We are honored to welcome Denis Lenoir, ASC, AFC, ASK as a special guest at the 2025 edition of Terre di Cinema – International Cinematography Days.

An acclaimed French cinematographer with a distinctive visual signature and an impressive international career, Denis Lenoir has shot over 45 feature films, as well as television pilots, commercials, and music videos. His collaborations span across some of the most celebrated auteurs of contemporary cinema — including Olivier Assayas (Irma Vep, Wasp Network), Mia Hansen-Løve (Things to Come, Bergman Island, One Fine Morning), and Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland (Still Alice, for which Julianne Moore received the 2015 Academy Award for Best Actress).

Lenoir’s path into cinematography is as unique as it is inspiring: after dropping out of medical school for spending too much time watching films at the Cinémathèque Française, he studied cinematography at the École Vaugirard in Paris and Art History at the École du Louvre. He later became a camera assistant to Bernard Lutic and Ricardo Aronovich before deciding to focus on lighting and cinematography, a field in which he has since become a master.

Among the many recognitions throughout his career, he received the ASC Award in 2002 for the miniseries Uprising, the Camerimage Bronze Frog for Demonlover, the Caméflex Award in 2013, and most recently, the Prix AFC in 2024 (shared with Yorick Le Saux) for his work on the series Irma Vep.

Denis is not only a cinematographer, but also a still photographer, a scholar of film, and the author of a book on John Cassavetes. He is a founding member of the AFC, a member of the ASC since 2001, and was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2006. In 2017, he was made an officer of the Ordre National du Mérite in France for his contribution to the arts.

His work on Kendrick Lamar’s music video DNA stands as further proof of his versatility and contemporary relevance, while his ongoing collaborations with leading filmmakers continue to shape the language of modern cinema.

As a guest of Terre di Cinema 2025, Denis Lenoir will share his creative journey, his approach to light, and his insights into navigating the evolving landscape of cinematography. We are proud to bring his voice and vision to Sicily — a land of Mediterranean light and cinematic inspiration.