Steven Bernstein, ASC, DGA, WGA is an American cinematographer, director, screenwriter and author. In 1992 he won the Best Artistic Contribution Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival for Like Water for Chocolate alongside Emmanuel Lubezki. He also won the Cannes Golden Lion for his work in commercials. His book Film Production (Focal Press) has been translated into several languages and at one time was the bestselling textbook about film making. Bernstein was a 2014 ASC nominee for the Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in One-Hour Episodic Television Series Award for his work on Magic City. Bernstein is a regular contributor to SonyCine Magazine where he writes articles on various aspects of filmmaking. Bernstein is a regular subject matter expert for articles about screenwriting and filmmaking for Adobe creative hub.
Bernstein has directed shorts, music videos and television commercials, and has lectured widely. He made his directing feature film debut with 2014's Decoding Annie Parker (Helen Hunt, Samantha Morton, Aaron Paul), for which he was awarded The Alfred P. Sloan Award at the Hampton's International Film Festival. Bernstein's second feature, Last Call was released theatrically in the US on 25 November 2020. It is a surrealistic biopic about the final day of Alcoholic poet Dylan Thomas's life, starring John Malkovich, Rhys Ifans, Rodrigo Santoro, Romola Garai, Zosia Mamet, and Tony Hale, and which Bernstein wrote, produced, and directed. Bernstein's recent script commissions include; A Perfect Place, Angela and Althea and Last Resort
Since 2016 Bernstein has worked with members of the Greek government to expand the Greek film industry and attract international film and television production to Greece. Bernstein spearheaded an initiative to introduce a tax rebate as an incentive to film producers to shoot in Greece. The tax incentive bill was passed in August 2017 and became effective in February 2018. As part of his initiative, Bernstein is training 400 to 500 Greek film students a year and is building a state of the art film studio in Greece.
Bernstein has been featured as the subject of articles in many publications including American Cinematographer Magazine, MovieMaker Magazine, People Magazine, Playboy Magazine and Mancode Magazine.
Bernstein co-hosts the weekly podcast, Film Maker And Fan's Podcast with Vince Grimes, Executive Producer and the former head of creative at Google.
Bernstein's first novel GRQ (Fly on the Wall Press) was published on 3rd June 2025GRQ was awarded The Literary Titan Gold Book Award in August 2025 and won the 2025 American Writing Award for Best Fiction Novella and won the 2025 Best Thrillers Award for Best Domestic Thriller
Personal life Bernstein was born in Buffalo, New York, in 1958 to parents Charles Bernstein, M.D. and Sylvia Bernstein. He has a son Adam from his first marriage to Elizabeth Bernstein and currently resides with his partner the designer and film producer Carolyn Rodney.
Filmography Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes 1992 No Head for Heights TV short; Co-directed with Nicholas Wright 2013 Decoding Annie Parker Also wrote the song "Falling Out of View" 2015 Last Call TBA GRQ the Movie
Cinematographer Film Year Title Director Notes1986 Smart Alec Jim Wilson With John Huneck The Passion of Remembrance Maureen BlackwoodIsaac Julien With Nina Kellgren 1989 Conspiracy Chris Bernard 1992 Like Water for Chocolate Alfonso Arau With Emmanuel Lubezki1995 Moondance Dagmar Hirtz Kicking and Screaming Noah Baumbach1996 Underworld Roger Christian Bulletproof Ernest Dickerson Curdled Reb Braddock 1997 Murder at 1600 Dwight H. Little Mr. Jealousy Noah Baumbach Highball1998 Half Baked Tamra Davis The Waterboy Frank Coraci 1999 The Wood Rick Famuyiwa2000 More Dogs Than Bones Michael Browning Goodbye Casanova Mauro Borrelli 2001 Christmas in the Clouds Kate Montgomery The Forsaken J. S. Cardone Scary Movie 2 Keenen Ivory Wayans Corky Romano Rob Pritts 2003 Monster Patty Jenkins 2004 White Chicks Keenen Ivory Wayans2006 Behind the Smile Damon Wayans Little Man Keenen Ivory Wayans One Night with the King Michael O. Sajbel 2007 Tortured Nolan Lebovitz Direct-to-video2009 Not Forgotten Dror Soref Love at First Hiccup Barbara Topsøe-Rothenborg 2020 Walkaway Joe Tom Wright
Television Year Title Director Notes1991 4 Play Phil DavisNorman Hull Episodes "Deptford Graffiti" and "Work!" The Diamond Brothers Anthony Horowitz Miniseries 1992 No Head for Heights HimselfNicholas Wright TV short 1995 The Monroes Rick WallaceVern GillumMichael NankinMichael W. WatkinsJames Quinn 5 episodes 2000 Opposite Sex Randy ZiskDanny LeinerKenneth Fink 4 episodes 2005 Threshold David S. Goyer Episode "Trees Made of Glass: Part 1" 2006 The Jake Effect Marc BucklandKevin DowlingRodman Flender 6 episodes 2013 Magic City Terrence O'HaraSimon Cellan JonesDavid Petrarca 3 episodes
Other credits First assistant director Three Kinds of Heat (1987)
2nd unit director Year Title Note 2013 Magic City Episode "The Sins of the Father"
Acting roles Year Title Role2006 Behind the Smile British Reporter One Night with the King Father of Esther 2009 Love at First Hiccup Co-Host Cooking Show (Voice role)
Awards Year Film Position Award Organization 1992 Like Water for Chocolate Cinematographer (Won) Best Artistic Contribution Award (Shared with Emmanuel Lubezki) Tokyo International Film Festival 2003 Monster (Won) Creative Ensemble Award AFI 2013 Decoding Annie Parker Director / Writer (Nominated) Golden Space Needle Award - Best Film Seattle International Film Festival (Won) Alfred P. Sloan Award Foundation Feature Film Prize in Science and Technology Hampton's International Film Festival 2014 Magic City Cinematographer (Nominated) ASC Award - Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in One-Hour Episodic Television Series American Society of Cinematographers Decoding Annie Parker Director / Writer (Nominated) Leonardo's Horse - Best Directing Milan International Film Festival (Nominated) Leonardo's Horse - Best Screenwriting (Shared with Adam Bernstein and Mike Moss)
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