TapanBasu,ISC
Director of Photography
Head Judge – Cinematography
Tapan Basu is an award-winning Director of Photography and a member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers (ISC), with over a decade of global experience spanning advertising, narrative cinema, series, and music videos. Originally from India, his visual journey began in 2012 and has since expanded to include more than 2,000 commercial campaigns. His collaborations span an eclectic range of international and Indian brands, including Ford, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Tata Group, Amazon, Reliance, Sony, Procter & Gamble, Volkswagen, Adidas, Levi’s, and Pantene.
His work has earned him some of the industry’s most prestigious accolades, such as the Spike Asia Award (Singapore), Shot Awards Asia Pacific, multiple ABBY Awards (India), the Kyoorius Creative Awards, and the Cinematography Art Award for Best TV Commercial in 2024. He has also been shortlisted for internationally renowned honours, including The One Show (New York) and the Cannes Lions (France).
In addition to his creative practice, Basu is deeply involved in the filmmaking community as a mentor and thought leader. He has served as a jury member for advertising film festivals across the Asia-Pacific and frequently engages with both students and professionals through lectures and workshops. For the past three years, he has led the ISC Masterclass, a cornerstone platform dedicated to advancing the art and craft of cinematography in India.
Basu’s foray into narrative filmmaking began with the critically acclaimed mystery-thriller Kahaani 2 (2016), followed by Romeo Akbar Walter (R.A.W.) in 2019. Both films were widely praised and featured in notable publications such as American Cinematographer and Cinematography Art Magazine. His portfolio also includes the visually striking music video Fire Sign, a collaboration with director Sam Spiegel, known in the industry as Sam i.
More recently, Basu served as the cinematographer for Cla$$, the Indian adaptation of Elite for Netflix, directed by award-winning filmmaker Ashim Ahluwalia. He also contributed to the iconic U.S. horror anthology franchise V/H/S, lensing the segment Dream Girl for Shudder, which was nominated for Best Movie Made for Television at the Critics Choice Awards 2025.
Across genres and continents, Tapan Basu remains committed to crafting cinematic narratives that go beyond the visual—toward the visceral.