Laura Hilliard

Laura Hilliard serves as a Lecturer in the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technologies at the University of Salford, specializing in 16mm and 35mm cinematography instruction. She holds a PGCAP teaching qualification and Arri Film Instructor certification, bridging academic pedagogy with extensive professional practice.

Her research interests focus on:

• Celluloid film cinematography techniques
• Documentary narrative construction
• Visual storytelling pedagogy
• Integration of physical film processes in digital workflows

Hilliard's creative outputs drive her academic contributions, exemplified by her Slamdance 2025 Grand Jury Prize-winning documentary 'American Theater' and Tate Modern exhibition (2020). Her work emphasizes cinematography as 'a marriage between aesthetics and narrative' where visual decisions must reinforce storytelling.

Key recognitions include:

• 2017 Bahoric Meisel Award for Women Cinematographers
• 2017 Volker Bahnemann Arriflex Award finalist
• 2025 nomination for University of Salford Research Excellence Award
• 2022 Women's Voice Award nomination

As an educator, she leverages 1,000+ hours of professional experience with clients like Nike, Lego, and Joan Baez to deliver practical training in physical film processes through initiatives like ScreenSkills. Her Media City UK location provides students direct access to industry workflows rarely taught in contemporary film programs.