Calvin Liu is a Chinese-Canadian cinematographer and documentary filmmaker based in Montreal. He was nominated for the Canadian Society of Cinematographers Award (2024), received the Jean-François Bourassa Award for Outstanding Cinematography (2023), and won the Spark Project at the Nanlite International Competition (2023), showcasing his passion for his craft, keen eye for detail, and collaborating effectively with directors and other creatives.
Calvin Liu sees a cinematographer as a Sherpa—a guide who has climbed many mountains, mastering the technical and physical demands of the journey. He views the director as the adventurer, driven by an unshakable desire to reach new creative heights and explore the unknown. His role is to accompany them, bringing experience, skill, and intuition to navigate not only the known path but also the uncertainty of each climb—weather, conditions, and unforeseen challenges that make every journey unique. While he may not always feel the urge to climb the mountain himself, he finds purpose in enabling others to realize their vision, ensuring that each step is taken with precision, artistry, and an understanding of the terrain.
Calvin’s approach to cinematography balances raw realism with poetic abstraction, blending documentary intimacy with an artistic, highly composed aesthetic. His experience in both narrative fiction and documentary cinematography allows him to strike the perfect balance between efficiency and artistic vision on set. He is drawn to artists who are passionate, curious, and unafraid to be vulnerable, whether in narrative, documentary, commercial, or experimental work.
He is currently in the post-production of his directorial debut documentary feature "洋洋" (Yang Yang).