Hannah Engelson is a cinematographer and documentary filmmaker who brings sensitivity and curiosity to her work. She specializes in character-driven, observational documentaries and impressionistic visuals, instinctively following the emotion of a scene and embracing improvisation on set and in the field.

As a Director of Photography, her work has screened at festivals including SXSW, DOC NYC, Cleveland, and the Hamptons International Film Festival; streamed on Netflix, Hulu, and Sky Documentaries; and broadcast on PBS (American Masters, Great Performances, World Channel). She has collaborated with clients including the Empire State Building, Google, Matador Records, and Uber Eats. Most recently, she shot the short documentary That’s How You Make A Torah, supported by the 2025 Matthew Harris Ornstein JxJ Short Film Fund, which was included in an exhibition on sacred materials at the Berlin State Library and is currently on the festival circuit.

As a director, Hannah most recently completed the short documentary Grandma & Isabella, a four-year observational portrait that unfolds over the course of a single day. Her work has received funding from the Adobe Creative Residency Community Fund, Riley Fund, and Virgin Unite Social Impact Film Fund. Her short documentary Jonah Stands Up premiered at the New Orleans Film Festival, where it won both jury and audience awards, and premiered online on Short of the Week.

Hannah was a Graduate Fellow at Emerson College, where she earned an MFA in Media Arts.

Always open to new collaborations and projects, she can be reached at h.engelson@gmail.com