Robert Richardson: The White Devil, a feature documentary dedicated to the life and career of the legendary cinematographer and three-time Oscar winner, is set to world premiere at the 60th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) next month. And the feature directorial debut, which is already creating buzz, comes from an unexpected source: Czech filmmaker Jana Hojdová.
Richardson continues to be a close collaborator of Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Oliver Stone, Andy Serkis, Antoine Fuqua, Ben Affleck, John Sayles, Barry Levinson, Scott Hicks and others. So how did a young Czech director end up making a deep dive into him and his oeuvre?
“Several years ago, while living in Prague, I sent an email to Robert Richardson with almost no expectation of ever getting a reply,” Hojdová explains in a statement. “To me, he was one of the greatest cinematographers of all time, the creative force behind some of cinema’s most unforgettable images. When he replied, that single message unexpectedly became the beginning of a years-long journey that took me from Los Angeles and London to New Zealand and Sofia as I followed Richardson during the making of several major films.”
Now, the doc’s journey has reached another level. It not only has a trailer to debut, which you can watch below, but it has also been boarded by B-Rated International, which has acquired worldwide sales and distribution rights to the film.
“Robert Richardson: The White Devil explores Richardson’s extraordinary contribution to contemporary cinema, tracing his artistic journey and examining the visual language that has defined some of the most acclaimed films of the past decades,” reads a synopsis. “Through exclusive interviews, archival materials, and insights from collaborators, the documentary offers a portrait of one of the industry’s most influential cinematographers.”
Richardson will be at KVIFF, where he will be awarded the Crystal Globe for Contribution to the World Cinema at the July 5 world premiere of the documentary.
“What makes this film so special to me is not only the extraordinary access Robert granted to me but also that he trusted me enough to give me access to hundreds of hours of personal archives, which include some of the most intimate chapters of his life,” explains Hojdová. “For a young filmmaker, I cannot imagine a greater privilege. This film is my attempt to capture the passion, curiosity, sacrifice and creative courage that lie behind a life spent at the very summit of Hollywood filmmaking.”
Arnaud Chevallier of B-Rated (Cannes Un Certain Regard 2026 film Ulya) describes the appeal of the film this way: “We feel this documentary offers a deeply personal and compelling perspective on one of the greatest cinematographers of all time. Through Jana’s personal story and her unique relationship with Robert Richardson, the film also sheds light on an important chapter of American cinema history. We believe the documentary will appeal not only to cinephiles and film professionals but also to wider audiences curious to discover the man behind some of the most iconic images in contemporary filmmaking.“
Some in the Czech film business have already mentioned the doc as a possible contender for the Oscar best documentary race.
The film is produced by Matěj Chlupáček, Hojdová and Nela Schlaichertová, with associate producers Maja Hamplová and Francesca Kolowrat.
Hojdová was born in Prague in 1989 and grew up with parents who are a cinematographer and a director. She has worked on several films as the cinematographer. Most recently, she shot Chica Checa, a feature that is part of the official selection of KVIFF. Robert Richardson: The White Devil is her debut as a feature director.
The White Devil trailer gives viewers a first teaser for what cinematic and human adventures lie ahead. Family history, work addiction and famous names collide. Can Quentin Tarantino answer who “RR” is? Why does Oliver Stone call him “a strange fellow” and Martin Scorsese compare him to a painter? Can the Czech filmmaker get inside his head? Well, it seems that she can at least get out of the legend what life is for him. But don’t listen to me! Watch the trailer for Robert Richardson: The White Devil here.
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