About
Lynne Ramsay
Master
Lynne Ramsay is an award-winning Scottish filmmaker known for her unique visual style and powerful storytelling. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Ramsay initially studied fine art and photography at Napier College, Edinburgh. Discovering her passion for filmmaking after seeing Maya Deren’s film ’Meshes of the Afternoon’ (1943),...
Lynne Ramsay is an award-winning Scottish filmmaker known for her unique visual style and powerful storytelling. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Ramsay initially studied fine art and photography at Napier College, Edinburgh. Discovering her passion for filmmaking after seeing Maya Deren’s film ’Meshes of the Afternoon’ (1943),...
she went on to study cinematography and direction at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, England. Ramsay began making short films in college and immediately established herself as a rising star in the industry with her graduation short ‘Small Deaths’. The film won the Jury Prize for Best Short Film at Cannes Film Festival in 1996, followed soon after by ‘Gasman’, which won the same prize in 1998.
Transitioning to the longer form, Ramsay had a similar meteoric rise, winning a BAFTA award for Most Promising Newcomer for her haunting debut feature ‘Ratcatcher’ (1999). She then went on to direct ‘Morvern Callar’ (2002), a psychological drama which received a slew of awards, including two at Cannes. In 2011, Ramsay directed the highly acclaimed film ‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’, which starred 2018 Qumra Master, Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly. The film explored the complex relationship between a mother and her son and received widespread critical praise and recognition, including a Palme d’Or nomination —solidifying Ramsay’s reputation as a filmmaker with a unique and uncompromising vision.
Ramsay’s most recent feature film, ‘You Were Never Really Here’ (2017), starred Joaquin Phoenix as a traumatised veteran turned mercenary. The film was lauded for its atmospheric cinematography, powerful performances, and uncompromising vision—earning Ramsay another Palme d’Or nomination, the Best Screenplay Award and Phoenix the Best Actor Award at Cannes Film Festival in 2017. Throughout her career, Ramsay has proved herself as a filmmaker who is unafraid to tackle difficult and unconventional subject matter. She is celebrated worldwide for her ability to create deeply emotional and impactful stories that truly resonate with viewers.
she went on to study cinematography and direction at the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, England. Ramsay began making short films in college and immediately established herself as a rising star in the industry with her graduation short ‘Small Deaths’. The film won the Jury Prize for Best Short Film at Cannes Film Festival in 1996, followed soon after by ‘Gasman’, which won the same prize in 1998.
Transitioning to the longer form, Ramsay had a similar meteoric rise, winning a BAFTA award for Most Promising Newcomer for her haunting debut feature ‘Ratcatcher’ (1999). She then went on to direct ‘Morvern Callar’ (2002), a psychological drama which received a slew of awards, including two at Cannes. In 2011, Ramsay directed the highly acclaimed film ‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’, which starred 2018 Qumra Master, Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly. The film explored the complex relationship between a mother and her son and received widespread critical praise and recognition, including a Palme d’Or nomination —solidifying Ramsay’s reputation as a filmmaker with a unique and uncompromising vision.
Ramsay’s most recent feature film, ‘You Were Never Really Here’ (2017), starred Joaquin Phoenix as a traumatised veteran turned mercenary. The film was lauded for its atmospheric cinematography, powerful performances, and uncompromising vision—earning Ramsay another Palme d’Or nomination, the Best Screenplay Award and Phoenix the Best Actor Award at Cannes Film Festival in 2017. Throughout her career, Ramsay has proved herself as a filmmaker who is unafraid to tackle difficult and unconventional subject matter. She is celebrated worldwide for her ability to create deeply emotional and impactful stories that truly resonate with viewers.