Robbie Ryan (cinematographer)

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Robbie Ryan
Robbie Ryan (53258364327) (cropped).jpg
Ryan in 2023
Born1970
Dublin, Ireland
Alma mater IADT
Occupation Cinematographer
Years activec. 1990–present
Organization British Society of Cinematographers (BSC)
Known for Poor Things (2023)
Marriage Story (2019)
The Favourite (2018)
American Honey (2016)
I, Daniel Blake (2016)
Philomena (2013)
Fish Tank (2009)

Robbie Ryan (born 1970) [1] is an Irish cinematographer whose work spans over 106 film projects, including feature-length, short films, commercials, and music videos. He is most known for his collaborations with film auteurs such as Andrea Arnold, Sally Potter, Stephen Frears, Ken Loach, Noah Baumbach, Yorgos Lanthimos and Mike Mills.

Contents

He received Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography for Yorgos Lanthimos' The Favourite (2018) and Poor Things (2023).

Life and career

Ryan was born in Sandymount, on the southside of Dublin City. [2] At the age of 14, he decided he wanted to be a cinematographer. [3] He attended and graduated the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology. [4]

Ryan is a frequent collaborator on Andrea Arnold's films, including Wasp , Red Road , Fish Tank , Wuthering Heights and American Honey . [5] [6]

He has worked with Ken Loach on the films The Angels' Share , Jimmy's Hall , and I, Daniel Blake . [7] [8] He served as the director of photography on films including Philomena , Slow West and The Favourite , the latter of which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography at the 91st Academy Awards. [9]

Filmography

Short film

YearTitleDirectorNotes
1993The Twenty Second Plastic Love AffairHimself
UndertowConor O'Donnell
FaithMartina DuracWith Liam McGrath
1997CoalBilly O'Brien
Alan Friel
1998The WindDocumentary short;
With Darran Tiernan
The Farmer's WifeRobert TaylorLighting cameraman
19997th Heaven Shimmy Marcus
The Tale of the Rat That WroteBilly O'Brien
SniffersMurilo Pasta
Patterns Kirsten Sheridan
Future via HopeMurilo Pasta
Forty BelowClare Langan
New Dawn Simon Horrocks
2000Short Imogen Murphy
The Black Suit Frank Berry
2001SnowAlan Friel
ShadowscanTinge Krishnan
Ivor the InsomniacShimmy Marcus
Life in the Fast LaneOrla Walsh
LandmarkJames Gibson
Too Dark for NightClare LanganWith Clare Langan
2002Glass Hour
2003LSD '73! Paul Duane
Wasp Andrea Arnold
2004Knitting a Love SongDebbie Ballin
Annie Watson
2005 Toz Fatih Kizilgok
At Debt's DoorKelly McErlean
Antonio's Breakfast Daniel Mulloy
Tube PokerSimon Levene
2006Cubs Tom Harper
The Silent City Ruairi Robinson
2007Showtime!Simon O'Neill
Possessive Boyfriend
Son Daniel Mulloy
MetamorphosisClare Langan
The Flooded Rooms
2008 The German Nick Ryan
Uncle Bill's BarrelEoin Ryan
Night SchoolBen Soper
2009Dating Don'tsSimon O'Neill
GirlLikeMeRowland Jobson
TwinsSimon O'Neill
Coppers
2010The Lost ExplorerTim Walker
XxxMarie Lanna
For the First TimeCharles Mehling
2011Pitch Black Heist John Maclean
2012ROFLMAOSimon O'Neill
Ghost in the MachineOliver Krimpas
Tell Me About YourselfSimon O'Neill
2013The Floating WorldClare Langan
2014The Karman Line Oscar Sharp
Sophie at the RacesAlan Friel
Open MicSimon O'Neill
2015The MagiCharles Mehling
2016AmishiMalinda Kaur
Drop the HandSimon O'Neill
The SticksRussell Davidson
Jamie Delaney
Little SoldierStella Corradi
2017The Human FlockClare LanganWith Clare Langan
Blue Christmas Charlotte Wells
CakeAlan Friel
AamirVika Evdokimenko
2018The Big Day Dawn Shadforth
Future PrimalClare Langan
DrumHayley Williams
2019A Bullet WastedGeorge Milton
The Bird Game Marianna Simnett
2020The Heart of a TreeClare LanganWith Clare Langan
Staying (Aros Mae)Zillah Bowes
20212003 Harris Dickinson
2022TimmySimon O'Neill
The RewildingClare LanganWith Clare Langan
Look at Me Sally Potter
The Severed TailMarianna Simnett
2023F.O.GMalinda Kaur
AlchemyClare Langan
2024Bien CuitSimon O'Neill

Feature film

Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released
YearTitleDirector
1997 How to Cheat in the Leaving Certificate Graham Jones
1998Retribution in the Year 2050 Brendan Muldowney
2001 Large Justin Edgar
2002 This Is Not a Love Song Bille Eltringham
2005 Isolation Billy O'Brien
2006 Red Road Andrea Arnold
Mischief Night Penny Woolcock
2007 Brick Lane Sarah Gavron
2008CarmoMurilo Pasta
2009 Fish Tank Andrea Arnold
The Scouting Book for Boys Tom Harper
2010 Patagonia Marc Evans
2011 Wuthering Heights Andrea Arnold
2012 The Angels' Share Ken Loach
Ginger & Rosa Sally Potter
2013 The Last Days on Mars Ruairí Robinson
Philomena Stephen Frears
2014 Catch Me Daddy Daniel Wolfe
Matthew Wolfe
Jimmy's Hall Ken Loach
2015 Slow West John Maclean
2016 I, Daniel Blake Ken Loach
American Honey Andrea Arnold
I Am Not a Serial Killer Billy O'Brien
2017 The Meyerowitz Stories Noah Baumbach
2018 The Favourite Yorgos Lanthimos
2019 Sorry We Missed You Ken Loach
Marriage Story Noah Baumbach
2020 The Roads Not Taken Sally Potter
2021 C'mon C'mon Mike Mills
The Afterlight Charlie Shackleton
2022 Medusa Deluxe Thomas Hardiman
2023 The Old Oak Ken Loach
Poor Things Yorgos Lanthimos
2024 Kinds of Kindness
Bird Andrea Arnold
2025 Tornado John Maclean
Bugonia [10] Yorgos Lanthimos

TV movie

YearTitleDirector
2010 I Am Slave Gabriel Range

Documentary film

YearTitleDirectorNotes
2012 The Summit Nick Ryan With Fredrik Sträng
2019Best Before Death Paul Duane With Patrick Jordan
2022 This Much I Know to Be True Andrew Dominik

Other

Concert film

YearTitleDirector
2020 Idiot Prayer Himself

Music video

YearTitleDirectorRef.
2022"Hypnotized" Sophie Ellis-Bextor [11]

Awards and nominations

Academy Awards

YearCategoryTitleResult
2019 Best Cinematography The FavouriteNominated
2024 Poor ThingsNominated

Alliance of Women Film Journalists

YearCategoryTitleResult
2019Best CinematographyThe FavouriteNominated
2024Poor ThingsNominated

American Society of Cinematographers

YearCategoryTitleResult
2019 Outstanding Achievement in Theatrical Releases The FavouriteNominated
2024 Poor ThingsNominated

Austin Film Critics Association

YearCategoryTitleResult
2024 Best CinematographyPoor ThingsNominated

Boston Society of Film Critics

YearCategoryTitleResult
2023 Best Cinematography Poor ThingsRunner-up

British Academy Film Awards

YearCategoryTitleResult
2019 Best Cinematography The FavouriteNominated
2024 Poor ThingsNominated

British Independent Film Awards

YearCategoryTitleResult
2009 Best Technical Achievement Fish TankNominated
2012 Ginger & RosaNominated
2014 Catch Me DaddyNominated
2016 American HoneyWon
2018 Best Cinematography The FavouriteWon

British Society of Cinematographers

YearCategoryTitleResult
2019 Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film The FavoriteNominated
2024Poor ThingsWon

Camerimage

YearCategoryTitleResult
2010Best Cinematography in a Music Video Plan B: Prayin' Nominated
2011Golden FrogWuthering HeightsNominated
Bronze FrogWon
2012Best Cinematography in a Music VideoThe Shoes: Time to DanceNominated
2014 Paolo Nutini: Iron Sky Won
2018Golden FrogThe FavouriteNominated
Audience AwardWon
2021Golden FrogC'mon C'monWon
Audience AwardWon
2023Golden FrogPoor ThingsNominated
Bronze FrogWon
Audience AwardWon

Chicago Film Critics Association

YearCategoryTitleResult
2018 Best Cinematography The FavouriteNominated
2023 Poor ThingsNominated

Critics' Choice Movie Awards

YearCategoryTitleResult
2019 Best Cinematography The FavouriteNominated
2024 Poor ThingsNominated

Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association

YearCategoryTitleResult
2018 Best Cinematography The FavouriteRunner-up

Dublin Film Critics' Circle

YearCategoryTitleResult
2019Best CinematographyMarriage Story7th place
The Favourite8th place

European Film Awards

YearCategoryTitleResult
2019 Best Cinematographer The FavoriteWon

Evening Standard British Film Awards

YearCategoryTitleResult
2012Technical Achievement AwardWuthering HeightsWon
2017American HoneyNominated

Florida Film Critics Circle

YearCategoryTitleResult
2018 Best Cinematography The FavouriteNominated
2023 Poor ThingsNominated

Georgia Film Critics Association

YearCategoryTitleResult
2019Best CinematographyThe FavouriteNominated
2024Poor ThingsNominated

Hollywood Creative Alliance
(Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards)

YearCategoryTitleResult
2024 Best CinematographyPoor ThingsNominated

Houston Film Critics Society

YearCategoryTitleResult
2019 Best Cinematography The FavouriteNominated
2024 Poor ThingsNominated

Independent Spirit Awards

YearCategoryTitleResult
2017 Best Cinematography American HoneyNominated

IndieWire Critics Poll

YearCategoryTitleResult
2016Best CinematographyAmerican Honey6th place
2023Poor ThingsRunner-up

Irish Film & Television Awards

YearCategoryTitleResult
2007 Best CinematographyIsolationNominated
2012 Wuthering HeightsNominated
2017 American HoneyNominated
2020 Marriage StoryNominated

London Film Critics' Circle

YearCategoryTitleResult
2012 Technical Achievement Award Wuthering HeightsNominated
2017 American HoneyNominated

Los Angeles Film Critics Association

YearCategoryTitleResult
2023 Best Cinematography Poor ThingsWon

MTV Video Music Awards

YearCategoryTitleResult
2006 Best Cinematography James Blunt: You're Beautiful Won

Online Film Critics Society

YearCategoryTitleResult
2019 Best Cinematography The FavouriteNominated
2024 Poor ThingsNominated

San Diego Film Critics Society

YearCategoryTitleResult
2023 Best Cinematography Poor ThingsNominated

San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle

YearCategoryTitleResult
2018 Best Cinematography The FavouriteNominated
2024 Poor ThingsNominated

Satellite Awards

YearCategoryTitleResult
2019 Best Cinematography The FavouriteNominated
2022 C'mon C'monNominated

Seattle Film Critics Society

YearCategoryTitleResult
2018Best CinematographyThe FavouriteNominated
2024 Poor ThingsWon

St. Louis Film Critics Association

YearCategoryTitleResult
2018 Best Cinematography The FavouriteNominated

Venice Film Festival

YearCategoryTitleResult
2011 Golden Osella for Outstanding Technical Contribution Wuthering HeightsWon

Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association

YearCategoryTitleResult
2018 Best Cinematography The FavouriteNominated
2023 Poor ThingsNominated

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References

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  6. Falk, Quentin (26 March 2012). "Robbie Ryan: Interview". BAFTA . Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  7. Wigley, Samuel (29 September 2015). "Seven essential films shot by Robbie Ryan". BFI London Film Festival . Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  8. Champetier, Caroline (13 May 2016). "Cinematographer Robbie Ryan, BSC, ISC, discusses his work on "I, Daniel Blake", directed by Ken Loach". AF Cinema. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
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  10. "Bugonia (2025) - IMDb". IMDb .
  11. Promonews. "Sophie Ellis-Bextor x Wuh Oh 'Hypnotized' by Sophie Muller | Videos". Promonewstv. Retrieved 16 December 2022.