Introducing Screen and Film School Manchester’s new patron: award-winning cinematographer Fabian Wagner
Screen and Film School Manchester are thrilled to announce Fabian Wagner as our new patron, and we are equally delighted to be able to introduce a £30,000 scholarship in his name.
Fabian is one of the most gifted and celebrated cinematographers working in the industry today. The uber talented DOP is possibly best known for his work on Game of Thrones, The Crown, Sherlock and most recently Justice League, productions which have earned him two Emmy Award nominations and the prestigious BSC and ASC awards. He started his career in the north of England on shows such as Jimmy McGovern’s The Street and The Accused, as well as DCI Banks and Scott and Bailey.
Already a friend of ours, Fabian recently gave an inspiring Masterclass to 100 of our students, during which he shared some thrilling insights about being a cinematographer and answered a range of questions from our filmmaking students. This spirit of collaboration and shared ideas is something we hope will go on to define Fabian’s patronship with us.
Screen and Film School Manchester are also offering the Fabian Wagner Scholarship, worth nearly £30,000, to one lucky student who will have all their tuition fees paid. Fabian will have the opportunity to review the shortlist of candidates and devise the scholarship criteria with the College Principal David Thompson.
When asked what he thought made a successful film school and what hopes he has for the future here in Manchester, Fabian said:
“Screen and Film School Manchester has the right mix of industry lecturers and the connections you need to succeed in this industry. Once you have that platform, a great film school is made by only one thing (and I can say this because I have been to three film schools): the people you’re with. Your willingness to collaborate with those people, your willingness to be creative with them, doing as much as you can, will make you successful. Working. It always comes back to working as hard and as much as you can. So, get involved!”
Fabian began his career as a professional cinematographer in 2004, when he started shooting music videos and short films. He quickly progressed to television production and by 2008 he was working consistently on projects for the BBC and ITV. His real breakthrough in TV came with the 2008 BBC Three drama series Spooks: Code 9, for which he filmed all six episodes.
Commenting on the Fabian Wagner Scholarship, he had this to say:
“For years I’ve always tried to give young people opportunities wherever I can when I’m shooting. Young filmmakers who have a passion for filmmaking and want to follow their dreams. With this scholarship, if there’s someone out there who feels their opportunities are restricted, it may inspire them to take this opportunity – and go for it.”
His first feature film, The Legend of Barney Thomson, under director Robert Carlyle, won the Scottish Bafta award for Best Film in 2015. His work on the Sherlock episode “A Scandal in Belgravia” and on the Game of Thrones episode “Hardhome” earned him two Emmy nominations in 2012 and 2015, respectively. His subsequent involvement in Game of Thrones culminated in cinematography duties on the much-discussed 2016 episode Battle of the Bastards. Fabian has also been nominated for both ASC and BSC awards and has become one of the youngest members of the British Society of Cinematographers.
When asked for his thoughts on the announcement, College Principal David Thompson had this to say:
“I’m so excited that Fabian has agreed to become our patron. What stands out for me, aside from his incredible CV, is how bold he has been in his career, both in his work ethic and his creative choices. And what’s great is that everything he has said to our students showed so many parallels with how we want to be as a school: passionate, professional, collaborative, industry-ready, incredibly creative, 100% committed and fun to work with. I’m so pleased to have someone of Fabian’s standing on board.”
Screen and Film School Manchester are delighted to welcome Fabian Wagner to our community. Please keep an eye out for more from Fabian and how his patronship with us evolves, as well as how to apply for the Fabian Wagner Scholarship, exclusively with the Manchester campus.
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