About
Suzanne Friesen (Pierce) is an award-winning Canadian/Polish cinematographer and filmmaker based in Vancouver, BC.
Suzanne is an Associate Member of the CSC (Canadian Society of Cinematographers), and teaches first year cinematography and film production at Capilano University's School for Motion Picture Arts.
Awards & Recognition
Phillip B Lind Prize, Short List Nominee and Exhibited Artist at the Polygon Gallery, Portret Pamieci (2021) [Press: https://www.createastir.ca/articles/lind-prize-polygon]
Leo Awards, Nominee, Best Cinematography in a Feature Motion Picture, Be Still (2022)
Best Film, DOC LA Los Angeles Documentary Film Festival (2022)
Dreamscapes, SFU's Golcorp Centre for the Arts & Cineworks, Retrospective of collaborative works by Suzanne Friesen and Cameron Mackenzie (2022)
Best Canadian Filmmaker, Toronto International Women Film Festival (2023)
Capilano University, Nominee, Teaching Excellence Award (2024, 2023, 2022)
South Film and Arts Academy, Best Cinematography, As The Smoke Rises [National Screen Institute of Canada, Indigidocs] (2020)
Phillip B Lind Prize, Nominee (2016)
Simon Fraser University Student Society Award (2017)
Richard Patton Annual Undergraduate Scholarship (2016)
Bice Caple Award (2016)
John Driftmier Memorial Award (2015)
2015 TIFF Top Ten Official Selection for film Smoke - Co-Director and Director of Photography
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours), Simon Fraser University's School for Contemporary Arts
Bachelor of Sciences, University of Manitoba
Post-Secondary Film Educator
- Cinematography & Film Production Instructor, Capilano University, School for Motion Picture Arts (2020-present)
- Student Liaison Convenor, Capilano University, School for Motion Picture Arts (2021-present)
- Curriculum Convenor, Capilano University, School for Motion Picture Arts (2023-2025)
- Adjunct Professor, University of British Columbia, Film and Theatre Department (2019-2021)
- Cinematography Lab Instructor, Simon Fraser University, School for the Contemporary Arts (2018-2021)
Film (Director/Writer)
tu - 9:38, 16mm black and white, 2020, Director (World Premiere - Vancouver International Film Festival 2020)
Portret Pamięci - in production, 16mm black and white, (in production), Director
Venusian - 12:40, 16mm black and white, 16mm colour, 2019, Co-Director (World Premiere - Vancouver International Film Festival 2019)
Remanoir - 7:14, RED Scarlet Digital, 2015, Co-Director
something real - 4:46, super 8mm black and white, 35mm black and white stills, mini DV, 2015, Director
Smoke - 12:49, RED Scarlet Digital, 2015, Co-Director and Director of Photography (World Premiere - Toronto International Film Festival Top Ten Official Selection)
At Ease With the World - 9:42, HD, colour, digital video, 2014, Director
The Egg - 8:49, 16mm black and white, 2013, Director
Additional Film Work (select credits)
Director of Photography - Rare Birds - 2025, Dir. Robin Dalla-Vicenza
Cinematographer - Judas Icarus Twists His Wrist - 2024, Dir. Kerr Holden
Cinematographer - Rapunzel - 2024, Dir. Carol Sawyer
Cinematographer - Hyper Fighting - 2022, Dir. Kerr Holden
Director of Photography - All Things Back Home - 2021, Dir. Nisha Platzer
Director of Photography - The Radical Life of Joe Wallace, 2021, Dir. Sara Wylie
Director of Photography - Be Still - (post production) 2021, Dir. Elizabeth Lazebnik
Director of Photography - Zeb's Spider - 2021, Dir. Alicia Eisen & Sophie Jarvis
Director of Photography - As The Smoke Rises - 2020, Dir. Sharon Heigl
Director of Photography - No More Parties - (post production) 2019, Dir. Natalie Murao
Director of Photography - Deady Freddy - 2019, Dir. Alicia Eisen
Director of Photography - Floating Islands - 2018, Dir. Patricia Gruben
Director of Photography - All Happened Before - 2018, Dir. Gloria Mercer
Director of Photography - The Constant Evening - 2017, Dir. Cameron Mackenzie
Director of Photography - World Exposition - 2017, Dir. Mackenzie Reid Rostad
Cinematographer - In the Belly of a Star Fissure - 2017, Dir. Evan Britz
Cinematographer - Westham Island - 2017, Dir. Sasha Tomasky
Solo Exhibitions
August 2016 Clouded Mind - online interactive live stream installation
August 2014 CN Railroaders Photography Exhibit 2014 - Flatlander's Studio in Winnipeg, Manitoba
August 2013 Leaves the way you wonder, flowers the way you dream - The Edge gallery in Winnipeg, Manitoba
January 2012 CN Photography Project Gallery - CN System Engineering Plant in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Group Exhibitions
September/October 2021 The Lind Prize 2021 - The Polygon Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
Contact
Email: suzannefriesenfilm@gmail.com