Michael Tanji is a Japanese American cinematographer born & raised on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. He has garnered a reputation & unique visual aesthetic through the way he captures shadows, light, and the modern subject. Originally with a background in fashion filmmaking, he has recently expanded his capturing of images into the music video, commercial & narrative filmmaking spaces.

In 2021, Tanji received the Special Jury Award for Cinematography at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival for both Narrative shorts "River of Small Gods" and "Hawaiian Soul". Juror Mallorie Ortega said: "From the textured and quiet photography in River of Small Gods, to the historical mood captured in Hawaiian Soul, Michael Tanji's work invites the audience for a closer look at the beauty of Hawaii."

In 2022, Tanji was a recipient for Film Independent's Project Involve fellowship program for the Cinematographer's track & was selected for the 2022 Panavision Grant Recipient for his work on "The Words of Cayetano".

His latest short film "Inheritance" directed by Erin Lau & written by Justin Omori premiered at Tribeca Film Festival 2022. Inheritance was fostered through The Future Gold Film Fellowship program by Gold House in partnership with Netflix & Tribeca Studios.

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Michael Tanji

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