FELIPE VARA DE REY
Department | Cinema and Television Arts
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Office | CP 650
Office Hours | View Here
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Felipe Vara de Rey joins the Department of Cinema and Television Arts as an Assistant Professor of Motion Picture Production. A Fulbright Scholar and Emmy Award–winning cinematographer, Felipe brings extensive experience as both a filmmaker and educator. He has collaborated with leading directors including Spike Lee, Andrew Ahn, and Stefon Bristol, with credits on acclaimed projects such as Hulu’s Fire Island, Netflix’s See You Yesterday, the HBO docuseries NYC Epicenters, and PBS SoCal’s Emmy-winning Ten Days in Watts. His directorial debut, Nosotros, explored contemporary social issues through narrative film, and his most recent feature project as a cinematogrtapher, Griffin in Summer, took home the top awards at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival and opened in theaters in August 2025. Before joining CSUF, Felipe taught for six years at NYU’s Graduate Film Program, where he developed courses in cinematography, visual storytelling, and digital workflows. He's a member of the International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600) and the Spanish Society of Cinematographers (AEC), and his teaching emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and inclusive storytelling.
