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Stephen Quay

Directing

Stephen Quay

Born
(age 79)
Birthplace
Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA
Credits
58 titles

Biography

Stephen Quay was born in 1947 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. He studied illustration at the Philadelphia College of Art and later continued his education at the Royal College of Art in London, where he met his twin brother Timothy and began collaborating in animation. Together, they founded Atelier Koninck and produced their first experimental short films in the late 1970s. Throughout his career, Stephen has directed and co-directed short films, feature films, and stop-motion projects, including Nocturna Artificialia (1979), Street of Crocodiles (1986), Institute Benjamenta (1995), and The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes (2005). His work is characterized by dreamlike, detailed, and symbolic worlds, often using dolls and carefully crafted objects to create surreal and unsettling atmospheres.

Latest project Best work, ranked IMDb

Signature work

Known For

Acting credits 11

YearTitleRole
2026 Sledgehammer Revealed Film Self
2017 The Music of Zdeněk Liška Film Self
2015 The 1000 Eyes of Dr Maddin Film
2015 Quay Film Self
2011 Behind the Scenes with the Quay Brothers Film Self
2010 Inside The Institute Film
2009 The Art of Time Film
2009 The Bug Trainer Film Self - stop-motion animator
2006 The Making of "The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes" Film
2003 The Phantom Museum: Random Forays Into the Vaults of Sir Henry Wellcome's Medical Collection Film Librarian
1982 The Falls Film Ipson Fallari

Crew credits 49

YearTitleJob
2026 Postscriptum. Ruminations on My Craft Film Director
2025 Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass Film Animation, Screenplay, Director, Sound, Editor
2022 The Art Teacher from Drohobycz: Bruno Schulz Film Director
2022 Ghosts and Whispers Film Animation, Director
2021 11 Preliminary Orbits Around Planet Lem Film Director
2021 VadeMecum Film Director
2019 The Doll's Breath Film Director
2015 Quay Film Thanks
2013 Unmistaken Hands: Ex Voto F.H. Film Writer, Animation, Director
2011 Through the Weeping Glass: On the Consolations of Life Everlasting (Limbos & Afterbreezes in the Mütter Museum) Film Director, Sound, Animation, Editor
2010 Wonderwood: Comme des garçons Film Director
2010 Maska Film Director, Writer
2009 Kinoteka Ident Film Director
2009 Inventorium of Traces Film Director of Photography, Sound Designer, Editor
2007 Eurydice: She, So Beloved Film Director, Set Designer, Editor
2007 Alice in Not So Wonderland Film Director, Writer, Cinematography
2007 Phantom Museums: The Short Films of the Quay Brothers Film Director
2005 The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes Film Director, Writer, Production Design
2004 Quay Brothers: The Short Films 1979-2003 Film Director
2003 The Phantom Museum: Random Forays Into the Vaults of Sir Henry Wellcome's Medical Collection Film Director, Animation
2003 Songs for Dead Children Film Director
2001 Sonic Cinema: Sparklehorse Film Director
2001 Stille Nacht V: Dog Door Film Director, Writer
2000 The Sandman Film Director
2000 In Absentia Film Director, Animation
2000 The Brothers Quay Collection: Ten Astonishing Short Films 1984-1993 Film Director
1995 Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life Film Director, Writer
1995 The Summit Film Director
1993 Stille Nacht IV: Can't Go Wrong Without You Film Director, Camera Operator, Animation
1993 Stille Nacht III: Tales from Vienna Woods Film Director, Animation, Camera Operator
1993 Anamorphosis Film Director, Art Direction, Editor, Animation, Camera Operator, Decorator
1992 Stille Nacht II: Are We Still Married? Film Director, Animation, Camera Operator
1991 The Comb Film Director, Writer, Animation, Editor, Camera Operator, Art Direction
1991 The Calligrapher Film Director, Animation
1989 Ex Voto Film Director
1988 Rain Dance Film Director
1988 Rehearsals for Extinct Anatomies Film Director, Cinematography, Animation, Decorator
1988 Stille Nacht I: Dramolet Film Director
1987 Tales of the Brothers Quay Film Director
1986 Street of Crocodiles Film Director, Editor, Animation, Writer, Production Design
1985 This Unnameable Little Broom Film Director, Writer, Director of Photography
1984 The Cabinet of Jan Švankmajer Film Director, Director of Photography
1984 The Cabinet of Jan Švankmajer: Prague's Alchemist of Film Film Director
1983 Janáček: Intimate Excursions Film Director
1982 Igor Stravinsky: The Paris Years Chez Pleyel 1920-1929 Film Director
1981 A Fratricide Film Director, Animation
1981 Punch and Judy: Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy Film Director, Animation
1981 The Eternal Day of Michel de Ghelderode Film Writer, Director
1979 Nocturna Artificialia Film Director, Cinematography
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