“I like my work to help tell a story and describe characters”

Eduard Grau is not afraid of challenges. Proof of this is his brilliant and well-established career as a cinematographer on a national and international level, after studying at ESAC in Barcelona and National Film and TV School de Londres. His talent has led him to work with directors such as Tom Ford, Juan Antonio Bayona, Alejandro Amenábar and Rodrigo Cortés, while performers and actors such as Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Ryan Reynolds, Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender, Iggy Pop y Lady Gaga have passed before his camera.  Eduard Grau knows how to win the viewer over. All his visual works have a meaning, from the type of shot to the ambient colours used. He delivers a unique and often impactful imaginary, and does so with courage, passion and simplicity. His versatility is reflected in the amount of advertisements, music videos, short films, documentaries and films that he has made. His most successful works include: “A single man”, “Buried”,  “The Gift” y “Suffragette”, but not forgetting other equally enthralling projects such as “La ruta natural” ,“Finisterrae” and  “Animals”. Eduard Grau lives and breathes his profession with boundless intensity and boasts one of the most seductive and boldest approaches in the film industry.

• What motivates you the most about your profession?

I think it’s the best profession in the world. You work on whatever you like, surrounded by creative and dynamic people, combining the artistic and the technical sides. What’s more, the profession is well-respected and lets you travel around the world in search of beauty. I’m not complaining

• Of all the projects you’ve done, which was the most exciting?

I’m not sure, all of them have a place in my heart. Either I learned something, or I met wonderful people, or I did something I’m proud of. However, there’s no doubt that my first film “Honor de Cavallería” (Honour of the Knights) is the one that taught me the most.

• What criteria do you follow to define your own aesthetic language in films such as  “Buried”, A single man”, “Suffraggette” and “The Gift?

The truth is that I like moulding myself to the stories and the directors. I also like my work to help tell a story and describe characters. Each film is different and should be shot in the way that gives the best end result.

“Suffragette”-  2015

“The Gift”-  2015

“Buried”-  2010

“A single man”-  2009

• Do you think that your work can change depending on the actors’ interpretation?

The actors are almost everything. Without actors, it’s (almost) impossible for there to be a film. I always try to get on with them as best as I can, because my work also depends a lot on them. But I always have it in mind that making a film is a team effort and that everyone’s work counts towards making it the best one possible.

• You work on feature films, shorts, music videos and adverts. Which of these genres attracts you the most and why?

What I like the most is making films, because they have the most heart and soul to them. Adverts and music videos are also wonderful in many ways, but making films has stolen my heart.

• Which Spanish and foreign directors would you like to work with?

I’d like to work with Carlos Vermut in Spain (actually, my next film is with him), while on an international level, I’d absolutely love to film with the Coen brothers. P.T. Anderson or Andrea Arnold.

• If they made a movie of your life, which cinematographer would you like to work on it?

Very difficult question…. There are many that I like, but maybe I’d say Pau Esteve, because he’s very good, knows me very well and would do it with love. And as in many facets of life, love is very important.

AWARDS

THE GIFT

by Joel Edgerton

with Rebecca Hall, Jason Bateman & Joel Edgerton

DGA Award 2106 Nomination. Best First-Time Feature

SUFFRAGETTE

by  Sarah Gavron

with Carey Mulligan, Ben Wishaw,
Helena Bonham Carter & Meryl Streep

Opening Film London Film Festival 2015
Telluride Film Festival 2015

LADY GAGA “BORN THIS WAY”

by Nick Knight

Best Female Video of the Year MTV AWARDS 2011
Best Female Performance of the Year MTV AWARDS 2011

FINISTERRAE

by Sergio Caballero

Best film Rotterdam Film Festival 2011
Award Best film in Katowice Ars Independent 2011
Award Best film in Zadar Avvantura Film Festival 2011

Source: edugrau.com

BURIED

by Rodrigo Cortés

with Ryan Reynolds
Sundance Film Festival 2010
Bronze Frog Camerimage’10 for Best Cinematography
10 Goya Nominations, including Best Cinematography
Best Spanish Film of the Year in RNE and Sant Jordi Awards

A SINGLE MAN

by Tom Ford

with Colin Firth & Julianne Moore

ACADEMY award Nomination: Colin Firth best actor 2010
Winner Best Actor Venice Film Festival 2009
BAFTA winner Best actor: Colin Firth
Nominated Best Cinematography Camerimage Film Festival 2009

HONOR DE CAVALLERIA

by Albert Serra

with Lluís Carbó & Lluís Serrat.

CANNES Film Festival 2006. CAMERA D’OR NOMINEE.
FIPRESCI Prize  in Viennale 2006.

LA RUTA NATURAL

by Àlex Pastor

Best International Short Sundance 2006
Best Cinematography Palm Springs 2005
Nominated for Best Short GOYA 2006
Nominated Best Short ACADEMY Student Awards 2006