Thaad Sabolboro is an Emmy® Award-winning cinematographer. He is co-founder of ReelClever, and has captured stories for PBS American Masters, Time Studios, Detroit Institute of Arts, Black Public Media, and other major organizations. With a cinematographic practice spanning documentary, narrative, and digital campaigns, Sabolboro brings a nuanced visual approach to projects ranging from intimate artist portraits to large-scale institutional narratives.
His recent cinematography for "Senghor Reid: Make Way for Tomorrow" earned him an Emmy® Award in the Documentary Cultural Category and a Webby Awards nomination, building upon his previous Emmy® win for the Kresge Arts in Detroit Artist Film Series. His cinematographic voice is defined by deliberate framing choices and a contemplative use of light that creates visual poetry from everyday moments, crafting imagery that elevates both subject and story.
As a cinematographer whose work transcends different storytelling mediums, he is drawn to human-centered stories and maintains a cohesive visual language that is intimate and emotionally resonant. He is particularly drawn to working on films that explore identity, place, and culture. Through Reel Clever, a production company he co-founded, he continues developing projects that focus on such stories and clientele.
A New York Foundation for the Arts Immigrant Artist Fellowship recipient, Sabolboro's practice reflects a deep understanding of how visual storytelling can bridge cultural divides and create space for complex narratives that might otherwise go untold.
His works have been programmed and juried across major Academy-Qualifying festivals such as Big Sky Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, Bronzelens Film Festival and New Orleans Film Festival. His most recent project, a short film called “Fil-Am”, by director Ralph Torrefranca, is premiering in the 41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2026.