10/08/2026
Ahead of its premiere at Festival du Nouveau Cinéma on October 11, we asked "Girl Found Dead" cinematographer Nikolay Michaylov CSC about the lens choices behind the film's look, shot on ALEXA 35 with ARRI Rental's modified S4X lenses.
"Girl Found Dead draws from director Molly Shears' childhood memories of growing up in the '90s. While that period is an important part of the film's DNA, we never wanted the imagery to feel overtly nostalgic or to place the story firmly in the past. There are ideas within the film, particularly around fear and the way stories are filtered through the media, that still feel very present today.
That became an important consideration when choosing lenses. I wanted something with character, but also enough sharpness and clarity that the imagery wouldn't immediately place the story in another era. Going too vintage risked creating a nostalgia that felt counter to what the film was trying to say.
I've always been drawn to the Cooke look for its warmth, smooth contrast and ability to feel sharp without becoming clinical. ARRI Rental's modified S4X lenses felt like a natural fit, and their additional speed was incredibly valuable for a number of low-light night sequences. Paired with the ALEXA 35, the S4Xs helped us make something that could carry traces of memory without allowing the imagery to belong entirely to the past."
Written and directed by Molly Shears
Produced by Candice Napoleone
Cinematography by Nikolay Michaylov CSC
BTS photography by Jeff Chiu
