David Katznelson BSC DFF

David was born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark (04.02.1971). As a teenager, he got hold of a super 8mm camera and started to shoot and edit in camera. His Dad was a keen photographer and had a darkroom in the basement that David began to use at every opportunity. From the age of 19 he went on to work in various capacities in commercials - sparking, loading and assisting a fashion photographer in Copenhagen.  After a brief stint of studying Political Science at Aarhus University, David and his friend, Kaspar Munk, bought an old Arri SR1 camera and started shooting shorts films with short ends and stock given to them that was out of date. 

His journey to London began when he was accepted to the National Film & Television School’s cinematography course (1997 - 2000). David was taught by Billy Williams BSC, Stephen Frears, Slavomir Idziak, Dick Pope BSC and Paul Wheeler BSC, amongst others. There he met the director Sarah Gavron (Suffragettes, Brick Lane, Rocks), whom he later married. They worked together on shorts and then a BBC film for television “This Little Life”, which was a first break for both of them, winning awards and going to International festivals. 

Having won a BAFTA for his work on “Shoot the Messenger” (2007), David shot Downton Abbey season 1 with Brian Percival (2010), which became a hit in the US and put David’s name in the frame for International work. Since, David has worked on features and TV across the world, from Game of Thrones with director Alik Sakharov ASC (2013), to the Danish series Ride Upon the Storm (2018) with director Kaspar Munk. He has worked repeatedly with Sarah Gavron, and his childhood friend the Danish director Kaspar Munk, as well as Kevin Macdonald, Brian Percival, Jeremy Lovering, Jeremy Brock, Paul King, Simon Cellan Jones, Richard Laxton and many others.

Awards and nominations:

Winner: GTC Award for Best Cinematography 2017 for “Electric Dreams - Human Is”

Nomination: Jury Award for Cinematography, Camerimage for Best Pilot 2016 for 11.22.63

Nomination: The Grierson Award, London Film Festival 2012 for Village at the End of the World

Co-director and cinematographer

Nomination: BSC Best Cinematography in a Television Drama Award 2011 for Nightwatch

Winner: Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie 2011 for Downton Abbey

Winner: Royal Television Society Craft Award, Best Cinematography for Drama 2011 for Downton Abbey

Winner: BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography 2007 for Shoot the Messenger

Nomination: RTS Award for Photography Drama 2004 for Pleasureland

BSC Biography

Winner: Kodak Cinematography Award for Best Cinematography for a short film

Selected Credits:

Boys, 2020, written by Russell T Davies, directed by Peter Hoar

Thai Cave Rescue, 2020, directed by Kevin Macdonald

Handle With Care, 2017, director Arild Andresen

11.22.63, 2016, directed by Kevin Macdonald

In Fear, 2013, directed by Jeremy Lovering

Burton & Taylor, 2013, director Richard Laxton

Village at the End of the World, 2012, directed by Sarah Gavron and David Katznelson

The Night Watch, 2011, director Richard Laxton

Shoot the Messenger, 2006, director Ngozi Onwurah