Having studied directing and cinematography at Berlin’s German Film and Television Academy, Florian Hoffmeister quickly established himself as a distinct, versatile voice working internationally in a variety of genres and formats.
In television, his work as a cinematographer includes the haunting THE HAMBURG CELL by his mentor, the late Antonia Bird, as well as serials such as the pioneering 5 DAYS (nominated for the 2008 Golden Globe), HOUSE OF SADDAM (2009 BAFTA Nomination Best Photography Fiction), AMC’s remake of THE PRISONER (2010 EMMY Nomination Best Cinematography Miniseries or Movie), as well as AMC’s first season of THE TERROR (2019 ASC Television Award Nomination), which he shot for director Edward Berger. His most recent TV credits include Apple’s first season of PACHINKO, where he collaborated with director Kogonada, as well as HBO’s new installment of TRUE DETECTIVE, starring Jodie Foster and Kali Reiss, which he lensed for writer-director Issa Lopez.
In 2012 / 2013, he became the first cinematographer to win an EMMY, a BAFTA, as well as the prestigious ASC Award with the same program: his work on the TV mini-series GREAT EXPECTATIONS, directed by Brian Kirk. In 2014, he was chosen as one of Variety´s 10 Cinematographers to Watch.
In feature films, he was known for his collaboration with the late British master Terence Davies, for whom he lensed THE DEEP BLUE SEA, starring Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston, and Simon Russell-Beale, as well as Davies’ Emily Dickinson project A QUIET PASSION, starring Cynthia Nixon and Jennifer Ehle. He has worked with a number of artists such as Elizabeth Olsen, Oscar Isaac, and Jessica Lang in the US indie IN SECRET, Johnny Depp, Ewan McGregor, and Gwyneth Paltrow in David Koepp’s MORTDECAI, as well as Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, and Matt Smith in Gavin Hood´s political thriller OFFICIAL SECRETS. In 2018 he shot ANTLERS for director Scott Cooper, starring Kerri Russell and Jesse Plemons. The film was produced by Guillermo del Toro and David Goyer. In 2021, he collaborated with director Todd Field on his film TÁR, starring Cate Blanchett. This work won him the Golden Frog at Cameraimage, an Independent Spirit Award, as well as his first Academy Award nomination for best cinematography.
He has directed two feature films: his directorial debut 3 DEGREES COLDER, which won him a Silver Leopard for the best first feature at the 2005 Locarno International Film Festival. And THE HAVE-NOTS, an adaptation of the award-winning novel by Katharina Hacker. The film starred Julia Jentsch, played in competition in Munich and Tallinn’s Black Nights, and was theatrically released in Germany in early 2017.
Apart from his work in film, he is the proud father of Ruben and Liv, has a passion for loose leaf tea, and holds an M.A. in Buddhist Studies.
Read his full filmography at ImdbPro.
To learn more about his directorial work click here.