Jo Heim was born in Stuttgart, Germany.

After earning a degree in business administration at LMU, Jo turned his attention to film directing and enrolled at HFF, the Academy of Television and Film in Munich, Germany. Through helping his fellow directors lens their films, Jo discovered his passion for cinematography.

After academy, Jo spent a few years shooting music videos before switching over to films and commercials. Over the past 35 years, Jo’s shot more than 50 feature-length films and many commercials in Germany and abroad — in a wide variety of genres, from comedy and drama to thriller, action, horror and historical.

For American director Oliver Stone Jo worked as 2nd unit DoP for SNOWDEN and THE PUTIN INTERVIEWS.
Simon Verhoeven as director and Jo as DoP shot WILLKOMMEN BEI DEN HARTMANNS. The movie won the German Film Award 2017 for best box-office success in Germany.

In 2017 Jo won the German Camera Award Cinematography as a lifetime achievement award.

In 2015 he won the Bavarian Film Award Cinematography with his work on UNFRIEND and on EL ÚLTIMO TANGO.

In 2012 Jo won the Grimme Award for Best Cinematography for DIE HEBAMME – AUF LEBEN UND TOD.
He was nominated 4 times for the German Camera Award Cinematography and also holds 2 nominations for the German TV Award Cinematography.

Jo’s a member of the German Film Academy, the Germany Society of Cinematographers, BVK and enjoys lecturing at film academies across Germany and Europe.

Jo Heim was appointed Honorary Professor at HFF, the Academy of Television and Film in Munich, Germany.

He currently lives in Cologne, Germany, but travels as much as he can for shooting and for fun.