Press
SEE YOU YESTERDAY
With attitude to spare, [Eden Duncan-Smith] infuses these “Spy Kids”-esque shenanigans with mounting frustration and anger at inequity, as well as a belief that family is the thing most worth fighting for. Even more vibrant than Felipe Vara de Rey’s cinematography (full of thematically apt rotating camera moves) and a soundtrack of Jamaican tunes, Duncan-Smith makes the film her own, right up to the surprising, challenging and altogether sharp final note.
Variety (05.09.2019)
LAND OF THE FREE
Spike Lee directed the track’s arresting video, which highlights the struggles and resiliency of real-life migrant families near the U.S./Mexico border. The Killers gave the filmmaker full creative control for the clip, which he filmed over a few weeks toward the end of 2018.
Rolling Stone (01.14.19)
A GUIDE TO BREATHING UNDERWATER
"The freedom of his dancing has gained significance through the ways the dancer and camera have moved. If mobile devices free up more filmmakers in this way, the next mobile dance film festival could be something to see".
Brian Seibert, The New York Times (07.31.18)
60th GRAMMY AWARDS
"New York mainstay Spike Lee directed a short video called "NY Stories" featuring music luminaries like Joan Jett, Q-Tip, Grandmaster Flash and Nile Rodgers to celebrate Tuesday's announcement".
Johnny Vy, CBS News (05.09.17)
JAR
"Raven Jackson stars in a poetry film shot on location in Piermont, NY, by Felipe Vara de Rey. The short film is gauzy and dream-like, and features stunning visuals of Jackson sitting by a tree-lined lake and walking through a golden field. Jackson also provides the voice-over of her poem "jar," which is featured in her winning chapbook little violences".
Cutbank, The Literary Journal of the University of Montana (03.16.17)
NOSOTROS
"En Nosotros, Felipe Vara del Rey filma las historias de cinco treintañeros en Madrid en el marco de la campaña electoral y las elecciones del 20 de diciembre. De hecho, mientras se imprimen estas líneas Vara del Rey se encontrará ultimando las secuencias finales (el rodaje acaba el 23 de diciembre) de un proyecto de ficción atravesado por completo por la realidad".
Paula Arantzazu Ruiz, Perdiódico Ahora (12.18.15)
COOKING UP A TRIBUTE
"Some of the pleasures of “Tribute,” with its clean, crisp cinematography, are equally simple: The gleaming green of water chilli in Oaxaca, glowing red guava in Colombia or in Peru the startlingly bright pink Qantata flower, used by Incas to decorate their altars, which also yields red potatoes".
John Hopewell, Variety (09.16.15)
VOLKER BAHNEMANN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN CINEMATOGRAPHY
The awards and endowment are a perpetual bequest to recognize talented cinematography students each year with a production grant to fund their thesis projects. Graduate finalists included Chau, Felipe Vara De Rey and Joanne Mony Park.