About Me.

Hugo Rutten is an emerging Naarm-based cinematographer, originally from New Zealand. In the last 3-years, Hugo has shot over 60 projects. He’s happiest when he’s on set, surrounded by friends and collaborators. 

Recognised by both the Australian and New Zealand Cinematographers Societies, Hugo approaches each shoot with love, diligence, and deep respect for the story, a philosophy shaped by his own journey of self-understanding.

Off set, Hugo can be found testing new lighting techniques, perusing museums, or patiently explaining to producers that, no, it is not a perm.

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Along with the curls, Hugo also has autism. He was diagnosed at 18 after a childhood of peculiarity. The diagnosis gave Hugo the vocabulary and self-reflection to find solutions to his inherent shortcomings and lean into the benefits of his disability. Hugo has an intense, undying passion for cinematography, and that is reflected in his work ethic.

Hugo has spent a lifetime studying how to communicate vision, direction and ideas with clarity and speed.

Cinematography is light + movement = emotion and autism makes him really good at maths.