Rain Li

Director of Photography

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Heads of Department

Assistant: Lizzie Quinn
Second Assistant: Daniel Kostick

Heads of Department

Rain Li was born and raised in Beijing, China. A passion for Cinema and TV led her to enter into the film industry as an electrician / spark on short films, commercials and feature films, moving to the camera department six months later at the age of 16. By age twenty-six, she had shot ten features, twenty-five short films, numerous popular commercials, music videos and also interesting art and fashion projects. She is currently developing more ideas towards projects bridging fine art, photography and film. Since early 2005, she has been collaborating with renowned cinematographer/director Christopher Doyle ('In the Mood for Love', 'Hero' 'Rabbit Proof Fence', 'Lady in the Water' etc), on twelve projects to date. She has also collaborated with many internationally renown directors, including Jim Jarmusch, Gus Van Sant and Mike Figgis. Her recent film, Paranoid Park, by Gus Van Sant, received a Special Prize of International Cannes Film Festival 60th Anniversary in 2007. She was voted one of the 10 Best Cinematographers of The Year by Variety in 2007 and received the Best Cinematography award from the Boston Film Critic in 2009, shared with Christopher Doyle. She is also a Creative Director of London-based production company 'Pure Film'. Rain is constantly looking for new ideas and energies to apply to visuals.

Film

ProductionCompanyNotes

HABIT

2021

852 Films

Dir: Janell Shirtcliff

BEIJING, NEW YORK
Feature

Velvet Rain Inc.

Dir: Rain Li

CIGARETTE
Feature

2010

Kosmo Films LED

Prod: Snow Zou

THE ISLAND
Feature/S16mm

2008

Nikki Black Films / Taylor Made Films, Scotland

Dir: Elizabeth Mitchell / Brek Taylor

HATTER
Feature/35mm

Pure Films Ltd, UK

Dir: James Killough

8
Feature/35mm

Canana Films

Dir: Gael Garcia Bernal

THE LIMITS OF CONTROL
Feature/35mm

Pintblank Films, Spain

Dir: Jim Jarmusch

DIRTY RAT
Feature/35mm

Paradox Pictures, UK

Dir: John Dawson

WARSAW DARK
Feature/35mm

Ozumi Films, Poland

Dir: Christopher Doyle

UNCERTAINTY
Feature/HD & S16mm

Kino Films, USA

Dir: Scott McGehee / David Siegal

DOWNLOADING NANCY
Feature/35mm

Tule River Films

Dir: Johan Renck

LOSING HER
Feature/HD

Pure Films Ltd, UK

Dir: James Killough

PARANOID PARK

M2K and Pie Films Inc

Dir: Gus Van Sant
'Best Cinematography' award for Boston Film Critics Award 2008.
Won the Special Prize of 60s Cannes Film Festival 'Related Press'

PARIS JE T'AIME
Feature/35mm

Victoria International, France

Dir: Christopher Doyle
Official Selection at Cannes Film Festival 2006

POP GOES THE BHANGRA
Feaure/HD

Talent Productions India / UK

Dir: Rajesh Nair

WHAT IS SEX?
Feaure/S16mm UK

AFT Films / FilmFour

Dir: Emily Wolf

Short Films

ProductionCompanyNotes

US
16mins

2016

Sun Media Group

Dir: Rain Li

RAIN

WGGB

Dir: David Mahmoudieh
Prod: Neve Campbell

THE LAST GAME
13mins/35mm

SimpleLife Productions

Dir: Rain Li

CYCLE
15mins/S16mm

Guerrilla Productions UK

Dir: Kate Freeland

TWENTY TWENTY
15mins/digtal format

Thailand

Dir: Pen-ek Ratanaruang

MADNESS OF THE DANCE
15mins/S116mm

Carol Cannon Productions / FilmFour

Dir: Carol Moreley

RETURN
13mins/35mm

SimpleLife Productions

Dir: Rain Li

Commercials

ProductionCompanyNotes

DOVE - A CHINESE DOVE WOMEN SERIES

Velvet Rain Inc.

Dir: Rain Li

DOVE CHOCOLATE

God Mother

Dir: Rain Li

Featuring Amber Kuo & Tang Wei

UNIQLO HEAT TECH

P.I.G

Dir: Rain Li

Featuring Gao Yuan Yuan & Bosco Wong

SECOO - 'Father, Wedding, The Unique Experience'

P.I.G

Dir: Rain Li

BT

2012

Outsider

Dir: Ric Cantor

BOOTS

2012

Outsider

Dir: Ric Cantor

TETLEY

2012

Outsider

Dir: Ric Cantor

Clairol

2012

Rankin Photography Ltd

Dir: Rankin

VIRGIN

2012

Outsider

Dir: Ric Cantor

361

2010

The Sweet Shop

Dir: Ben Quinn

TITAN BET

2010

Dab Hand Media

Dir: Calle Astrand

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

2009

The Gate Films

Dir: Simon Burill

AMD

2009

Dabhand Media

Dir: Big TV

GE

2008

Traktor Ltd

Dir: Traktor

KAPPAHL

Forsberg Co

Dir: Patrick Forsberg

WILKINSON SWORD

Infinity Productions

Dir: Simon Burill

WRIGLEY'S EXTRA

HSI LA

Dir: Arni & Kinski

JC PENNY
"Happy Mothers Day"

HSI LA

Dir: Carlos Manga

BOOTS
"Christmas"

HSI LA

Dir: David LaChapelle

NIKE

RSA, LA

Dir: Johan Renck

Promos

ProductionCompanyNotes

PLAN B 'Deepest Shame'

2012

JJ Stereo

Dir: Paul Caslin

NERO

2011

Pulse

Dir: Ben Newman

PARADE 'Perfume'

2011

Pulse

Dir: Emil Nava

SIX CREATIVE

2010

M.A.P Ltd

Dir: David Hughes

LISA MITCHELL

2010

Pulse Films

Dir: Dave Ma

YOJHI YAMAMOTO
'COMING SOON'
Fashion

2009

Fantastic Pictures

Dir: Max Vadukal

GARETH PUGH
Fashion

2009

Gainsbury and Whiting

YOJHI YAMAMOTO
'Man with a suitcase' 'Related Press'
Fashion

2009

Gainsbury & Whiting

Dir: Max Vadukal

GARY GO

2009

Flynn Productions Ltd

Dir: Mike Baldwin

MINDER

Dabhand Media

Dir: Nick Esdaile

GABRIELLA

Flynn Productions

Dir: Mike Baldwin

EDITORS
'Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors'

HSI LA

Dir: Arni & Kinski

DRIES VAN NOTEN '
Fashion'

2009

Offlines

Dir: Christopher Doyle / Joeri Meij

P. DIDDY ft NICOLE
'Come to Me'

HSI LA

Dir: Chris Robinson

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
'SexyBack'

HSI LA

Dir: Michael Hausmann

THE RACONTEURS
'Steady as She Goes'

Lightbourne Productions

Dir: Jim Jarmusch

MURDOC
'Murdoc'

OnMeJack Productions

Dir: Iain Smith

REVOLUTION45
'Delay'

SimpleLife Productions

Dir: Rain Li

LADY SOVEREIGN
'Ssh'

SimpleLife Productions

Dir: Chris Phillips

PRINCESS AND PEAS
Fashion

Sweet Peas

Dir: Camilla Roberson

RAINER MARIA RILKE
featuring Dennis Hopper

ASD Lionheart/Arte TV

Dir: Hermann Vaske