Biog

Ula Pontikos, BSC is an award-winning cinematographer known for her artistic eye in telling stories with emotional resonance as well as her accomplishments as a master technician. 

Upcoming from Pontikos is the psychological thriller, “The Man in My Basement,” directed by Nadia Latif and starring Corey Hawkins, Willem Dafoe and Anna Diop.  From Disney’s Andscape, the film based on Walter Mosley’s novel will World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival before opening in select theaters on Friday, September 12 and on Hulu and Disney+ this fall.  

Pontikos also recently completed work on the anticipated upcoming series, “Blade Runner 2099,” for Prime Video.  The series will premiere on the platform in 2026.

Among Pontikos’ other recent credits as cinematographer include her work on Season 2 of “Russian Doll,” which she received an Emmy® Award nomination for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series and an ASC Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography of a Half-Hour Television Series.  The season revolved around Nadia (Natasha Lyonne) and Alan (Charlie Barnett) after escaping their time loops, discovering a time portal that jumps from the 1940s, 1980s and present day.  Pontikos was also cinematographer on multiple episodes including the pilot on the series, “Three Women,” based on Lisa Taddeo’s acclaimed novel for Starz.

Pontikos made her feature film debut on acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Haigh’s “Weekend.”  The film garnered her Rising Star recognition by BBC Film in 2012. Since her impressive feature debut, her range of credits include “Lilting,” directed by Hong Khao and starring Ben Whishaw, Cheng Pei Pei and Andrew Leung, which Pontikos won the 2014 Sundance World Cinematography Award; and “Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool,” directed by Paul McGuigan and starring Annette Bening, Jamie Bell, Vanessa Redgrave and Julie Walters.  Based on Peter Turner’s memoir, the film follows the relationship between Turner and Academy Award®-winning actress Gloria Grahame in 1978 Liverpool.  Among the technical achievements of the film, it became the Guinness World Record holder for the largest cinematic rear projection used in a film at 1,283 feet while recreating the techniques used in film noir during the height of Grahame’s career. The film received three BAFTA Award nominations including Best Actress. 

Originally from the seaside town of Gdynia, Poland, Pontikos has had a passion for photography and cinema from an early age.  She went on to graduate from the prestigious National Film and Television School in London.  In 2022, she was awarded the annual Sue Gibson BSC Award from NFTS for her work on “Russian Doll.”