Jaro Waldeck DOP

Jaro Waldeck works as a cinematographer in Ireland and Czech Republic.

She earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Cinematography from Columbia College Chicago
and Film and TV Academy of Performing Arts Prague (FAMU), respectively.

She has been a member of the Czech Society of Cinematographers since 2011. In 2023, Jaro attended a
Masterclass at the American Society of Cinematographers in Los Angeles thanks to a professional development
bursary funded by Screen Ireland.

Besides shooting, Jaro teaches Introduction to Cinematography and Advanced Cinematography modules of the
Bachelor degree programme at Griffith College Dublin, and delivers lighting/camera masterclasses annually at
Colaiste Dhulaigh Coolock. She previously taught short filmmaking courses at Filmbase Dublin.

Former Vice Chair of Women in Film and TV Ireland (WFT) and a current board member, Jaro has been actively working to balance the gender representation in the Irish film industry, and has recorded numerous podcasts for
WFT with award winning women who work as directors, cinematographers, editors, music composers and in other
behind-the-camera roles usually associated with men.

As part of the Stakeholder Funding, Jaro has received funding from Screen Ireland under the WFT umbrella, and delivered a Director-Cinematographer workshop for women, in collaboration with 24-7 Drama in 2023, and
16mm Camera Course for Women in collaboration with Windmill Lane Postproduction and VFX in 2024.

In 2023, Jaro collaborated with Irish Deaf Society and taught a hands-on workshop for deaf filmmakers. It was
supported by the National Talent Academies, Ireland.

On the occasion she writes, her feature script "Screw Loose" was awarded scholarship funding by
MIDPOINT Institute, and her short script "Home Safe" made the short-list at Virgin Media Discovers 2022,
and was subsequently picked as the Ireland entry to the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Market, 2023.

Jaro was awarded funding from the National Talent Academies as part of their "Directors Lab"program, which
enabled her to run auditions and rehearsals with deaf cast for her upcoming short film "Play" which she has
developed during her 2024 film-making residency at An Tain Arts Centre in Dundalk.

In off time, Jaro is a keen photographer (view her Stills page) and keeps developing her film-making skills by
attending a variety of workshops.

AWARDS - Best Cinematography

CONVEYANCE Monza Film Festival, Italy, 2025

IN ORBIT Flikkers Queer Film Festival, UK, 2021

REFUGE Scottish Independent Film Festival, UK, 2018

THE DONOR 7th Underground Cinema Awards, Ireland, 2016

AFTER ANCA 48Hour Film Project Dublin, Ireland, 2014

NOMINATIONS - Best Cinematography

IN ORBIT 12th Underground Cinema Awards, Ireland, 2021

East Europe International Film Festival, Poland, 2020

South Europe International Film Festival, Spain, 2020

North Europe International Film Festival, UK, 2020

INTERNSHIPS / SHADOWING

2024 - Peter Robertson, ISC (TV series "LYNLEY")

2012 - Susie Lavelle, BSC (Focus Short "I CAN'T SEE YOU ANYMORE")

2008 - Phedon Papamichael, ASC (Feature film "W." director Oliver Stone)

MEMBERSHIP

Czech Society of Cinematographers

Board Member & Vice Chair (2022-23) Women in Film and TV Ireland

Screen Directors Guild of Ireland

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

Master of Arts in Cinematography, FAMU Prague, Czech Republic

Bachelor of Arts in Cinematography, Columbia College Chicago, USA

Associate of Arts in Photography, Columbus State Community College, USA

PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS

DAWN Lighting workshop at Kerry EBT Training Centre, Ireland with DOP PJ Dillon

FÁS 3D CINEMA at Ardmore Studios, Ireland

PADI Diving Course for Camera Operators (2009), Prague, Czech Republic

MIDPOINT INSTITUTE - screenwriting workshop for feature film writers, Czech Republic/Slovakia

SHORT FILM/EPIC STORIES - screenwriting by Screen Training Ireland, with Mary Kate O'Flanagan

FINAL CUT PRO X / ADOBE PREMIERE training at Filmbase