Charlie Sarroff
Birth nameCharles Arthur Sarroff
Birth placeAlbury, Australia
OccupationCinematographer
AgentWorldwide Production Agency
Years active2004–present
OrganizationAustralian Cinematographers Society
Education

Charles Arthur Sarroff is an Australian cinematographer and member of the Australian Cinematographers Society. He is known for his work on the Smile series of psychological horror films, including the 2022 film Smile and its 2024 sequel Smile 2, and for the 2025 neowestern film Broke.

Early life and education

Sarroff grew up in Albury and attended Albury High School.[1][2] He attended university at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and later attended the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.[3][4] He was inspired at an early age from skateboarding films and the work of Spike Jonze.[5][6]

Career

Sarroff began his career in Australian film and television productions in the early 2000s. He has worked with directors including Parker Finn, Carlyle Eubank, Kelly Oxford, Bryce McGuire, and Larry Charles and is a frequent collaborator with director Natalie Erika James.[7][8] During production of Night Swim, Sarroff utilized rehoused vintage Bausch & Lomb Super Baltar and Kowa Cine Prominar lenses.[9] For his work on Smile 2, he drew inspiration from the photographs of Luc Kordas and Gregory Crewdson and the paintings of Edward Hopper.[10]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleDirectorNotesRef
2013BurrowNatalie Erika JamesCanberra Short Film Festival[11]
2015Hope CityThomas BaricevicPalm Springs International Film Festival[12]
2016Zieri CosmosSam KristofskiToronto International Film Festival
2017CreswickNatalie Erika JamesNew York Film Festival[7][11]
2018Drum WaveSydney Film Festival[11]
2020RelicSundance Film Festival[7][11]
Pink Skies AheadKelly OxfordSouth by Southwest[11]
2022SmileParker FinnParamount Pictures[1]
2023Dicks: The MusicalLarry CharlesA24
2024Night SwimBryce McGuireUniversal Pictures[13][9]
Smile 2Parker FinnParamount Pictures[8][1]
2025BrokeCarlyle EubankSony Pictures[14][15]
2026SaccharineNatalie Erika JamesStan[1]
TBAGood People, Bad ThingsNinian DoffMRC

Awards and nominations

Sarroff has been recognized for the following films:

  • ACS Vic + Tas Gold Award for Cinematography in a Short Film, 2016, win, Creswick[16]
  • ACS Vic + Tas Gold Award for Cinematography in a Feature Film ($3m and Over), 2023, win, Smile[17]
  • ACS Vic + Tas Gold Award for Cinematography in a Feature Film (Under $5m), 2025, win, Broke[18]
  • ACS Vic + Tas Gold Award for Cinematography in a Feature Film ($5m and Over), 2025, win, Smile 2[18]

References

  1. ^ Baker, Peter (December 2024). "Smile 2: DP Charlie Sarroff" (PDF). Australian Cinematographer. Sydney: Australian Cinematographers Society. ISSN 1440-978X. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  2. ^ Baker, Jack (February 13, 2013). "Albury's next Quentin Tarantino?". The Border Mail. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  3. ^ O'Sullivan, Patrick (December 7, 2018). "The Wandering DP Podcast: Episode #154 – Charlie Sarroff". The Wandering DP. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  4. ^ "AFTRS' head of cinematography Kim Batterham inducted into ACS hall of fame". Australian Film, Television and Radio School. May 3, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  5. ^ Parkinson, Helen (November 7, 2022). "Smile for the camera". British Cinematographer Magazine. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  6. ^ Sarroff, Charlie (August 18, 2025). "The Craft #015 - Charlie Sarroff" (Podcast). The Craft: a Cinematography Podcast. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  7. ^ Bizzaca, Chris (February 17, 2021). "Cinematographers on cameras and lenses from 9 titles in 2020". Screen Australia. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  8. ^ Edelbaum, Susannah (October 29, 2024). "“Smile 2” DP Charlie Sarroff on Lighting a Curse-Afflicted Pop Star in the Big City". Motion Picture Association. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  9. ^ "Charlie Sarroff on Bringing the Horror of 'Night Swim' to Life with TLS Rehoused Lenses". Leicestershire: True Lens Services. May 3, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  10. ^ Williams, David (October 4, 2024). "Smile 2: Lighting a Pop Star’s Meltdown". American Society of Cinematographers. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  11. ^ Philips, Slade (June 2020). "Relic: DP Charlie Sarroff" (PDF). Australian Cinematographer. Sydney: Australian Cinematographers Society. ISSN 1440-978X. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  12. ^ "Charlie Sarroff at the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Network". Sauve Qui Peut Le Court Métrage. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  13. ^ Navarro, Meagan (January 4, 2024). "How 'Night Swim' Used Practical Effects to Create an Aquatic Nightmare Realm [Interview]". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  14. ^ Reynolds, Bill (May 13, 2025). "Out West: Broke". Western Horseman. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  15. ^ "Post Production services used on Broke". Panavision. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  16. ^ "Award winners (Australian Cinematographers Society)". Sydney: Australian Cinematographers Society. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  17. ^ "Awards Update: 2023 Victorian and Tasmanian Winners List". Sydney: Australian Cinematographers Society. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  18. ^ "2025 Victorian & Tasmanian Annual Awards for Cinematography Winners List" (PDF). Sydney: Australian Cinematographers Society. Retrieved January 6, 2026.