John Donica  is a cinematographer / director based in Tokyo.
Member of JSC (Japanese Society of Cinematographers).

 

In 2012 he graduated from Academy of Music Theater and Fine Arts, specialty - film director and editor. Since then, he has been working as a cinematographer and director on documentary and fiction films, music videos and commercials.

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His works have been selected to many international film festivals like: TIFF, IDFA, Vision du Reel, Montenegro, Busan ISFF, Cronograf, DocuArtFest, East Silver, Beldocs and others.

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Films:
 

• ​2024 - Additional Cinematography for "Instruments of a Beating Heart" directed by Ema Ryan Yamazaki. (OSCAR nominated 2025)

• ​2023 - Director of photography (Tokyo part) for feature film "Toh Ti Ani Fuji"directed by          Mohit Takalkar.  

• 2023 - Additional cinematography for documentary film "Making of a Japanese" directed by    Ema Ryan Yamazaki.

• 2021 - Director of photography for documentary film "Horse by the sea" directed by Hamish Campbell.

• 2018 - 2019 Director of photography for documentary film "Steps on the border" directed by Alecu Deleu.

• 2017 - 2019 Director of photography for feature fiction film "...OGMA"  directed by Mihai Tarna

• 2017 - Director of photography for short fiction film "REZELIENTA" directed by Mihai Tarna

• 2016-2017 - Director of photography for documentary film "Moldovan Miracle" directed by Stian Indrevoll. (Norway)

• 2014-2018 - Director of photography for feature film "RESENTMENT" directed by Natalia Shaufert.

• 2015 - Director of photography for short film "THE SOFA" directed by Iulia Puica

• 2014-2015 - Film director and DP for documentary film "Moments of silence"

• In 2013-2014 worked as a set photographer for feature film "ANISOARA" directed by Ana-Felicia-Scutelnicu.

• 2013 - Director of photography for short fiction film "INSIGHT" directed by Mihai Bruma.

• 2012 - Director of photography for short fiction film "ANA" directed by Natalia Shaufert.

• 2012 - Director of photography for short fiction film "IOANA" directed by Iulia Puica.

• 2012 - Film director and DP for short documentary film "At the edge of the forest"

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Awards:

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-  Best Music Video at Tokyo Film Awards 2022 - "Metamorphosis"
-  Nominated for the 2019 European Press Prize shortlist with ‘The Drums of Democracy‘

-  "Moments of silence" - Best directing at DocuArtFest,  Romania 2017.

-  Winner at International Documentary Film Festival Moldova 2013      "Cronograf" with film "At the         edge of the forest"

-  Best Director at the MIFEC Film festival in Porto.

-  1st place at the photography contest "Beyond words" organized by the "Punkt" magazine 2009.       -  2nd place at the photography contest "The historic center of Chisinau in the vision of young                   amateur     photography" 2011                                                                                                                     

-  Winner in the category "Fine Art Nude" at 1x Photo Awards 2011                                                               

- 1st place at LED photo contest, organized by LED (Liechtenstein Development Service) in Moldova         2012
 

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