Behind the Lens: Mia Cioffi Henry on Storytelling Through Cinematography

Step behind the camera with Mia Cioffi Henry, a visionary cinematographer and filmmaker whose work explores the art of visual storytelling with depth, emotion, and purpose. In this episode, Mia shares her journey through the world of independent cinema, her creative process on set, and how she uses light, movement, and perspective to bring powerful stories to life. Discover insights on cinematography, directing, collaboration, visual language, and the future of filmmaking — straight from one of today’s most thoughtful visual artists. Whether you’re a filmmaker, creative professional, film student, or movie lover, this conversation will inspire you to see storytelling in a new light.

👉 Keywords 
cinematography, filmmaker, Mia Cioffi Henry, visual storytelling, film industry, behind the scenes, creative process, directing, cinematographer interview, filmmaking tips, women in film, artistic vision, camera work, movie production.

American cinematographer Mia Cioffi Henry whose most recent narrative feature film, Sorry Baby, won the 2025 Waldo Salt Award for Screenwriting and Documentary Feature Film, and Cover-up, also a documentary feature, which premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival. She is also known for lensing Endless Sleepover (2021), Superior (2021) and The Surrogate (2020).  Mia was born in Washington, DC in 1986. She has an older brother and step-brother. Her mother Gay Cioffi is an early childhood educator and fine artist, and her father Mel Henry, a documentary cinematographer, and step-father, Mark Obenhaus, a documentary filmmaker. So Mia grew up in an artistic family, following her parents love of musical theater, while learning dance, a variety of musical instruments and acting. She attended Pitzer College, Clairemont, CA where she attained a BA double major in Production Design and Media Studies (film production. ) Mia subsequently graduated with an MFA in Cinematography at NYU Tisch as a Dean’s Fellow and Graduate Assistant. In 2025 she was named one of American Cinematographer Magazine's Rising Stars of Cinematography, while her work has won Jury Awards at Sundance, SXSW and Locarno film festivals. Mia is an Associate Arts Professor and Head of Cinematography at NYU Tisch's Graduate Film program. She balances her teaching career with filmmaking and being a wife and mother. Mia is a member and mentor of 600 Black Women, a group of Black female identifying members of the Local 600 Camera Guild. She divides her time between New York City and Pescara, Italy with her husband, musician Julian Fernandez, their nine-year old daughter, and her step-son. 
 
Mia’s links:
 https://www.miacioffihenry.com/
https://www.instagram.com/miacioffihenry
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3994018/
https://tisch.nyu.edu/about/directory/grad-film/885588223.html
 
Some favorite female artists in visual arts:
 Carrie Mae Weems
Alma Thomas
Amy Sherald 

Host: Chris Stafford
Produced by Hollowell Studios
Follow @theaartpodcast on Instagram
AART on Facebook
Email: theaartpodcast@gmail.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/women-unscripted--4769409/support.