Shabier Kirchner (born 1987/1988) is an Antiguan cinematographer and director based between London, New York, and the Caribbean. He won a BAFTA for his work on Steve McQueen's five-part anthology series Small Axe (2020).
Early life
Kirchner grew up in the Falmouth Harbour area of Antigua island. He also spent some of his childhood in Germany, the home country of his father Bert, who owns Papa Zouk in St. John's. Kirchner had undiagnosed dyslexia and ADHD growing up. Struggling academically, he was introduced to camera work through his father, an underwater photographer and producer, as well as through a school workshop with a Dutch filmmaker. At 18, Kirchner enrolled in an introductory program at a film school in Vancouver before opting to learn through practical experience instead, dropping out with four of his classmates, with whom he made the short film Memoirs of the Blue.
Filmography
Short film
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|
| 2010 | Memoirs of the Blue | Luke Hansen-MacDonald | Also writer and producer |
| 2011 | Ugly | Diego Siragna | Also producer |
| 2014 | Wanderer |
| 2015 | I Am Selma | Yossera Bouchtia | |
| Coke White, Starlight | Tristan Patterson | |
| 2016 | That One Day | Crystal Moselle | |
| 2018 | Dadli | Himself | Also producer |
| Leaving Hope | Caspar Newbolt | |
| 2021 | Lizard | Akinola Davies | |
Feature film
Television
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|
| 2020 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Cinematography | Bull | Nominated | |
| Boston Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Cinematography | Small Axe: "Lovers Rock" | Runner-up | |
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Cinematography | Small Axe | Won | |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Cinematography | Small Axe: "Lovers Rock" | Nominated | |
| Florida Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Cinematography | Runner-up | |
| Seattle Film Critics Society | Best Cinematography | Nominated | |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | Best Cinematography | Small Axe | Won | |
| 2021 | National Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Cinematography | Small Axe: "Lovers Rock" | Runner-up | |
| British Academy Television Craft Awards | Best Photography & Lighting: Fiction | Small Axe | Won | |
| Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Small Axe: "Mangrove" | Nominated | |
