Oren Soffer Explained

Oren Soffer
Birth Date:2 July 1988
Birth Place:Haifa, Israel
Occupation:Cinematographer
Alma Mater:New York University (BFA)
Years Active:2011 - Present
Notable Works:A Nightmare Wakes (2020)
Allswell in New York (2022)
The Creator (2023)
Website:http://orensoffer.com

Oren Soffer (Hebrew: אורן סופר) (born July 2, 1988) is an Israeli-American cinematographer.[1] [2] [3] He is best known for his work on the science fiction film The Creator (2023), which he filmed as co-cinematographer with Greig Fraser, as well as Allswell in New York (2022), Fixation (2022), A Nightmare Wakes (2020), and Opera of Cruelty (2017).[4] [5] [6] [7]

Career

Soffer studied at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, and was nominated for the American Society of Cinematographers Gordon Willis Student Heritage Award in 2015.[8] He has been an adjunct professor at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.[9] In 2022, he was brought in by Greig Fraser to take over as director of photography for the main production shoot of Gareth Edwards' science fiction film The Creator, which was filmed in Thailand from January to May of that year, while Fraser worked on the film's pre-production before moving to a remote role due to his commitment to . This would mark Soffer's first film production for a major film studio. Edwards praised the talent and expertise Soffer brought to the film's production, calling him a "real future rising star in the DoP world. He’s super-smart. He’s got a great eye."[10] For their work on the film, Soffer and Fraser were nominated for Best Cinematography at the 2023 Seattle Film Critics Society Awards and longlisted in the Best Cinematography category at the 77th British Academy Film Awards.[11]

Filmography

Short film

YearTitleDirectorNotes
2011Swimming PoolHimselfAlso writer and editor
2012FreeMarlee Roberts
Citizen JaneBen Nelson
StillBen Nelson
A Flight of FancyScott Schuler
2013Almond JoyNora Unkel
ReservationsCharlie ReddAlso camera operator
Lonely Devil666John Liang
It Don't Come EasySabrina JaglomAlso camera operator
Life Out ThereZach Terry
MatchesSamuel Besser
A Teacher's RewardLaura Brown
A Mail Tale: The Untrolled StoryBen Nelson
Blood RelationsChris Kappel
2014Little DrifterJacob Bittens
Do Us PartKatie Baldocchi
A Quiet LifeZach Terry
Florence is BurningMackenzie Lukenbill
An Unknown ConditionAlfonso Morgan-Terrero
2015Karkass KartsBen Nelson
SweptJeanna de Waal
Morgan Lynch
Check PleaseDaniel Sorochkin
2016
  1. BlowingUp
Ben Nelson
Uncle GarethChris London
KabulLauren Fritz
GallinaLauren Fritz
The New 35Michelle Bossy
Narrative of the Most Extraordinary and
Distressing Excavation of Professor Ahab
Chani Gatto-Bradshaw
2017Lola and DallasDaniel Sorochkin
AlientologistsTyler Rabinowitz
Far from the TreeDave Thomas
Stanley & AfsanehJamaal Parham
Bashan Aquart
The Untimely GiftScott Aharoni
Dennis Latos
Opera of CrueltyMax Fedore
2018ReadyMelissa Farman
EL Cuco is HungryDaniel Garcia
Aurum IMax Fedore
2019NegrolandJewel Coronel
RideMeredith Alloway
2020See You SoonTyler Rabinowitz
Margo & PerryBecca Roth
2021For ArmettaKevin Wilson Jr.
ChampBen Tricklebank
The Letter MenAndy Vallentine
2022FraudZen Pace
CatalinaTyler Rabinowitz

Feature film

YearTitleDirectorNotes
2015No Letting GoJonathan D. BucariAlso camera operator
2016Little Miss PerfectMarlee Roberts
2017A Good DreamMahum Jamal
Fail StateAlexander ShebanowShared credit with Joel Kingsbury, Alexander J. Hufschmid,
Alexander Shebanow and Michael Swaigen
2020A Nightmare WakesNora Unkel
2022Allswell in New YorkBen Snyder
FixationMercedes Bryce Morgan
2023The CreatorGareth EdwardsShared credit with Greig Fraser

Television

YearTitleNotes
2016Fallout HighTV short
2021Action Royale10 episodes

Music video

YearTitleNotes
2016"Burning in Birmingham"Also producer
2017"Good Hurt"
"Pumpkin Pie"
2018"Come Follow Me Down"
2019"God Bless Our Souls"
2020"Pink Pony Club"

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2016FilmQuestBest CinematographyKarkass KartsNominated[12]
American Society of CinematographersHeritage AwardsReservationsNominated[13]
Julien Dubuque International Film FestivalExcellence In CinematographyNo Letting GoNominated[14]
2017First Run Film FestivalCraft Award - CinematographyOpera of CrueltyWon[15]
Nordic International Film FestivalBest CinematographyFar from the TreeNominated
IndieFEST Film AwardsAward of Excellence - Best CinematographyWon
Reel East Texas Film FestivalBest Cinematography - ShortNominated
Focus International Film FestivalJury Prize - Best Cinematography in a Short FilmNominated
Southampton International Film FestivalBest Cinematography in a Short FilmWon
Nordic International Film FestivalBest CinematographyNominated
Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film FestivalHIMPFF Award of Recognition - Best CinematographyA Good DreamWon
International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema, BerlinBest Cinematography in a Feature FilmWon
International Independent Film AwardsPlatinum Award - Best CinematographyWon
2023Seattle Film Critics SocietyBest Cinematography (Shared with Grieg Fraser)The CreatorNominated[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Allswell DP Oren Soffer on Taking Inspiration From Classic New York Movies and His Bond With Greig Fraser. btlnews.com. 29 August 2022 . 2023-05-15.
  2. Web site: Oren Soffer. nofilmschool.com. 4 September 2014 . 2023-05-15.
  3. Web site: Meet Oren Soffer - Cinematographer. shoutoutla.com. 6 June 2022 . 2023-05-15.
  4. Web site: 'The Creator': Cast, Release Date, Plot, and Everything We Know So Far. collider.com. 6 May 2023 . 2023-05-15.
  5. Web site: ALLSWELL. tribecafilm.com. 2023-05-15.
  6. Web site: FIXATION. pifff.fr. 2023-05-15.
  7. Web site: Cinematographer Oren Soffer crafts a nuanced portrait of an intimate weekend for the short film See You Soon. panavision.com. 2023-05-15.
  8. Web site: American Society of Cinematographers Names Student Award Recipients. hollywoodreporter.com. 27 September 2015 . 2023-05-15.
  9. Web site: OREN SOFFER. tisch.nyu.edu. 2023-05-15.
  10. https://www.gamesradar.com/gareth-edwards-the-creator-guerilla-filmmaking/
  11. https://www.bafta.org/film/longlists-2024-ee-bafta-film-awards
  12. Web site: 2016 FilmQuest – FilmQuest .
  13. Web site: 13 Students Nominated for 2015 ASC Gordon Willis Heritage Awards. theasc.com. 2023-05-15.
  14. Web site: No Letting Go. imdb.com. 2023-05-15.
  15. Web site: FIRST RUN FESTIVAL. 2017 UNDERGRADUATE CRAFT AWARDS. tisch.nyu.edu. 2023-05-15.
  16. Web site: Anderson. Erik. January 4, 2023 . Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) Nominations: ‘Poor Things,’ ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Lead . January 4, 2023 . AwardsWatch . en.