Posted on 24 August 2025.
Eduardo Martins Serra, the acclaimed international cinematographer behind the final Harry Potter films, Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2. Serra passed away at the age of 81. His death was confirmed by the Portuguese Film Academy, which hailed him as “the most international of Portuguese cinematographers.”
Born in Lisbon in 1943, Serra’s path to cinema was shaped by political and cultural exile. After leaving Portugal in 1963 during the Salazar dictatorship, he studied cinematography at École Louis-Lumière in Paris and later earned a degree in Art History and Archaeology at the Sorbonne. His early work in French and European cinema quickly distinguished him for his masterful use of light and visual storytelling.
Serra’s career spanned more than five decades and bridged European arthouse cinema with Hollywood productions. He earned two Academy Award nominations—for The Wings of the Dove (1997), which also won him the BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography, and for Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003).
His distinctive cinematography was also seen in M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable (2000), Edward Zwick’s Blood Diamond (2006), and culminated in his work on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2 (2010–2011), helping to close one of the most beloved franchises in film history with unforgettable visual depth.
Tributes poured in following his passing. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa praised Serra for “illuminating the world of cinema with the brilliance of his art, carrying Portugal’s name across Europe and Hollywood.” The Minister of Culture added that Serra’s work “remains an enduring lesson in the poetry of light and image.”
In recognition of his artistic contributions, Serra was decorated with some of Portugal’s highest honors. He was named Commander of the Order of Infante D. Henrique in 2004 and promoted to Grand Officer in 2017. In 2014, the Portuguese Cinema Academy awarded him the Sophia Career Award, cementing his status as a central figure in both national and international cinema.
Eduardo Martins Serra was one of Portugal’s most celebrated cinematographers, with a career spanning Europe and Hollywood. Twice nominated for an Academy Award, Serra was widely recognized for his artistry in lighting and framing, his contributions to both independent cinema and global blockbusters, and his role in raising the profile of Portuguese talent on the international stage. Eduardo Serra’s distinctive craft in cinematography left an indelible mark on both European cinema and monumental franchises like Harry Potter. His visual storytelling brought depth, richness, and emotional resonance to every frame. His legacy will live on through the films he shaped and the generations of filmmakers he inspired.
PAJ/Staff