordan and grew up in the United States. She studied film in the Czech Republic and Australia. Her perpetual “new kid” status has helped develop her deep empathy and her skills as a photographic observer.
Lara now resides in the Southeast with her family and works locally in Atlanta and New York City. She is happily available worldwide.
Associations
International collective of female cinematographers [ICFC]
cinematographersXX
SELECTED AWARDS INCLUDE:
WINNER, CMT AWARDS - FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR - LAINEY WILSON “HEART LIKE A TRUCK” DIR. ELIZABETH OLMSTEAD
CINEQUEST - WINNER, BEST NARRATIVE SHORT: COMEDY - “POZOLE” DIR. JESSICA MENDEZ-SIQUEIROS
LAS CRUCES - WINNER, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST NARRATIVE SHORT - “ADELINE THE GREAT” DIR. JESSICA MENDEZ-SIQUEIROS
CANNES LIONS - WINNER, BRONZE - “BLACK MAKES A WAY” DIR. J.M. HARPER