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Camilà Cornëlsen joins Picture North
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The Brazilian filmmaker takes her cinematic eye to Picture North's boutique roster.
Picture North announce that director Camilà Cornëlsen has joined the boutique production company’s roster of talent.
A multi-faceted filmmaker, Cornëlsen grew up with an artistic upbringing and spent years touring as lead singer of Brazilian indie band Copacabana Club. From there, she moved into cinematography, photography, and eventually directing. Throughout, her drive for visual experimentation, collaboration, rhythm, and technical problem-solving decorates every aspect of her impressive portfolio.
Often taking on multiple roles within a single project, Cornëlsen served as both director and cinematographer for TENA’s Despair No More, which challenged the Arabic expression for menopause and won the Grand LIA as well as five Grand Prix at the Dubai Lynx Awards. She similarly acted as director and cinematographer for the multi-Cannes Lions-winning spot for Brahma, titled The Foamy Haircut. Her story-driven visuals have made her an internationally sought-after talent, shooting around the world as both director and director of production for brands including Nike, Apple, Google, Netflix, Instagram, Gucci, Vogue, Adidas, Puma, Vans, The North Face, Fender, Johnnie Walker, Stella Artois, and Smirnoff.
Her character-driven, kinetically charged work often takes on a playful, surreal edge. As a director, Cornëlsen pays close attention to light, texture, color, and composition, creating a set where naturalistic performances can rise to meet her meticulously designed imagery. This sensibility can be seen in her cinematography work, including feature films Antônio Odisseia (Tony Odyssey), Me Sinto Bem Com Você (I Feel Good With You), Amores Urbanos (Restless Love), and Meu Nome é Bagdá (My Name is Baghdad), which won the Grand Prix of the Generation 14plus International Jury at the 2020 Berlinale. As a cinematographer, Cornëlsen also lensed the Disney+ series Dios Tempos and HBO’s He, She, They.
Reminiscent of her early days making music videos for her own band, Cornëlsen has been tapped to direct music videos for Brazilian talent like Karen Jonz’s CooCoo Crazy, Baco Exu do Blues' FETICHE, and Fresno’s You and Me (F*da Eu e Você). Cornëlsen brings that rhythmic directorial taste to the short documentary Hard Asses Don't Twerk: Because Being a Woman is Nasty,” which portrays the reality of the Brazilian psychology and dance group BDNT.
Cornëlsen says on signing: “I was drawn to Picture North’s filmmaker-first culture and the way the company supports a project from concept through production and post. Because I come from photography and cinematography and like to stay closely involved in the edit, that integrated approach feels very natural to me. As an immigrant, I bring a particular perspective to my work, and with them I felt that perspective was understood and valued. I connected with the company’s international outlook, high visual standards, and creative ambition. It feels like the right place for me to keep growing, both in my commercial work and as a filmmaker more broadly.”
“Getting to work with Camilà again feels like coming home,” said Executive Producer Mac Hedges. “What I've always loved about Camilà is that she pours her whole self into everything she creates. She directs, she DPs, she shoots stills, and whether a client needs one of those or all three, they're getting someone who genuinely cares about every aspect. That kind of talent is rare, but the kind of person she is on set and off is even rarer. I'm so excited to welcome her to the Picture North family, but mostly I'm just happy to be working with my friend again.”
