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PhD in Communication Studies by Lusofona University 2022. Master’s degree in film studies since 2014. Tony Costa is both a professional cinematographer and a teacher at Lusofona University where he is the head of the cinematography department. He is an award winner cinematographer. He got the Golden Prize in Tblisi Georgia in 2014 with his work on «Lapis Azul». He has also directed documentaries and a short film «My Grand Father» he was awarded with best script writing in Troia Film Festival (2012). He also got the NOS prize in 2014 for his short «Mutter». Since 2004 he has been teaching in The Lusofona University in Lisbon by maintaining his professional assignments as cinematographer. He is one of the founders of the Portuguese Film Academy and of the Portuguese Society of Cinematographers where he keeps a seat in the board of directories. Tony was also involved as a board member with IMAGO (The European Federation of Cinematographers) for several years. As cinematographer I am an academic, so I am quite open to apply and understand any aesthetics to be placed in the film. Also, technically knowledge of equipment and rental houses locally along with the rest of the crew. I am also very good at framing classic shots according to the rules along with tracking shots. I am very much at ease with long takes but I do not use Steadicam or gimble techniques. I don’t use the geared head. I am very much into classical shooting and not so much into the kinetic use of cameras. I like crane, dolly shots, and handheld also. I do love to use handheld when the scene demands such an approach. I like to respect the rules of composition, but I also love to break them and to find bold framing to give identity to the film. In terms of lighting, I am in the mood for pictorial lighting. I am not a fan of natural documentary style. I like to see the lighting come through windows or have a soft light on the characters coming from a practical. I love to work with foreign crews. They know what they want and where to go. Shoots are well prepared in advance and during shooting it is only a matter to apply what was agreed in pre-production. It doesn’t stop by improvising though when the situation demands. We should be open to it.
Identification

Personal identification

Full name
António Afonso Costa

Citation names

  • Costa, António Afonso
  • Tony Costa

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
D41E-4459-6EE0
ORCID iD
0000-0002-2745-6775

Websites

Knowledge fields

  • Humanities - Arts

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
English Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
French Intermediate (B1) Beginner (A1) Beginner (A1) Intermediate (B1)
Education
Degree Classification
2012/10/11 - 2022/03/17
Concluded
Communication Studies (Doutoramento)
Major in CINEMA
Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Portugal
"FOTOGRAFIA E CONSTRUÇÃO DA EXPERIÊNCIA CINEMÁTICA Qual a influência da direção de fotografia na perceção na narrativa cinematográfica? " (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
15
2010/09/23 - 2014/11/19
Concluded
Film Studies (Mestrado)
Major in Cinema
Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Portugal
"Cinematography as Art" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
16
Affiliation

Teaching in Higher Education

Category
Host institution
Employer
2004/09 - Current Full Professor (University Teacher) Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Portugal
Outputs

Publications

Book
  1. Costa, António Afonso. MÉTODOS & PROCEDIMENTOS DO ASSISTENTE DE IMAGEM. Portugal, Portugal: ESTC. 2005.
    Published
Conference abstract
  1. Tony Costa. Corresponding author: Tony Costa. "Cinematic Aesthetics and Narrative Construction: Dissecting the Influence of Cinematography". Paper presented in NECS 2025 Conference, Universidade Lusófona, Lisboa, Portugal, Lisboa, 2025.
Conference paper
  1. Tony Costa. Corresponding author: Tony Costa. "A Imagem no mundo digital: As implicações no ensino". Paper presented in Cine-Clube de Avanca -Avanca Cinema 2023, Avanca, 2023.
    Accepted
  2. Tony Costa. Corresponding author: Tony Costa. "Cinematography essay – the methodology". Paper presented in Encrucijada del audiovisual en la era de lo virtual: Salamanca, SALAMANCA, 2023.
  3. Tony Costa. Corresponding author: Tony Costa. "“Cinematography and Film Studies.”". Paper presented in AMPS conference Applying Education in a Complex World, Sheridan University, Toronto, Canada,, toronto, 2023.
Conference poster
  1. Tony Costa. Corresponding author: Tony Costa. "Ainda o ensino em película". Paper presented in Cine-Clube de Avanca -Avanca Cinema 2025, 2025.
Journal article
  1. Costa, António Afonso. "Cinematography in Cinema: Relationship Between Teaching Contexts And Its Application". nternational Journal of Film and Media Arts 2 1 (2017): 68-91. http://revistas.ulusofona.pt/index.php/ijfma/article/view/6157.
    Published
  2. Costa, António Afonso. "Cinematography: An art form for narrative cinema". Atas do IV Encontro Anual da AIM IV (2015): 271-284.
    Published
  3. Costa, António Afonso. "A direção de Fotografia em Cinema: Uma arte escondida.". Encontros de Cinema - Conferência Internacional 2014 I (2014): 52-58.
    Published
  4. Costa, António Afonso. "Direção de Fotografia: Uma ferramenta artística no cinema de ficção". 5ª AVANCA Cinema - Conferência Internacional de Cinema, Arte tecnologia e Comunicação. Avanca, Portugal. 5 1 (2014): 690-695.
    Published
  5. Costa, António Afonso. "RUI GUERRA, O CINEASTA DA PALAVRA". RUI GUERRA, O CINEASTA DA PALAVRA 15 (2013): 471-492. Doc On-line, n. 15, dezembro 2013, www.doc.ubi.pt, pp. 471 - 492.
    Published
  6. Costa, António Afonso. "IMAGEM CINEMATOGRÁFICA (Revista)". IMAGEM CINEMATOGRÁFICA (Revista) 4 (2004): 1-80.
    Published
  7. Costa, António Afonso. "IMAGEM CINEMATOGRÁFICA (Revista)". IMAGEM CINEMATOGRÁFICA (Revista) 3 (2003): 1-80.
    Published
  8. Costa, António Afonso. "IMAGEM CINEMATOGRÁFICA (Revista)". IMAGEM CINEMATOGRÁFICA (Revista) 2 (2002): 1-80.
    Published
  9. Costa, António Afonso. "IMAGEM CINEMATOGRÁFICA (Revista)". IMAGEM CINEMATOGRÁFICA 1 (2001): 1-80.
    Published

Artistic / Performance

Artistic exhibition
  1. A Ilha dos Cães (Feature Film). 2015.
  2. Lápis Azul. 2013.
  3. O Meu Avô. 2013.
  4. Amélia. 2013.
  5. Lápis Azul a Exame Prévio DOC. 2012.
  6. Mutter. 2011.
  7. Um Natal Especial. 2011.
  8. O Teu Sapato. 2009.
  9. A Aposta. 2009.
  10. A Fábrica. 2008.
  11. Sem Ela. 2003.
  12. As Batalhas DOC. 2003.
  13. Um Homem não é um Gato. 2001.
  14. Lucky Man DOC. 1994.
  15. There we are John. 1993.

Other

Other output
  1. Conference «Teaching Cinematography). 2017. Costa, António Afonso. http://www.imago.org/index.php/education/item/626-the-teaching-cinematography-conference.html.
  2. Os Desafios do ensino na era digital. 2015. Costa, António Afonso. www.academiadecinema.pt.
Activities

Association member

Society Organization name Role
2017/01/01 - Current CITO - Research group fpr cinematography studies Director and founder
2004/05 - 2020/02 IMAGO - European Federation of Cinematographers Vice president 2004-2008 / Website editor from 2004 to 2020
1998/01 - 2013/10 ASSOCIAÇÃO DE IMAGEM CINEMA E TELEVISÃO PORTUGUESA Founder 1998 - President 1998 to 2008 / President since 2016
2011/09 - 2013/05 ACADEMIA PORTUGUESA DE CINEMA Founder 2011- Treasurer since 2011.

Course / Discipline taught

Academic session Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2025/03/07 - 2025/03/13 BIP - Film Workshop - ULHT Lisbon Portugal LICENCIATURA (Licenciatura) Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Portugal
2015 - 2015 Workshop Camera Movement Extensão e divulgação científica (Curso médio)
2014 - 2014 Workshop Camera Movement Extensão e divulgação científica (Curso médio)
2013 - 2013 Night Shooting (Workshop) Outra (Curso médio)
2013 - 2013 Night Shooting (Workshop) Outra (Curso médio)
Distinctions

Other distinction

2019 Career Achievement award - Cine Clube de Avanca
2014 Best Cinematography (Lápis azul )
Golden Eye Tbilisi Georgia, Portugal
2014 Prize Mário Ventura ¿ Best script (O meu Avô)
FESTROIA, Portugal
2012 Cinematography (O Teu Sapato)
CINEUPHORIA, Portugal