Cory Warner is a cinematographer and director whose films have screened at festivals including Palm Springs International ShortFest, AFI Fest, and the DC Independent Film Fest, and have been featured on steaming platforms Hulu and Amazon. He earned his MFA in Cinematography from the American Film Institute in 2014 and shot the 2015 Student Academy Award-winning film This Way Up, directed by Jeremy Cloe. As a cinematographer, he has lensed music videos for Robin Thicke, Maren Morris, Cozz, and other notable artists.
Originally from Bluefield, West Virginia, Cory draws inspiration from stories rooted in values and community. His directing work blends social realism with folkloric tradition, focusing on ordinary people who do extraordinary things. His first short film, The Usual Route (2019), adapted from Steven Dunn’s acclaimed novel Potted Meat, explores loss of innocence and daily life in WV. It premiered at the LA Shorts Festival and completed its festival run at the 2020 Crested Butte Film Festival. In 2024, his short documentary Used Books, shot entirely on his iPhone, premiered at the Charlotte Film Festival. The film follows a community rallying to save a beloved bookstore in Portsmouth, VA.
Cory has also directed music videos for Katalyst Collective, Iman Europe, and Deep Jackson, and is currently in post-production on his first feature documentary, a SemiFinalist for consideration of the 2025 New Orleans Film Society South Pitch Documentary Program.
In addition to his filmmaking, Cory is an Assistant Professor at the LMU School of Film and Television, where he teaches a range of cinematography courses.
Cory C. Warner - warner.coryc@gmail.com