Peter Mettler (born September 7, 1958) is a Swiss-Canadian film director and cinematographer. He is best known for his unique, intuitive approach to documentary, evinced by such films as Picture of Light (1994), Gambling, Gods and LSD (2002), and The End of Time (2012). He has also worked as a cinematographer on films by Atom Egoyan, Patricia Rozema, Bruce McDonald, and Jennifer Baichwal, and has collaborated with numerous other artists, including Michael Ondaatje, Fred Frith, Jim O'Rourke, Jane Siberry, Robert Lepage, Edward Burtynsky, Greg Hermanovic, Richie Hawtin, Neil Young, Jeremy Narby, and Franz Treichler.
Full Filmography
Directing
Lancalot Freely
(1980)
Director
Gregory
(1981)
Director
Scissere
(1982)
Director
Eastern Avenue
(1985)
Director
The Top of His Head
(1989)
Director
Tectonic Plates
(1992)
Director
Picture of Light
(1994)
Director
Balifilm
(1997)
Director
Gambling, Gods and LSD
(2002)
Director
Away
(2007)
Director
Petropolis: Aerial Perspectives on the Alberta Tar Sands
(2009)
Director
The End of Time
(2012)
Director
Traces of the future
(2014)
Director
Becoming Animal
(2018)
Director
While the Green Grass Grows
(2024)
Director
Acting
Gregory
(1981)
Gambling, Gods and LSD
(2002)
Himself
The Giant Buddhas
(2005)
The Sound of Insects: Record of a Mummy
(2009)
Narrateur
Fell in Love with a Girl
(2017)
Narrator (voice)
Editing
Lancalot Freely
(1980)
Editor
Scissere
(1982)
Editor
Eastern Avenue
(1985)
Editor
The Top of His Head
(1989)
Editor
Picture of Light
(1994)
Editor
Gambling, Gods and LSD
(2002)
Editor
The End of Time
(2012)
Editor
While the Green Grass Grows
(2024)
Editor
Production
Lancalot Freely
(1980)
Producer
Scissere
(1982)
Producer
Picture of Light
(1994)
Producer
Gambling, Gods and LSD
(2002)
Executive Producer
The End of Time
(2012)
Executive Producer
While the Green Grass Grows
(2024)
Producer
Crew
Lancalot Freely
(1980)
Cinematography
Eastern Avenue
(1985)
Cinematography
Picture of Light
(1994)
Cinematography
Manufactured Landscapes
(2006)
Cinematography
Sound
Lancalot Freely
(1980)
Sound Editor
Scissere
(1982)
Sound Editor and Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Picture of Light
(1994)
Music and Sound Editor
Petropolis: Aerial Perspectives on the Alberta Tar Sands
(2009)
Sound Designer
The End of Time
(2012)
Sound Designer
While the Green Grass Grows
(2024)
Location Sound Mixer
Writing
Lancalot Freely
(1980)
Writer
Scissere
(1982)
Writer
The Top of His Head
(1989)
Writer
Picture of Light
(1994)
Screenplay
Gambling, Gods and LSD
(2002)
Writer
Petropolis: Aerial Perspectives on the Alberta Tar Sands
(2009)
Screenplay
The End of Time
(2012)
Screenplay
While the Green Grass Grows
(2024)
Writer
Camera
Scissere
(1982)
Director of Photography
Next of Kin
(1984)
Director of Photography
Passion: A Letter in 16mm
(1985)
Director of Photography
Artist on Fire: Joyce Wieland
(1987)
Director of Photography
Family Viewing
(1987)
Director of Photography
The Top of His Head
(1989)
Director of Photography
Elimination Dance
(1998)
Second Assistant Camera
Krapp's Last Tape
(2000)
Director of Photography
Gambling, Gods and LSD
(2002)
Director of Photography
The End of Time
(2012)
Director of Photography
While the Green Grass Grows
(2024)
Director of Photography