Director Steven Bernstein, a multifaceted creative genius, has made a profound impact in the film industry. With his impressive portfolio, Bernstein has showcased his expertise as a writer, director, and cinematographer.
As a writer and director, Bernstein's most notable work is the award-winning feature film "Decoding Annie Parker" (2014),which won Best Actress for Samantha Morton at The Seattle International Film Festival and also received the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Feature Film Award at The Hamptons International Film Festival. Additionally, Bernstein was nominated for best screenwriter and best director at the Milan Film Festival.
Prior to his work as a writer and director, Bernstein began his film career as a cinematographer in the United Kingdom, shooting award-winning commercials and landmark films such as "Like Water For Chocolate" and the Oscar-winning "Monster." He has also worked on iconic comedies like "White Chicks", "Half-Baked" and "The Waterboy", as well as early films of Oscar nominee Noah Baumbach and other important independent films.
Bernstein has also specialized in big action material for studios, shooting 2nd Unit on films like "S.W.A.T." and "Blade" as well as being the principal cinematographer on big studio films like Wesley Snipe's "Murder at 1600." Throughout his career, Bernstein has shot nearly 50 films.
In recent years, Bernstein has gained recognition as a screenwriter, with 11 major commissions in the last six years. One of his notable works is "Last Call" (2020),a film about the last days of Dylan Thomas, which Bernstein also directed. The film stars Rhys Ifans, John Malkovich, Romola Garai, Rodrigo Santoro, Tony Hale, and Zosia Mamet.
"Last Call" received critical acclaim, with the major papers at the Rio Film Festival calling it "Oscar worthy." The film won the best actor award for Rhys Ifans at the Tallinn Black Nights festival and was praised for its original script, which is written partly in free-verse.
Bernstein has also worked as a judge in literary and film festivals, lectures widely about film, and is a motivational speaker. He is also the author of the best-selling book "Film Production" (Focal Press) about the process of filmmaking and has a new book, "Creative Process" (Routledge),scheduled for release in 2022.
As a testament to his dedication to the craft, Bernstein continues to inspire and educate others through his work as a writer, director, and cinematographer.
