Rainer Lipski is an award winning Director of Photography. Hailing from Berlin, he has been recognized internationally and has worked in 18 countries. Since 1999 he has shot 10 feature films, over 400 commercials, 30 short films and multiple music videos.
His dedication and passion for cinematography started in the exciting 90′s Berlin art scene. Never one to do things half-speed, Rainer received 2 diplomas in filmmaking at prestigious film schools rounding out his artistic oeuvre. Immediately upon receiving his degrees, he started to work professionally as a cinematographer, camera operator and 1st AD. Driven by a love for the art, he continued his studies and received a Masters in cinematography at the Filmakademie Baden Wuerttemberg in 2006.
Recognized for his excellence and inherent talent, he received a scholarship for the master class “the Hollywood Experience” at UCLA in 2004 and continuing with his track record of success, his third year project, the feature film “Hastely We Hush”, premiered at the Munich International Film Festival in 2005. In 2006, his thesis project “Living iPod” won multiple awards including the Young Director Award in Cannes that rocketed his career into the Commercial World.
Buoyed by this success and recognition Rainer was highly sought after over the next few years as he traveled the world shooting and collaborating with 3 Golden Lion winning directors. During this period he also found the time to teach at the University of Arts in Berlin and has been a guest speaker at the Los Angeles International Film School.
In 2009 Rainer, along with his Actress/Director wife, relocated his main residence to Los Angeles. Since arriving in LA, he has shot 8 feature films, various award winning shorts and many high profile commercials.
His recent feature films “The Wake of Light”(2021) and “Take The Night”(2022) have had US theatrical releases.
The 2023 Ed Sheeran Documentary “The Sum Of It All” is streaming on Disney Plus.
Rainer continues to work and gain global recognition for his artistic viewpoint, professionalism, and dedication to his passion – the art of cinematography.
He is the VP of development, and initiator of “The Cinematography Focus” at the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival.
Partial Client List:
Actimel, AEG, AlFresco, Allianz, Apple, Asstel, Audi, Baumax, Billa, Build A Bear, BMW, Cannes Festival, Ciuc Beer, Chevrolet, CMA, Danone, Diesel, Disney, Domino`s, Dr. Scholls, Doritos, Dufa, Fein, FOX, G-Tech, Guess, Honda, Invisalign, Jeep, Joker, Listerine,Kibbles, Kyocera, Kiss Fm, Mini, Mezzo-mix, Mentos, Motorola, Mercedes, MTV, Nesquick, NFL, Nintendo, Nissan, Pokerstars, Proactiv, Rauch, Red Bull, Sky Channel, Sony, Swiss Lotto, Surge, Teleflora, TNT, Top Gear, TurboFlex, Toyota, Uniqa, Union Invest, Vienna Airport, Viva, VW, Wakkere bakker, ZDF
Awards:
2022 TAKE THE NIGHT Nominated Best Cinematography at GD International Film Festival of New Jersey
2022 TAKE THE NIGHT Donor’s Choice Award, Phoenix Film Festival
2021 CVGV Honorable Mention Best Experimental Short EMIFF
2020 REMISSION Audience Award Experimental Film Winner at Brooklyn Film Festival
2019 THE WAKE OF LIGHT nominated Best Cinematography at Hoboken Film Festival
2019 REMISSION nominated at Slamdance, Won Multiple Festivals incl. Audience Award at Brooklyn Film Festival
2018 REMISSION Best Cinematography Award, Athens Short Film Festival
2018 UNBREAKABLES Best Short Documentary, Toronto Short Film Festival
2017 REMISSION Best Experimental Short, EMIFF
2016 FLATBUSH LUCK CityScape Award, Big Apple Film Festival (Best use of NYC as a backdrop)
2016 FLATBUSH LUCK Best Feature Film, Coney Island Film Festival
2016 BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD for KISS ME KILL ME at Film Out San Diego
2016 KISS ME, KILL ME Best Feature Film QFest New Jersey LGBT Film & Digital Media Festival
2015 KISS ME, KILL ME Audience Choice Award, QCinema Fort Worth’s Gay & Lesbian Int.
2015 KISS ME, KILL ME Best Ensemble QCinema Fort Worth’s Gay & Lesbian Int. Film Festival
2014 COYOTE Best Feature nomination – IMAGEN AWARD (“Latin Golden Globes”)
2014 MY KIND OF FREE Best Music Video- New Media Film Festival – Shot & Directed
2013 COYOTE Grand Jury Award – Best Feature Film at Dances With Films
2013 GRIEF – A COMEDY Best Cinematography for (Evolution int. Film Festival)
2012 SOME THINGS ARE WORSE THAN BEEING GAY (STAWTBG) Best Comedy – EIFF
2012 INTERVIEW DATE Best Comedy at the Love Your Shorts Film Festival
2012 MY MOTHER California Film Award, Woman Filmmaker Award – Best Short Films Competition
2012 MY MOTHER Seven Summit Award- Mountain Film Awards
2011 STAWTBG Winner of best comedy short (Atlanta Underground Film Festival)
2011 STAWTBG Special Jury Award (Colorado film festival )
2011 STAWTBG Award of merit (Accolade Competition)
2011 DOLLY ROCKER MOVEMENT best concept in a musicvideo – new wave filmfestival
2011 INTERVIEW DATE Audience Award at the DC Shorts Film Festival
2011 POHLMANN FUER DICH Echo nominated
2011 L’IMPROBABLE MECHANIQUE DU COER in Cannes
2011 LOWLIGHT WAKE best cinematography in a music video – Los Angeles int. film festival
2010 PARADIGM award at the Los Angeles film festival + california film award
2010 PARADIGM award of excellence 2010 (LA movie awards)
2010 GOING DOWN award at WHIFF
2010 UNBELIEVABLE musicvideo of the month feb 2010
2010 GOING DOWN john muir award + award @ mammoth mountain film festival
2009 JOKER CHESS Voted best commercial in Austria
2006
LIVING IPOD SPOTLIGHTS silver award jury
2006
LIVING IPOD Kurz und Schön winner
2006 HASTIG WERDEN WIR LEISER @ Filmfest München 2005, febio fest Prag
2006 LIVING IPOD ADC award milk “nerd”
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2006 LIVING iPOD “Young Director`s Award” winner @ Cannes
2006
nominated for vdw newcomer award
2005
nominated for kodak camera award
2005 MILK NERD spotlights audience award silver
REVIEW:
This is what “The Wake of Light” director R.P. wrote to another director who was inquiring about Mr. Lipski:
“I’m a very tough judge of crew and I must say that Rainer is the best I have worked with.
He has a very rare combination of being incredibly intelligent, talented, a pleasure to be around – coupled with a very hard work ethic. Before we started shooting The Wake of Light Rainer and I made a pact that we would both push each other to achieve the very best we could. His work ethic is unrelenting like my own.
Don’t let his easy-going appearance fool you – that guy is a beast with a camera and his intelligence and appreciation for art matches his work ethic. I really couldn’t give a better endorsement to anyone.”