Prathap Joseph


Prathap Joseph is a Mathrubhumi journalist turned award-winning cinematographer turned filmmaker. Active in filmmaking since 2010, he has conducted workshops in cinematography and filmmaking at the K. R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts, the National Institute of Technology Calicut and at Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University. He is also the founder of the Light Source Photographic Society and the Minimal Cinema film commune, and a director of the New Wave Film School.
Oru Rathri Oru Pakal, a Malayalam film written, cinematographed, and directed by Prathap Joseph, had its Indian premiere in Dec 2019 at the 3rd edition of the Kazhcha-Niv Independent Film Festival, the rebel festival that runs parallel to the International Film Festival of Kerala. Prior to the screenings, the filmmaker and seven others had moved the High Court against the latter festival for irregularities in the official selection process. Oru Rathri Oru Pakal and Dr. Biju's Veyilmarangal are the two Malayalam films nominated for the prestigious Pune International Film Festival. In January 2020, the former took the 'non-theatrical distribution' route, releasing at the Open Screen, a revolutionary tiny theatre that screens low-budget indie films.

Filmography

As cinematographer
YearTitleDirected byAccolades received for the film
2013Sudevan
  • NETPAC Award for Best Malayalam Film at the 18th International Film Festival of Kerala
  • Kerala State Film Award for Best Film
  • Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actor
  • G. Aravindan Award for Best Debut Director
  • Padmarajan Award for Cinema
2015SavamDon Palathara
  • Best Foreign Language Film, Barni Film Festival
  • 2017Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani? Jiju Antony
  • Official selection, MAMI
  • 2017Sexy DurgaSanal Kumar SasidharanNominations
  • 19th Jio Mami Film Festival
  • Mumbai Film Festival
  • International Film Festival Rotterdam 2017.
  • New Directors/New Films Festival 2017.
  • Vilnius International Film Festival 2017.
  • Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles 2017.
  • Hong Kong International Film Festival 2017
  • Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Film Festival 2017
  • Sydney Film Festival 2017
  • Art Film Festival 2017
  • Edinburgh International Film Festival 2017.
  • London Indian Film Festival 2017.
  • Cinema Jove Film Festival 2017.
  • Taipei Film Festival 2017
  • Lima Independiente International Film Festival 2017
  • New Horizons Film Festival 2017
  • Anonimul International Film Festival 2017
  • Awards
    • NFDC FILM BAZAAR – DI Award 2016
    • Hivos Tiger Award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2017
    • Award for Professional Achievement in the Tarkovsky Film Festival in Russia for the excellence in cinematography
    • The Young Jury award in the 53rd Pesaro Film Festival
    • Special mention from the Official Jury in the 53rd Pesaro Film Festival
    • Jury Mention for Direction in Cinema Jove, International Film Festival of Valencia, Spain.
    • Jury Mention for Music Track in Cinema Jove, International Film Festival of Valencia, Spain.
    • Golden Apricot Award in the International Feature Competition category in Yerevan International Film Festival 2017
    • Best International Feature Narrative in Guanajuato International Film Festival, Mexico /Expresión en Corto International Film Festival 2017
    • Best International Feature award Reflet d’Or in the Geneva International Film Festival
    2017Akatho PurathoSudevan
    2019Unmadhiyude MaranamSanal Kumar Sasidharan
    As film director
    YearTitleFestival circuit
    2014Kuttippuram Palam
    2016With Her
  • Delhi International Film Festival
  • Los Angeles CineFest
  • Los Angeles SR Film Festival
  • Darshini International Film Festival, Malayalam University
  • 2017When Two Kiss
  • Pondicherry International Film Festival
  • Open Frame International Film Festival
  • Calicut University Film festival
  • Malabar Movie Festival, Koyilandy
  • Valluvanad International Film Festival
  • 2019Oru Rathri Oru Pakal
  • 3rd Kazhcha-Niv Indie film Fest | Dec 2019 — Trivandrum, Kerala
  • 2nd Kasargod International Film Festival | Dec 2019 — Kasargod, Kerala
  • 12th Panchajanyam International film festival | Jan 2020 — Palakkad, Kerala
  • 18th Pune International Film Festival | Jan 2020 — Pune, Maharashtra
  • 10th Yashwant international film festival | Jan 2020 — Mumbai, Maharashtra
  • 4th Orange City International Film Festival | Feb 2020 — Nagpur, Maharashtra
  • 15th Thrissur International Film Festival | Mar 2020 — Trichur, Kerala
  • Awards

  • Best Cinematographer – Tarkovsky International Film Festival Russia
  • P. J. Antony award for Best Cinematography
  • Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Fellowship for Photography