I’m an Australian cinematographer, born in Sydney to Greek-Australian parents.

In 2004 I started out in the film industry and for many years worked as an assistant on commercials, feature films and TV series under some of Australia’s best cinematographers such as Andrew Lesnie, John Seale and Russell Boyd ACS ASC.

My background is in black and white photography, which I studied in Sydney, after which I moved to the US to specialise in cinematography and trained on shooting 16mm and 35mm film.

I love working with film makers and visual artists who have a unique voice and strong image of what they want to say. My work has been shown at galleries and festivals internationally including KANAL Centre Pompidou, Film at Lincoln Centre/MoMA’s ‘New Directors New Films’, London BFI, QAGOMA’s Asia Pacific Triennial and the Art Gallery of NSW.

In 2021 I shot the feature film ‘Friends and Strangers’ which premiered in competition at the 50th International Film Festival Rotterdam (Tiger Award). The film received the Critic’s Prize for cinematography at the Vilmos Zsigmond International Film Festival in Hungary.

Most recently I shot the hybrid opera feature film ‘A Delicate Fire’ for theatre director Constantine Costi, which received the silver NSW ACS award for Feature Films Under $2M from the Australian Cinematographers Society and I completed additional cinematography on the feature film ‘Petrol’ for director Alena Lodkina, the follow up to her acclaimed film ‘Strange Colours’ (2017).

Currently in various stages of postproduction are feature documentary 'The Golden Spurtle’ which in 2023 I shot in the Scottish Highlands, and the independent feature film ‘French Girls’ which I shot for director Hyun Lee and executive producer Nash Edgerton.

In development is 16mm feature film ‘Toad Mouth’ with director Charlotte Mungomery which was selected for Venice Film Festival’s prestigious Biennale Cinema College.

CREDITS

Selected films and TV:

A DELICATE FIRE (DIR. CONSTANTINE COSTI) - FEATURE FILM - DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY —view—

FRIENDS AND STRANGERS (DIR. JAMES VAUGHAN) - FEATURE FILM - DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY —view—

DISNEY’S BOOK OF ONCE UPON A TIME (S4) - FOXTEL - DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY (10 EPS) —view—

COMPANION (DIR. HENRY STONE) - STAND UP SPECIAL - DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

PETROL (DIR. ALENA LODKINA) - FEATURE FILM - ADDITIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY

SECRETS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM - ABC TV - DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY —view—

DESTINATION ARNOLD (DIR. SASCHA ETTINGER-EPSTEIN) - FEATURE DOCUMENTARY (SFF 2017) - ADDITIONAL OPERATOR/2ND UNIT CINEMATOGRAPHER

Other camera department credits:

MAD MAX FURY ROAD (DIR. GEORGE MILLER, DP. JOHN SEALE ACS ASC)

ALIEN: COVENANT (DIR. RIDLEY SCOTT, DP. DARIUSZ WOLSKI ASC)

THE BABADOOK (DIR. JENNIFER KENT, DP. RADEK LADCZUK)

TOP OF THE LAKE (DIR. JANE CAMPION, DP. GERMAIN MCMICKING ACS)

THE LITTLE DEATH (DIR. JOSH LAWSON, DP. SIMON CHAPMAN ACS)

ABSOLUT - OZ (DIR. BAZ LUHRMANN)

TV SERIES - RAKE (S4), WONDERLAND (S2), UNDERBELLY: RAZOR

THE SET (S1 + 2) - ABC TV - ADDITIONAL CAMERA —view—

KITCHEN CABINET (S4 + 5) - ABC TV - ADDITIONAL CAMERA

AUSTRALIA TALKS - ABC TV - CINEMATOGRAPHER 2ND UNIT

PLAYSCHOOL - ABC TV - ADDITIONAL CAMERA

WEIRD AUSTRALIA - ABC SCIENCE - DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Full list of broadcast and film credits here: IMDB.

PRESS

ARTFORUM INTERNATIONAL - The New Weird

ACS MAGAZINE - ISSUE 88 - A ground-breaking opera film, shot by Australian cinematographer Dimitri Zaunders

ACS MAGAZINE - ISSUE 91 - Cinematographer Dimitri Zaunders talks to us about his work on the film Friends and Strangers

FAQ

What are your rates?

I’m happy working on projects of any scale and size, from a huge team down to just a few people. Please get in touch, and if you need I’m more than happy to walk you through the costs involved and can help you to make the most of whatever resources you have available.

Can you supply all the gear? Do you have your own lenses?

I own an Arri Alexa Classic, as well as a number of 8mm, 16mm and 35mm film cameras as well as some lighting gear for projects with smaller requirements. I also own some lenses that I occasionally use, however I think it’s best to discuss the right materials for each project and I can also provide connections to rental houses or to gaffers that I have a great working relationship with.

Where are you based?

I currently live in Sydney but travel all over Australia for longer and shorter projects. I have a full European passport and speak some Spanish, French and Greek, so will work anywhere in the world for a great project.

What's the best way to start?

I love hearing from anyone with a unique project, and I find the best way is to get in touch as early as possible to talk about the ideas you have and what you’re looking to do. The earlier you can send visual treatments and we can start sharing visual references, the better! My email address is dzaunders@gmail.com.

GEAR

Arri Alexa Classic EV with high speed licence

PL lenses, Arri MMB-2 mattebox, Arri FF-1

Cinesaddle, 17” Panasonic client monitor, Teradek Bolt 300

Bolex H16 (4:3 16mm)

Lots of Kodak 250D, 50D and Fuji shortends