Jaro Waldeck is an award winning cinematographer, director and stills photographer.

She earned a Bachelors Degree in Film and Video from Columbia College Chicago and a Masters Degree in Cinematography from FAMU Prague.

She’s a member of Czech Society of Cinematographers since 2012.

Jaro has shadowed Phedon Papamichael, ASC (on “W.” directed by Oliver Stone), and Suzie Lavelle, BSC, (on “I Can’t See You Anymore” directed by Michael Kinirons).

While in Prague, Jaro wrote and directed an episode for the “Children of Stalinism” series, commissioned by public broadcaster CT2 (Czech Television Channel 2). The award-winning series was also broadcast internationally. She has further written/directed/shot several short narrative and documentary films that have screened domestically and at festivals abroad.

During her studies at FAMU, Jaro was engaged as a camera supervisor on the shoots of Erasmus exchange students from NYU. She guided them through the filming of their shorts on 16 and 35mm material.

Since moving to Ireland, Jaro has worked on a over 30 short narrative and documentary films, has contributed as an additional cinematographer to several narrative, documentary and experimental feature films, and also worked as a camera operator on of the Czech edition of international franchise “Survivor”and an Irish produced children’s TV series for RTÉ “Bush Kids.”

Frequently, Jaro collaborates with the musical talent Ireland has to offer, and has directed/shot several music videos.

As an educator, she continues to deliver camera and lighting masterclasses at Coláiste Dhúlaigh, and has been engaged for over two years as a camera/cinematography tutor at the former Filmbase.

Her feature film script “Screw Loose” was selected for the inaugural MIDPOINT Institute script mentoring workshop focused at Central and Eastern Europe, and received a full scholarship. Jaro continues to develop her writing skills, and has completed a short film training course with Screen Skills, delivered by Mary Kate O’Flanagan.

Her latest success includes making the 10 shortlist of the Virgin Media Discovers 2022 competition with a dystopian, neo-noir thriller “Home Safe.”

Jaro serves as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for Women in Film and TV Ireland.