Robbie Ryan (cinematographer)

Robbie Ryan
Ryan in 2023
Born1970
Dublin, Ireland
Alma materIADT
OccupationCinematographer
Years activec. 1990–present
OrganizationBritish Society of Cinematographers (BSC)
Known forPoor 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.

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

Year Title Director Notes
1993 The Twenty Second Plastic Love Affair Himself
Undertow Conor O'Donnell
Faith Martina Durac With Liam McGrath
1997 Coal Billy O'Brien
Alan Friel
1998 The Wind Documentary short;
With Darran Tiernan
The Farmer's Wife Robert Taylor Lighting cameraman
1999 7th Heaven Shimmy Marcus
The Tale of the Rat That Wrote Billy O'Brien
Sniffers Murilo Pasta
Patterns Kirsten Sheridan
Future via Hope Murilo Pasta
Forty Below Clare Langan
New Dawn Simon Horrocks
2000 Short Imogen Murphy
The Black Suit Frank Berry
2001 Snow Alan Friel
Shadowscan Tinge Krishnan
Ivor the Insomniac Shimmy Marcus
Life in the Fast Lane Orla Walsh
Landmark James Gibson
Too Dark for Night Clare Langan With Clare Langan
2002 Glass Hour
2003 LSD '73! Paul Duane
Wasp Andrea Arnold
2004 Knitting a Love Song Debbie Ballin
Annie Watson
2005 Toz Fatih Kizilgok
At Debt's Door Kelly McErlean
Antonio's Breakfast Daniel Mulloy
Tube Poker Simon Levene
2006 Cubs Tom Harper
The Silent City Ruairi Robinson
2007 Showtime! Simon O'Neill
Possessive Boyfriend
Son Daniel Mulloy
Metamorphosis Clare Langan
The Flooded Rooms
2008 The German Nick Ryan
Uncle Bill's Barrel Eoin Ryan
Night School Ben Soper
2009 Dating Don'ts Simon O'Neill
GirlLikeMe Rowland Jobson
Twins Simon O'Neill
Coppers
2010 The Lost Explorer Tim Walker
Xxx Marie Lanna
For the First Time Charles Mehling
2011 Pitch Black Heist John Maclean
2012 ROFLMAO Simon O'Neill
Ghost in the Machine Oliver Krimpas
Tell Me About Yourself Simon O'Neill
2013 The Floating World Clare Langan
2014 The Karman Line Oscar Sharp
Sophie at the Races Alan Friel
Open Mic Simon O'Neill
2015 The Magi Charles Mehling
2016 Amishi Malinda Kaur
Drop the Hand Simon O'Neill
The Sticks Russell Davidson
Jamie Delaney
Little Soldier Stella Corradi
2017 The Human Flock Clare Langan With Clare Langan
Blue Christmas Charlotte Wells
Cake Alan Friel
Aamir Vika Evdokimenko
2018 The Big Day Dawn Shadforth
Future Primal Clare Langan
Drum Hayley Williams
2019 A Bullet Wasted George Milton
The Bird Game Marianna Simnett
2020 The Heart of a Tree Clare Langan With Clare Langan
Staying (Aros Mae) Zillah Bowes
2021 2003 Harris Dickinson
2022 Timmy Simon O'Neill
The Rewilding Clare Langan With Clare Langan
Look at Me Sally Potter
The Severed Tail Marianna Simnett
2023 F.O.G Malinda Kaur
Alchemy Clare Langan
2024 Bien Cuit Simon O'Neill

Feature film

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Title Director
1997 How to Cheat in the Leaving Certificate Graham Jones
1998 Retribution 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
2008 Carmo Murilo 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 Bugonia[10] † Yorgos Lanthimos
TBA Tornado † John Maclean

TV movie

Year Title Director
2010 I Am Slave Gabriel Range

Documentary film

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

Other

Concert film

Year Title Director
2020 Idiot Prayer Himself

Music video

Year Title Director Ref.
2022 "Hypnotized" Sophie Ellis-Bextor [11]

Awards and nominations

Academy Awards

Year Category Title Result
2019 Best Cinematography The Favourite Nominated
2024 Poor Things Nominated

Alliance of Women Film Journalists

Year Category Title Result
2019 Best Cinematography The Favourite Nominated
2024 Poor Things Nominated

American Society of Cinematographers

Year Category Title Result
2019 Outstanding Achievement in Theatrical Releases The Favourite Nominated
2024 Poor Things Nominated

Austin Film Critics Association

Year Category Title Result
2024 Best Cinematography Poor Things Nominated

Boston Society of Film Critics

Year Category Title Result
2023 Best Cinematography Poor Things Runner-up

British Academy Film Awards

Year Category Title Result
2019 Best Cinematography The Favourite Nominated
2024 Poor Things Nominated

British Independent Film Awards

Year Category Title Result
2009 Best Technical Achievement Fish Tank Nominated
2012 Ginger & Rosa Nominated
2014 Catch Me Daddy Nominated
2016 American Honey Won
2018 Best Cinematography The Favourite Won

British Society of Cinematographers

Year Category Title Result
2019 Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film The Favorite Nominated
2024 Poor Things Won

Camerimage

Year Category Title Result
2010 Best Cinematography in a Music Video Plan B: Prayin' Nominated
2011 Golden Frog Wuthering Heights Nominated
Bronze Frog Won
2012 Best Cinematography in a Music Video The Shoes: Time to Dance Nominated
2014 Paolo Nutini: Iron Sky Won
2018 Golden Frog The Favourite Nominated
Audience Award Won
2021 Golden Frog C'mon C'mon Won
Audience Award Won
2023 Golden Frog Poor Things Nominated
Bronze Frog Won
Audience Award Won

Chicago Film Critics Association

Year Category Title Result
2018 Best Cinematography The Favourite Nominated
2023 Poor Things Nominated

Critics' Choice Movie Awards

Year Category Title Result
2019 Best Cinematography The Favourite Nominated
2024 Poor Things Nominated

Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association

Year Category Title Result
2018 Best Cinematography The Favourite Runner-up

Dublin Film Critics' Circle

Year Category Title Result
2019 Best Cinematography Marriage Story 7th place
The Favourite 8th place

European Film Awards

Year Category Title Result
2019 Best Cinematographer The Favorite Won

Evening Standard British Film Awards

Year Category Title Result
2012 Technical Achievement Award Wuthering Heights Won
2017 American Honey Nominated

Florida Film Critics Circle

Year Category Title Result
2018 Best Cinematography The Favourite Nominated
2023 Poor Things Nominated

Georgia Film Critics Association

Year Category Title Result
2019 Best Cinematography The Favourite Nominated
2024 Poor Things Nominated

Hollywood Creative Alliance
(Astra Film Creative Arts Awards)

Year Category Title Result
2024 Best Cinematography Poor Things Nominated

Houston Film Critics Society

Year Category Title Result
2019 Best Cinematography The Favourite Nominated
2024 Poor Things Nominated

Independent Spirit Awards

Year Category Title Result
2017 Best Cinematography American Honey Nominated

IndieWire Critics Poll

Year Category Title Result
2016 Best Cinematography American Honey 6th place
2023 Poor Things Runner-up

Irish Film & Television Awards

Year Category Title Result
2007 Best Cinematography Isolation Nominated
2012 Wuthering Heights Nominated
2017 American Honey Nominated
2020 Marriage Story Nominated

London Film Critics' Circle

Year Category Title Result
2012 Technical Achievement of the Year Wuthering Heights Nominated
2017 American Honey Nominated

Los Angeles Film Critics Association

Year Category Title Result
2023 Best Cinematography Poor Things Won

MTV Video Music Awards

Year Category Title Result
2006 Best Cinematography James Blunt: You're Beautiful Won

Online Film Critics Society

Year Category Title Result
2019 Best Cinematography The Favourite Nominated
2024 Poor Things Nominated

San Diego Film Critics Society

Year Category Title Result
2023 Best Cinematography Poor Things Nominated

San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle

Year Category Title Result
2018 Best Cinematography The Favourite Nominated
2024 Poor Things Nominated

Satellite Awards

Year Category Title Result
2019 Best Cinematography The Favourite Nominated
2022 C'mon C'mon Nominated

Seattle Film Critics Society

Year Category Title Result
2018 Best Cinematography The Favourite Nominated
2024 Poor Things Won

St. Louis Film Critics Association

Year Category Title Result
2018 Best Cinematography The Favourite Nominated

Venice Film Festival

Year Category Title Result
2011 Golden Osella for Outstanding Technical Contribution Wuthering Heights Won

Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association

Year Category Title Result
2018 Best Cinematography The Favourite Nominated
2023 Poor Things Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Robbie Ryan". Cinematographers.nl. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Robbie Ryan: From Dún Laoghaire to an Oscar nomination". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Robbie Ryan BSC ISC". My Management. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Cinematographer Robbie Ryan". My Therapy. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  5. ^ "Films on film sweep Cannes 2016 as Robbie Ryan BSC shines". British Cinematographer. 3 August 2016. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  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.
  9. ^ Blum, Laura (13 May 2015). "Cinematographer Robbie Ryan on Shooting "Slow West"". Thalo. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  10. ^ "Bugonia (2025) - IMDb". IMDb.
  11. ^ Promonews. "Sophie Ellis-Bextor x Wuh Oh 'Hypnotized' by Sophie Muller | Videos". Promonewstv. Retrieved 16 December 2022.