About
Leigh Lisbão Underwood is an award-winning Director of Photography and cinematography educator with Brazilian and American roots, based in Berlin and Los Angeles and working fluidly throughout the US and the EU. With experience spanning independent films, TV features, series, documentaries, and commercials, his work stands out with an attention to character and emotional nuance within the context of rich, atmospheric environments.
Leigh’s work has screened at major festivals including Cannes, Tribeca, and Palm Springs, and aired on international platforms such as Netflix, Sky, MTV, France 3, ARD, and ZDF. He has been recognized with Best Cinematography honors from the Palm Springs International Film Festival and the European Cinematography Awards, among others. His commercial credits include campaigns for Mercedes-Benz, Nike, Kit Kat, Universal Music and Riot Games.
As an educator, he has taught for ten years at UCLA's Extension program, in courses on lighting, composition, optics, camera operating, and the DP’s process. Himself a graduate of UCLA's prestigious MFA program in Cinematography, a program that accepted only three students per year, he studied under seasoned cinematographers including Vilmos Zsigmond ASC, John Simmons ASC, John Bailey ASC, and Richard Crudo ASC.
Leigh grew up in a New Jersey suburb of New York City, traveling frequently to São Paulo. He holds dual citizenship in the US and Brazil, as well as a resident working visa in Germany for the EU. He is fluent in English and German and conversational in Portuguese and French. His travels have driven his passion for telling socially aware, human stories through a cinematic eye.
Selected Credits
Death Clique, TV feature, dir. Doug Campbell, prod. Shadowland (USA), Netflix/Sky, 2013
Sugar Daddies, TV feature, dir. Doug Campbell, prod. Shadowland (USA), Lifetime/Sky, 2014
1915, independent feature (theatrical), dir. G. Hovannisian & A. Mouhibian, prod. Bloodvine/Avalanche/Strongman (USA), 2015. Winner, Special Jury Prize, Lake Van International Film Festival
Brasil Meu Amor, independent feature (theatrical), dir. D. Tottom, prod. Wild Tottons Films, Brazil/USA, 2016. Official Selection, Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival
Christmas in Vienna, TV feature, dir. N. Lyon, prod. JewelLabs Pictures/Ion Television, USA/Austria, 2019
Harter Brocken 6: Der Waffendeal, Feature-length series, as 2nd Unit DoP. Dir. Markus Sehr, DoP Paul Pieck BVK, Odeon Fiction/ARD Das Erste, Germany, 2021
Crossing the Blue, Short, dir. V. Aleksanyan, prod. Hoshkee Film/CineSud, Armenia/Netherlands, 2022. Winner, Best Cinematography, Yerevan Int'l Short Film Fest
Au Revoir Belmondo, short, dir. L. Kohn, prod. Respiro Films, France, 2024. Winner, Best Int'l Comedy Short, Västeras Filmfestival; Jury Prize, Pour Faire Court Short Film Fest
Awards
Winner – Best Cinematography, Crossing the Blue, Yerevan International Short Film Festival 2022
Winner – Best European Cinematography, The Keeper of the Trees, European Cinematography Awards 2020
Winner – Best Cinematography, The Boy Scout, Palm Springs International ShortFest 2013
Winner – Best European Cinematography, The Keeper of the Trees, European Cinematography Awards 2020
Winner – Best Cinematography, The Boy Scout, Palm Springs International ShortFest 2013
CV / Resume
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