Magni Ágústsson ÍKS
Director of Photography
Magni Ágústsson was born in Reykjavík, Iceland, and from an early age was drawn to the world of cinematography. The idea of telling a story visually with shadow and light inspired him to begin his career as a director of photography.
His films have received global acknowledgement, winning awards at BAFTA and The Icelandic Film Awards. His 2006 short film Last Farm was nominated for a Best Short Film Oscar. His feature films Eleven Man Out and The Last Winter were official selections at the Toronto International Film Festival.
In recent years, Magni has also shot several television projects. His most recent work is the first season of Hulu’s Career Opportunities in Murder and Mayhem (directed by David Petrarca and Marc Webb). Other notable television shows shot by Magni include the first seasons of Ordinary Joe (Hulu), Stumptown (ABC), and A Million Little Things (ABC).
Not to be bound by a single genre, Magni has also worked extensively in commercials and music videos. Among the dozens of commercials and music videos he has shot, he has worked with visionary directors such as Malcolm Venville, Tom Hooper, Tony Barry, Luke Scott and Richard Ayoade. He is also a frequent collaborator of directors Jeff Low, Stuart Douglas and James Griffiths.
He has filmed in over 40 countries, but he still feels a deep kinship with the film culture of his native Iceland. He served in the board of the Icelandic Society of Cinematographers for many years. Magni is now settled in Los Angeles, although he still keen to continue his travels.
CV
FEATURE FILM & DRAMA
Career Opportunities in Murder and Mayem
TV Series
DIRECTOR Various PRODUCTION Hulu
Joseph
Pilot
DIRECTOR James Griffiths PRODUCTION NBC Network
Ordinary Joe
TV Series
DIRECTOR Various PRODUCTION ABC Network
The Walking Dead | WB S2
TV Series
DIRECTOR Aisha Tyler & Lily Marye PRODUCTION AMC Network
Stumptown
TV Drama Series
DIRECTOR Various PRODUCTION ABC Network
Stumptown
Pilot
DIRECTOR James Griffiths PRODUCTION ABC Network
A Million Little Things
TV Drama Series
DIRECTOR Various PRODUCTION ABC Network
The Flatey Enigma
TV Drama Series
DIRECTOR Björn B. Björnsson PRODUCTION Sagafilm
DIRECTOR Hafsteinn G. Sigurðsson PRODUCTION Kjartansson Productions
Nominated for Best Cinematography in The Icelandic Film Awards ‘Edda’ 2015
Official Selection Karlovy Vary Film Festival 2014
Paris of the North
DIRECTOR Ben Wheatley PRODUCTION BBC Whales
Dr. Who ‘Deep Breath’ & ‘Into the Dalek’
Scintilla
DIRECTOR Billy O’Brien PRODUCTION Liquid Noise Film
DIRECTOR Charles Martin PRODUCTION Left Bank Pictures STARRING Sir Kenneth Branagh
Nominated for Best Cinematography in The Icelandic Film Awards ‘Edda’ 2013
Wallander 'Before the Frost’ TV Drama
Spy
TV Comedy Drama
DIRECTOR Ben Taylor PRODUCTION Hat Trick Productions
Nominated for Best New Comedy Programme at the British Comedy Award
Winner Best Male Performance in Comedy at BAFTA Awards
DIRECTOR Árni Ó. Ásgeirsson PRODUCTION ZikZak Productions
Won Best Cinematography at The Icelandic Film Awards ‘Edda’ 2011
Won Best Film at The Icelandic Film Awards ‘Edda’ 2011
Won Best Script at The Icelandic Film Awards ‘Edda’ 2011
Nominated for Best Director at The Icelandic Film Awards ‘Edda’ 2011
Undercurrent
Royal Wedding
TV Drama
DIRECTOR James Griffiths PRODUCTION Tiger Films/BBC
Free Agents
TV Comedy Drama
DIRECTOR James Griffiths PRODUCTION Big Talk Productions
Heima
Sigurrós
DIRECTOR Dean DeBlois PRODUCTION True North/EMI
Nominated for Best Cinematography at The Icelandic Film Awards ‘Edda’ 2007
DIRECTOR Larry Fessenden PRODUCTION AntiDote Films STARRING Ron Pearlman
Official Selection Toronto Film Festival 2006
The Last Winter
DIRECTOR Robert Douglas PRODUCTION KISI Productions
Official Selection Berlin Film Festival 2006
New Directors / New Films, MoMA NY 2006
Official Selection Toronto Film Festival 2006
Eleven Men Out
SHORT FILMS
DIRECTOR James W. Griffiths PRODUCTION Independent Films
Won Best British Short Film at BAFTA 2014
Room 8
DIRECTOR Anastasia Kirillova PRODUCTION BonnieParkerProd
Fireflies
DIRECTOR Börkur Sigþórsson PRODUCTION Republik Films
Won Best Short Film at The Icelandic Film Awards ‘Edda’ 2012
Won Best Short Film at Reykjavík Film Festival 2012
Nominated for Best Cinematography at The Icelandic Film Awards ‘Edda’ 201
Come to Harm
DIRECTOR Rúnar Rúnarsson PRODUCTION ZikZak Productions
Oscar Nominated ‘Best Short Film’ 2006
Best Short Film at Nordisc Panarama 2005
Golden Danzante Huesca Film Festival 2005
Best Film Award/FIPRESCI Prize Molodist International Film Festival 2005
Last Farm
DIRECTOR Simon Taylor PRODUCTION HLA
Aqua Para la Vida
Car Jacking
DIRECTOR Lars Blumers PRODUCTION LaBrador Productions
DIRECTOR Reynir Lyngdal PRODUCTION Pegasus Pictures
Kissing
DIRECTOR Reynir Lyngdal PRODUCTION Barok Films/SagaFilm
Burst
ADDITIONAL
MUSIC VIDEOS (partial list)
Björk – ‘Mouth Mantra’, One Direction – ‘Story of My Life’, Take That - ‘When I was Young’, Paulo Nutini - ‘Coming on Easy’, Oasis – ‘Acquiesce,’ Lady Sovereign – ‘Hoodies,’ Temper Trap - ‘Sweet Dispostion’, Röyksopp - ‘Girl and the Robot’, Esser - ‘Enmity’Paul Okenfold – ‘Visuals,’ Supergrass – ‘St. Petersburg,’ The Subways – ‘Oh Yeah,’ The Subways – ‘With You,’ The Magic Numbers – ‘Take A Chance,’ Jamie T – ‘Money,’ The Zutons – ‘Oh Stacey,’ Underworld – ‘Boy Boy Boy,’ Air Traffic – ‘No More Running Away,’ Tiny Dancers – ‘Ashes and Diamonds,’ Dead 60’s – ‘Stand Up,’ The Enemy – ‘Away From Here,’ Gareth Gates – ‘Changes,’ The Maccabees – ‘About Your Dress,’ The Automatics – ‘Recover,’ Kubb – ‘Grow,’ The Veils – ‘Advice For Young Mothers To Be,’ Richard Ashcroft – ‘Break The Light With Colours,’ Amp Fiddler – ‘Right Where You Are,’ Kano Brown – ‘Brown Eyes,’ Kubb – ‘Wicked Soul,’ Pink Grease – ‘Peaches,’ Dogs – ‘She Got A Reason,’ Thirteen Senses – ‘Thru The Glass,’ Faultline – ‘Wild Horses,’ Attingere – ‘Waste’.
COMMERCIALS (partial list)
Lloyds, Bacardi Rum, Call of Duty, HSBC, BetWay, Walkers, Citroen, Walmart, Tesco, Vision Express, Radox, Sky TV, KFC, Bridgestone, Kaufhof, 3 Mobile, Hulu, Samsung, Strider Gum, Toshiba, Coca-Cola, Toyota, Nintendo, University Lottery, Nokia, Pizza Hut, HSBC, BMW, Audi, Orbit Gum, Coca Cola, Nike, McDonalds, North Face, Nickelodeon, Sony, Irish Lottery, Tampax, Shell, Vodafone, Smirnoff Ice, Quaker Oatmeal, Lowe’s, Maxwell Coffee, CureSearch, Heart FM, Castaway, Tang, Eurocard, National Bank of Iceland, Surf, Courir, NSPCC Toys, XFM Roadies, VIP, Electrical Proms, Oxo, Channel Five, Raw, Polish Telecommunication, Odolo, Life Ukraine, Tele2, 892 892, Hackman, KievStar, Danish Ministry of Health, Icelandic Telecom Ltd., Borjomi, Icelandic Ministry of Health, Icelandair, Ibanka, Armleder, Filipi Berio, KB Bank, Vox Restaurant, The Icelandic Bank, Bone Protection Society, National Travel Board, Farmer’s Association.
DIRECTORS (partial list)
Tom Hooper, Baillie Walsh, Luke Scott, Malcolm Venville, Richard Ayoade, Mat Kirkby, Paul Weiland, Tim Pope, James Griffiths, Patrick Clair, Dan Morgan, Nicolas Caicoya, Shynola, Joshua Neale, Stuart Parr, Arni & Kinski, Robert Hales, Paul Gore, Nick Gordon, Huse Monfaradi, FAQ, Mark Collins, Mitch Stratten, Jack Cole, Jon Yeo, Who?, Orlando Cubitt, W.I.Z., Barnaby Roper, Elisha Smith Leverock, Mike Baldwin, Dan&Julian, Kim Gehrig, Keith Schofield, Simon Levene, Owen Harris, Julia Jason, Tony Barry, Jim Gilchrist, Arni Thor Jonsson, Andy Lockley, Gaele Denis, Samuel Christopher, Danni Karlsson, Tony Barry, Dagur Kári, Michael Baumbruck, Andy Mcleod, Who?, Owen Harris, Steve Dell, Lalli Jonsson, Thoromar Jonsson, Albert, Kjetil, Ales Verbic, Reynir Lyngdal, Styrmir Sigurdsson, Sam & Gun, Gunnar B. Gudmundsson, Petur Jonsson, Bragi Hinriksson, Hermannson & Lyngdal, Krisjan Fridriksson, Scott Lyon, Toby Mcdonald, Simon Taylor, Paul Minor, Barnaby Roper, Andy Hylton, Terry Hall, Up the Resolutions, Minivegas, Borkur Sigthorsson, Jonnie Ross, Arni Oli Asgeirsson, Borkur, Bjarni Thor.