Sophie E. Constantinou
- Known for
- Camera
Biography
Sophie Constantinou is a film director, cinematographer and producer. Co-founder of Citizen Film, a documentary production nonprofit based in San Francisco, Constantinou creates documentaries at the intersection of storytelling and community engagement. At Citizen Film, Constantinou has worked on the Community Leadership Series (2003-2013), Joann Sfar Draws from Memory (2012), Lunch Love Community (2014), GLIDE’s Values series (2014-2024), and Narrative Shift (2021-2024), primarily as the Director of Photography. Independent of Citizen Film, she worked as Director and Cinematographer on Frameline selection Trans (1994), Between the Lines (1997), which was distributed on the Sundance Channel, and Divided Loyalties (1999). She filmed The Joy of Life (2005) and The Royal Road (2015), both official selections of the Sundance Film Festival in their respective years. She was also the director of photography for PBS documentary Presumed Guilty (2000), PBS/POV film Maquilapolis (2006), and HBO documentary Unchained Memories (2004). She filmed Emmy Award-winning Home Front (2001) and HBO documentary Regarding Susan Sontag (2014). Her work is acclaimed for tackling complex issues with artistry and sensitivity while catalyzing place-based change and creating healthy, sustainable communities. Since 2010, she has worked in San Francisco’s Western Addition on a series of films, engagement initiatives, and education programs bringing attention to the inequities of the neighborhood’s predominantly Black community. These projects include Buchanan Stories / Buchanan Change and Green Streets. She is also the founder of the Bernal Cut Project, a community-led biodiversity initiative to transform 16 acres of inner city open space into a habitat corridor and immersive learning.
Known For
Regarding Susan Sontag
The Royal Road
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
The Joy of Life
Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton's Cafeteria
Hope Along the Wind: The Story of Harry Hay
Maquilapolis
Race to Nowhere
575 Castro St.
Presumed Guilty
Your Kiss
Monumental: David Brower's Fight for Wild America
Filmography
A Foot in the Door
Movie · Director of Photography
The Rifleman’s Violin
Movie · Director of Photography
Prolific: Joe Brainard
Movie · Director of Photography
The Labor of Lunch
Movie · Director of Photography
Joann Sfar Draws from Memory
Movie · Director of Photography
The Arc SF
Movie · Director of Photography
Just Produce/Food Justice
Movie · Director of Photography
Wanda
Movie · Director of Photography
To Feed And Be Fed
Movie · Director of Photography
Imperfection Salad
Movie · Director of Photography
T-Shirts Manifesto
Movie · Director of Photography
Students Respond to American Creed
Movie · Director of Photography
Ian James Made
Movie · Director of Photography
Youcubed
Movie · Director of Photography
In the Maze of Our Own Lives
Movie · Director of Photography
A Living Room Conversation: Mark Meckler and Joan Blades
Movie · Director of Photography
CMC Teen Jazz Orchestra: Cultivating respect and self expression through music
Movie · Director of Photography
Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good
Movie · Director of Photography
Life Outside the U.S. — Transcending the American Dream
Movie · Director of Photography
Under Their Skin
Movie · Director of Photography
What We Carry With Us: Refugee Storylabs
Movie · Director of Photography
American Creed
Movie · Director of Photography
Collaboration: Ron Padgett
Movie · Director of Photography
The Royal Road
Movie · Director of Photography
Regarding Susan Sontag
Movie · Director of Photography
575 Castro St.
Movie · Director of Photography
Race to Nowhere
Movie · Director of Photography
Hats Off
Movie · Director of Photography
Balancing Acts: A Jewish Theatre in The Soviet Union
Movie · Director of Photography
Maquilapolis
Movie · Director of Photography
Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton's Cafeteria
Movie · Director of Photography
The Joy of Life
Movie · Director of Photography
Monumental: David Brower's Fight for Wild America
Movie · Director of Photography
One Wedding and a Revolution
Movie · Director of Photography
Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives
Movie · Director of Photography
Presumed Guilty: Tales of the Public Defenders
Movie · Director of Photography
Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness
Movie · Director of Photography
Hope Along the Wind: The Story of Harry Hay
Movie · Director of Photography
Divided Loyalties
Movie · Director of Photography
Sleep Come Free Me
Movie · Director of Photography
Your Kiss
Movie · Director of Photography
Third
Movie · Director of Photography
Presumed Guilty
Movie · Director of Photography