BIO
Tom Bannigan ACS
Tom Bannigan ACS is an award-winning cinematographer who has worked in documentary for theatrical and broadcast as well as art installations. He has won a number of cinematography accolades including most recently the Golden Tripod for his documentary work from the Australian Cinematography Society.
Tom specialises in filming in extreme environments and having trained as a geologist, brings a distinctive aesthetic to his work. He has filmed a wide range of content from Australian Museum expedition trips to the ultimate rock-climbing zone of Balls Pyramid, the creation of a secular democracy in former ISIS strongholds of Northern Syria, character driven films in remote Indigenous Australia, the criminal underworld of Peru, Afghan women worried about a resurgent Taliban, and treks with scientific expeditions in the Solomon Island highlands.
A natural collaborator, he works closely with producers, directors and crew to help realise their cinematic vision and often begins dialogue with co-creatives in development or pre-production. His feature documentary work include collaborations with Australian director Yaara Bou Melhem for ‘Unseen Skies’ which follows contemporary artist Trevor Paglen whose work examines machine vision, surveillance and the politics of space. The cinematography was described as ‘visually stunning and immersive’ at premiere by the San Francisco International Film Festival. His collaboration with Australian director Karl Malakunas for ‘Delikado’, about environmental defenders of one of the world’s last great forests was released in 2022 and has won numerous awards.
He has recently completed filming and producing the feature documentary ‘Yurlu | Country’ which will be released in 2025.
AWARDS
Australian Cinematographers Society
2024 ACS Silver Award, The Whiteley Art Scandal
2020 ACS Golden Tripod , The Oasis
2020 ACS Silver Award, The War on Afghan Women
2020 ACS Bronze Award, Afghan Healers
2019 ACS Gold Award, The Oasis
2018 ACS Award of Distinction, Dark Park
2018 ACS Silver Award, How to Build a Time Machine
2017 ACS Bronze Award, Ball’s Pyramid
2017 ACS Gold Award, Dark Park
2016 ACS Silver Award, Tuberculosis PNG
2014 ACS bronze Award, Burma Heroin
2011 ACS Gold Award, China Climate
Film Festivals
2021 SIMA award Best Cinematography for “Delikado”
2020 Millennium Docs Against Gravity Best cinematography “Unseen Skies”
2020 New York Festivals Silver Award BALI BOMBING – THE UNTOLD STORY
2020 New York Festivals Gold Award THE WAR ON AFGHAN WOMEN
2018 New York Festivals – Global Gold Award – EARTHRISE – FIGHTING INSECTAGEDDON
AWARDED FILMS
DELIKADO
Awards & Nominations
WALKLEY AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN AUSTRALIAN JOURNALISM
WINNER: BEST LONGFORM DOCUMENTARY
DC ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL
WINNER: WILLIAM W. WARNER BEAUTIFUL SWIMMERS AWARD
SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL
WINNER: SUSTAINABLE FUTURE AWARD
AUDIENCE AWARD: BEST DOCUMENTARY #2
SIMA AWARDS
WINNER: BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
WINNER: BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
SEMINCI – SEMANA INTERNACIONAL DE CINE DE VALLODOLID
WINNER: GREEN SPIKE AWARD FOR BEST ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTARY
FICMEC FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE CINE MEDIOMBIENTAL DE CANARIAS
WINNER: BEST ADVENTURE FILM
WATCH DOCS, POLAND
WINNER: GREEN DOG AWARD FOR BEST ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTARY
NEWBURYPORT DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL
WINNER: BEST FEATURE FILM
ASIA PACIFIC SCREEN AWARDS
SPECIAL MENTION: BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM
LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE: BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
DOC EDGE, NEW ZEALAND
SPECIAL JURY MENTION: BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE
RIVIERA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, ITALY
SPECIAL MENTION: BEST DOCUMENTARY
SHEFFIELD DOCFEST, UK
TIM HETHERINGTON AWARD [NOMINEE]
INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY AWARDS
FINALIST: BEST DOCUMENTARY
CINEMALAYA FILM FESTIVAL, PHILIPPINES
CLOSING NIGHT FILM
SHORTLISTED AS PHILIPPINES’ ENTRY TO THE ACADEMY AWARDS
FOR BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
Film Festivals
WORLD PREMIERE @ HOT DOCS (TORONTO)
LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL
CAAMFEST, SAN FRANCISCO
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH FILM FESTIVAL, NEW YORK CITY
MOUNTAINFILM, TELLURIDE
DOC EDGE, NEW ZEALAND
SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL
SHEFFIELD DOCFEST, UK
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
CINEMALAYA PHILIPPINE FILM FESTIVAL
ADANA GOLDEN BALL FILM FESTIVAL, TURKEY
VIOSINI DAL MONDO, ITALY
NEWBURYPORT DOC FILM FESTIVAL
DMZ INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL
TAKE ONE ACTION, SCOTLAND
INCONVENIENT FILMS, LITHUANIA
DOK LEIPZIG, GERMANY
VALLADOLID SEMINCI FILM FESTIVAL, SPAIN
GUELPH FILM FESTIVAL, CANADA
SOLIDARITY HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL, ISRAEL
WATCH DOCS HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL, POLAND
HAWAII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
FIPADOC INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, FRANCE
BUDAPEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL, HUNGARY
SINGAPORE FILM SOCIETY SHOWCASE, SINGAPORE
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH MALTA ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL, MALTA
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH FILM FESTIVAL, SAN DIEGO, USA
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH FILM FESTIVAL, LONDON, UK
DC ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL, WASHINGTON DC, USA
RIVIERA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, ITALY
FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE CINE MEDIOMBIENTAL DE CANARIAS (FICMEC), SPAIN
UNSEEN SKIES
Awards & Nominations
WORLD CONGRESS OF SCIENCE & FACTUAL PRODUCERS 2022
Nominated – Most Innovative Factual Program
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2021
World Premiere
Nominated – Best Documentary Feature Award
SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL 2021
Nominated – Documentary Foundation Award – Best Documentary
DOX COPENHAGEN DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL 2022
European Premiere
FULL FRAME DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 2022
Official Selection
HUMAN RIGHTS, ARTS & FILM FESTIVAL 2022
Official Selection
MILLENNIUM DOCS AGAINST GRAVITY FESTIVAL, WARSAW
Official Selection
Nominated – Canon Cinematography Award – Best Cinematography
DOCEDGE NEW ZEALAND 2022
Official Selection
FEDERATION SQUARE FESTIVAL MELBOURNE 2022
Official Selection