Nasreen Alkhateeb is an award-winning Cinematographer, who has dedicated the last 10 years creating content that amplifies underrepresented voices. By illuminating racial injustice, marginalized youth, melting ice, women peacekeepers, and the construction of the largest telescope NASA has ever attempted, Nasreen thrives as a leader on diverse storytelling projects.
As a multi-heritage woman of color, Nasreen has a plethora of lenses she sees the world through. Being Black, Iraqi, and disabled she is constantly translating these worlds, with one foot on three continents.
In 2020, Nasreen was chosen as the lead Cinematographer for Oprah on the series Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, and the Kamala Harris campaign. In 2019, she produced East of the River that screened the Tribeca Film Festival, and captured two campaigns for NASA and Women’s March, in addition to the Director of Photography on two narrative films highlighting LGBTQ and disabled storylines. In 2016, Nasreen was awarded Cinematographer of the Year by NASA for her work in Greenland. Nasreen has participated in the Sundance Film Festival, and helped program AFI DOCS, The Nantucket Film Festival, The Brooklyn International Film Festival, CINE, TIVA, and the local EMMYS.
What Video/Television piece inspired you recently?
HBO’s Lovecraft Country uses a combination of historically relevant social justice
themes, coupled with stellar production design, to immerse audiences into current
political strife, while keeping them entertained.
What is most exciting for you at the moment within your idustry?
Studios, companies, and institutions are being encouraged to touch on human rights
issues.
What is one thing The Telly Awards community should know about you?
All of the projects I work on have social justice themes as a bedrock.
1. I was chosen as the lead Director of Photography for Kamala Harris’ campaign. (this
is not public information yet, so please do not share)
2. Night Waking is a film the Frankly Film Festival was just nominated me for Best
Cinematography award. A women lead scifi production, focused on a queer family.
3. East of the River, a film I Executive Produced, was chosen by the Tribeca Film
Festival in 2019. A film that focuses on the school to prison pipeline in Washington
DC.
4. In 2016 NASA awarded me Cinematogrwpher of the year for my work in the Arctic
covering scientist measuring the melting ice.
What is a piece of work you are most proud to have worked on?
In 2016 NASA awarded me Cinematogrwpher of the year for my work in the Arctic
covering scientist measuring the melting ice.
How has your work changed this year as a result of the unpredictable 2020 landscape?
With 2020 shifting my ability to be on set for 6 months, I was able to dedicate
more time to facilitating the creation of content coming from the disability
community and youths of color communities.
