Tor Edvin Eliassen

Tor Edvin Eliassen

Tor Edvin Eliassen visits AMIFF with the films FOLKTALES and ON AIR, for which he was the cinematographer.

Bio:

Tor Edvin Eliassen is an award-winning cinematographer from Northern Norway. His work includes short and feature films shown at international festivals, theatres, and streaming platforms. From character-driven documentaries in the Arctic landscape to dynamic music videos set against Namibian sand dunes and socially realistic narratives, Eliassen is known for his evocative visual storytelling and ability to capture authentic human experiences—even in the most extreme environments.

Eliassen studied filmmaking at Nordland College of Art and Film in Lofoten, Norway, and the Polish National Film School in Łódź, Poland. In 2020, he received the Talentstipend from SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge, recognizing him as a promising talent. In 2023, he won Best Cinematography at Nordic Docs with the documentary Mermaid. When working on projects, he combines technical excellence with a friendly, genuine demeanor that puts his subjects at ease.

Eliassen was the cinematographer for Si ingenting (2021), a documentary about Bergen rap artist Kamelen that offers an intimate and energetic glimpse into the artist's world. Premiering at the Tromsø International Film Festival in 2025, On Air explores the role of radio amateurs in maintaining backup communication systems in the Norwegian Arctic.

Most recently, Eliassen was the cinematographer for Folktales, directed by Oscar-nominated filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady. Premiering at Sundance 2025, the documentary captures Norway’s Pasvik Folk High School and its students’ transformative journeys learning survival skills and dogsledding in the Arctic wilderness. Eliassen is nominated for Best Cinematography for his work on Folktales at Critics Choice Documentary Awards 2025.