​Award-winning director of photography Chris Ekstein graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and received his MFA from the American Film Institute, where his 35mm thesis received the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Grant. He is also the recipient of the Panavision New Film Maker Award. Chris has been a cinematographer on award-winning projects; including features Mexican Sunrise (Gold Award-WorldFest) and Callous (Best Picture-IndieFest). He shot theatrically released basketball documentary Gunnin For That #1 Spot with director Adam Yauch (MCA) of the Beastie Boys (Tribeca Film Festival). In 2010, Chris won “Best Cinematography” at the American International Film Festival. He also shot and directed the musical web series Dating in the Middle Ages with John Schneider, voted Clicker’s Best of 2010. Chris has photographed campaigns for Fox Studios, American Airlines, Platinum Studios, Robert Cort Productions, Edelman PR. His documentary, Artists & Alchemists follows fine-art-photographers including Chuck Close and Sally Mann. Chris is a founding partner of Market Street Productions and a member of International Cinematography Guild Local 600 and the Society of Camera Operators.