Tara Violet Niami is an Iranian-British Australian American award-winning cinematographer and photographer. Additionally, Tara has worked as a teacher, film programmer and festival jury member. Tara’s home base is in Los Angeles but she holds dual US and UK citizenship and is available to work worldwide. She is a member of Sporas and Array crew.
Tara is currently involved in and attached to a number of projects nationally and internationally, including feature and short films.
BACKGROUND
Tara received her BFA in Photography from Pratt Institute and her MFA in Cinematography from American Film Institute Conservatory.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
As a cinematographer, Tara has worked in the fields of documentary, narrative fiction, fashion films and music videos. Her work has premiered at festivals including the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival, Outfest, Santiago Film Festival, and LA Film Festival-presented by Mubi x Mezzanine.
Her debut feature as cinematographer Eye Without A Face directed by Ramin Niami of Sideshow, Inc. was released in 2021 in Eastern Europe (HBO Central), in the US & Canada (Gravitas Ventures) and in the UK (Miracle Media).
Her most recent short film as DP, Slashr directed by Amir Moini and produced by Driven Equation, has premiered around the world including at FilmQuest in Utah and It’s Alive Festival in Bulgaria.
PHOTOGRAPHY
While attending Pratt Institute, Tara worked as a fashion editorial photographer for Tavi Gevinson’s ROOKIE MAG. Her photographic work has been featured in multiple publications in the US and internationally including: Indiewire, Entertainment Weekly, Rotten Tomatoes, Vice Magazine, Le Monde, and Dazed & Confused Magazine.
Tara worked as a production still photographer on films like Focus Features’ The Mustang and Magic Lantern which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. The poster for The Mustang featuring her photograph won a Silver Clio.
Tara’s solo photographic exhibit Self Reflections: 2008-2018 was held January 2018 at The Lodge Gallery, Los Angeles. Tara’s photography has been included in international group exhibits in cities like London and Berlin and published in print.
FILM PROGRAMMING & JURYING
Tara co-organized and co-hosted, alongside Masterbuilt Lenses, Shatter the Ceiling, a virtual panel with award-winning women in cinematography Arlene Nelson ASC, Ashley Connor, Nicole Hirsch Whittaker ASC, and Natalie Kingston. It featured intros by Ellen Kuras ASC, Natasha Braier ASC, Rachel Morrison ASC, Mandy Walker ASC, and Kate Arizmendi.
She curated films for organizations and collectives like FREE THE WORK and WOMEN UNDER THE INFLUENCE, and co-programmed and co-organized screenings/industry networking events including:
Jamyat-alongside Afghan-American filmmaker and artist Negine Jasmine Sekandari- a film festival program centering filmmakers of color in LA which included films like Civic (now on Criterion Channel)
Terrace Theater, with Iranian-American artist and filmmaker Maryam Farazhadi, which highlighted films by Iranian and Iranian American female filmmakers.
Tara also served on the documentary jury of the Memphis Film Festival.
TEACHING AND LECTURING:
Tara currently teaches a cinematography course at Chapman University’s Dodge Film School. Previously, she has lectured on cinematography for Brown Girls Doc Mafia, a collective and organization supporting the work of Black and brown documentary filmmakers, and American Conservatory Theater graduate school based in the Bay Area amongst other schools and groups.
Tara’s full resume is available upon request.