Serge Svetnoy is a master of light with over 30 years of on-set experience across feature films, television, advertising, and music videos. A Ukrainian-American born in Germany and raised in Ukraine, Serge brings a rare visual sensibility shaped by European cinema and classical American films.

His work is rooted in craft, discipline, and a deep respect for light as a physical storytelling tool. Serge built his career as a Chief Lighting Technician, working at the highest level of international production. In this role, he collaborated closely with some of the world’s most respected cinematographers, including Pawel Edelman, Doug Milsome, Greig Fraser, Roman Vasyanov, Robbie Ryan, Jonathan Sela, Martin Ruhe, Vilko Filac, Jean-Paul Seresin, Jean-Louis Vialard, Tony Kaye, Andrij Parekh, and others helping translate ambitious creative visions into images that live on screen.

Light is Serge’s language. He treats every frame like a canvas, finding solutions for any budget and inventing techniques that serve the director’s vision without compromising beauty. His strength lies in precision, adaptability, and calm leadership on set whether managing complex rigs or finding elegant answers under real-world constraints.

As a co-founder and creative partner at DA FILMS, Serge has expanded his role into cinematography, working as a Director of Photography, camera B-operator, and underwater operator. After a major turning point in his career, he committed even more deeply to the craft and legacy of cinematographers bringing decades of experience behind the camera and into authorship.

Today, Serge works across both worlds lighting artist and cinematographer bridging classical technique with modern production realities. No matter the scale, he always finds a way to make the image work and bring beauty to the screen.