Caroline Champetier
FilmmakerKnown for:
Collaborations with Leos Carax, Jean-Luc Godard, and Philippe Garrel, two-time César winner
Education:
IDHEC (now La Fémis)
Caroline Champetier is a French cinematographer with over 100 films to her credit since 1979. She trained under cinematographer William Lubtchansky for nine years before shooting her first feature, Chantal Akerman's Toute une nuit (1982). Her four decades of work span authorial French cinema and international co-productions, including seven films with Godard and three with Leos Carax. She won the César Award for Best Cinematography twice (for Of Gods and Men in 2011 and Holy Motors in 2013), served as president of the AFC from 2009 to 2012, and received the Berlinale Camera lifetime achievement award in 2023.
Caroline Champetier's Gear List(6)
RED
Product description
The RED Epic is a digital cinema camera released in 2010 as the first camera in RED's DSMC (Digital Stills and Motion Camera) system. It featured a 5K sensor (later upgradable to the 6K Red Dragon sensor), shooting up to 120 fps at full resolution with up to 18 stops of dynamic range using HDRx mode. Its compact, modular body brought high-resolution digital acquisition to a form factor roughly the size of a DSLR.
Connection note
Used on Holy Motors (2012). Champetier noted "excellent restitution of dark colours and skin tone"
Sony
Product description
The Sony Venice is a full-frame (36x24mm) digital cinema camera launched in 2017, capable of capturing up to 6K resolution. It features dual base ISO (500 and 2500), 15 stops of dynamic range, an internal 8-position optical ND filter system, and switchable imager modes for full-frame and Super 35 coverage. Succeeded by the Venice 2 in late 2021.
Connection note
Primary camera on Annette (2021). Two VENICE bodies shooting 4K X-OCN ST. Dual ISO base essential for nighttime-heavy story
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Last updated March 20, 2026