Seamus McGarvey

Academy Member

Born in Armagh in Northern Ireland, Seamus McGarvey began his career as a stills photographer, quickly progressing to cinematography by shooting short films and documentaries. His early work swiftly gained him notice in the film industry, resulting in him being nominated for the Turner Prize and working with celebrated directors such as Sam Taylor-Wood and Joe Wright.

In 1998, Seamus McGarvey became the youngest member of the British Society of Cinematographers, and won the Royal Photographic Society's prestigious Lumière medal for contributions to the art of cinematography. Throughout his career, he has worked on a variety of acclaimed films such as The Avengers, Godzilla, The Soloist and The Hours. McGarvey has won IFTA Awards for Best Cinematography for Sahara, Atonement, We Need to Talk About Kevin and for the acclaimed Anna Karenina.

He was twice been nominated for Academy Awards, for Atonement in 2007 and for Anna Karenina in 2012, both of which were directed by Joe Wright. He has also worked with Joe Wright on various commercials including Chanel. In 2015, McGarvey shot the adaptation of the bestselling novel Fifty Shades of Grey and the new Peter Pan fantasy film entitled Pan.

In 2016, McGarvey worked on Nocturnal Animals, winning the IFTA Award for Best Cinematography, and on the Netflix hit series Black Mirror. He won his sixth IFTA Award in 2018 for Best Cinematography for the biographical musical drama The Greatest Showman starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams and Zendaya.

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"Thank you so much to IFTA for this beautiful sculpture"
Seamus McGarvey

Awards & Recognition

Atonement

IFTA Winner, Best Director of Photography (2008)
Oscar Nominee, Best Achievement in Cinematography (2008)
BAFTA Nominee, Best Cinematography (2008)
American Society of Cinematographers Award Nominee, Best Film Cinematography (2008)
British Society of Cinematographers Award Nominee, Best Film Cinematography (2007)
Evening Standard British Film Awards Winner, Best Technical Achievement (2008)
International Online Film Critic’s Poll Nominee, Best Cinematography (2009)
North Texas Film Critic’s association Winner, Best Cinematography (2008)
Online Film and Television Association Nominee, Best Cinematography (2008)
Online Film Critic’s Society Awards Nominee, Best Cinematography (2008)
Phoenix Film Critic’s Society Awards Winner, Best Achievement in Cinematography (2007)
St Louis Film Critic’s Association Nominee, Best Cinematography (2007)
Chicago Film Critic’s Association Awards Nominee, Best Cinematography (2007)

The Greatest Showman

IFTA Winner, Best Cinematography (2018)

Nocturnal Animals

IFTA Winner, Best Cinematography (2017)
BAFTA Nominee, Best Cinematography (2017)

Anna Karenina

IFTA Winner, Best Director of Photography (2013)
Oscar Nominee, Best Achievement in Cinematography (2013)
BAFTA Nominee, Best Cinematography (2013)
American Society of Cinematographers Award Nominee, Best Feature Film Cinematography (2013)
British Society of Cinematographers Winner, Best Feature Film Cinematography (2013)
Evening Standard British Film Award Winner, Best Technical Achievement (2013)
Satellite Award Nominee, Best Cinematography (2012)

We Need to Talk about Kevin

IFTA Winner, Best Director of Photography (2012)
British Independent Film Award Nominee, Best Technical Achievement (2011)
Camerimage Golden Frog Nominee (2011)

World Trade Center

IFTA Nominee, Best Cinematography (2007)

Sahara

IFTA Winner, Best Cinematography (2005)

The Hours

Evening Standard British Film Award Winner, Best Technical Achievement (2004)

The Winter Guest

Chlotrudis Award Nominee, Best Cinematography (1998)

Key Credits

Wonka (2023)
Cyrano (2021)
The Greatest Showman (2017)
Black Mirror (2016)
Nocturnal Animals (2016)
Pan (2015)
Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
Godzilla (2014)
Anna Karenina (2012)
The Avengers (2012)
We Need to Talk About Kevin (2012)
The Soloist (2009)
Atonement (2007)
Charlotte’s Web (2006)
World Trade Centre (2006)
Sahara (2005)
Along Came Polly (2004)
The Hours (2002)
High Fidelity (2000)

Gallery