Tom Bergmann is a cinematographer for documentaries, narrative and experimental films. Three of his recent projects have been nominated for Academy Awards.
Tom studied cinematography at the University of Film and Television 'Konrad Wolf' in Potsdam Babelsberg/ Germany before studying Art History in New York City. He has been a freelance cinematographer for the past 20 years with more than 50 shorts and features to his credit. Some of the directors he continuously collaborates with include Steve James, Eugene Jarecki, Roger Ross Williams, David France, Greg Barker and many more.
Life Animated, directed by Roger Ross Williams was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2017. It won three EMMY Awards in 2018 with a personal Emmy Award recognition for Tom Bergmann.
Tom’s collaboration with director Steve James Abacus – small enough to Jail was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2018. Their most recent project A Compassionate Spy premiered at the Venice Film Festival 2022.
Tom's visual approach is a poetic-realistic one – capturing verité moments by embracing the atmospheric tune of each situation. A deep interest in the subjects of his works produce strong filmic moments that gain deeper insights in people, situations and the human condition.
Tom directed and shot The Year of the Rat in 2020 following New Yorkers through the first year of the Covid pandemic. The film premiered on German/French Television arte and will be released in the US later this year.
In recent years Tom worked on documentaries in India, China, Vietnam, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Russia, Argentina, Nigeria, Ghana, Mexico and Cuba.
He is married to the animation artist Anna Samo and with their two kids they live in New York City.
