Grant McPhee is a Scottish film director, cinematographer and writer. His films include the music documentaries Big Gold Dream, Teenage Superstars and the drama, Far From the Apple Tree starring Sorcha Groundsell. He won the prestigious audience choice award in 2015 for his film Big Gold Dream at the 2015 edition of the Edinburgh International Film Festival. In television, he worked as a second unit director and cinematographer on Outlander.

He has written articles for The National, I News, Clash Music, Caught by the River, Louder Than War, Bella Caledonia and the books Hungry Beat (as co-writer) published by White Rabbit Books, Postcards From Scotland published by Omnibus Books and a soon to be released book on Glasgow’s 1990’s underground music scene. In 2022, he co-wrote the book, Hungry Beat, an oral history of Scottish Post-Punk music which was published by White Rabbit Books. This was followed by Postcards from Scotland 1980's and 1990's independent music scene. A second volume is planned which will explore Scotland's late 80s and 90's underground music scene, focussing on the 13th Note Club, Glasgow Music Collective and Belle and Sebastian.

He is currently working on an upcoming project on the Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham as well as leading on a series of films covering Liverpool’s post-punk music scene as well as the cities 60s, 70s and 80s cultural underground.

Filmography

YearFilmCredited asAdditional RolesNotes
DirectorCinematographerScreenWriterProducer
2003The JacketVideo Assistant Operator
Man to ManCamera Trainee
2005The Autograph HuntersYesYesYesShort Film
2006EffluviumYesYesShort Film
2007Arn: The Knight TemplarVideo Assist Operator: Scotland
UnflameYesYesShort Film
AphlogisticYesYesShort Film
2008DoomsdayVideo Assist Operator
Between Above and BelowYesYes
2009Book of BloodClapper Loader: Second Unit
Shadow HalationYesYesShort Film
HazelYesShort Film
Motion/StaticYesShort Film
The Bell Witch of LeithYesYesShort Film
2010BlindsideAdditional PhotographyShort Film
Long DistanceYesShort Film
Mum's BirthdayYesShort Film
2011You InsteadClapper Loader: A CameraShort Film
The Wicker TreeCamera Assistant
One DaySecond Camera Assistant: Second Unit
The AwakeningClapper Loader: B Camera
A Portentous DeathYesShort Film
GuiltYesShort Film
2012CitadelDigital Imaging Technician
Day of the FlowersClapper Loader B Camera
Outpost: Black SunDigital Imaging Technician
The Angels' ShareSecond Camera Clapper Loader
Cloud AtlasDigital Imaging Technician
ShellDigital Imaging Technician
2013World War ZSecond Assistant Camera: Glasgow
For Those In PerilDigital Workflow Supervisor
Under the SkinDigital Imaging Technician
Sunshine on LeithDigital Workflow Supervisor
Your Attention Please: ScarsYesDigital Workflow Supervisor
Sarah's RoomYesYes
Christmas Hear KidsYes
Costume PartyYesShort Film
2014The Silent StormData Workflow Supervisor
WigiliaYesYes
Take It Back and Start All OverYesYes
2015Big Gold DreamYesYesYes
StalactitesYes
Where Do We Go from Here?Yes
2016Tommy's HonourDigital Camera Workflow
Moon DogsCamera Workflow Supervisor
Whisky GaloreDigital Image Supervisor
Back HomeYes
The Glasgow SchoolYesYes
2017T2 TrainspottingAdditional DIT
ChurchillDigital Imaging Technician
The WifeDigital Imaging Technician
Night KaleidoscopeYesYesYes
Teenage SuperstarsYesYesYesYes
2019Far From the Apple TreeYesYes
2021Fast ForwardYesYes
Lori and the Six Six SixtiesYesYesYes
2022Beyond the Speed of LifeYesYesYesYes
2024OutlanderYesYes2 Episodes 2nd Unit Director 2 Episodes 2nd Unit Cinematographer)Tv Series
TBAUntitled Andrew Loog Oldham ProjectYes

Awards and nominations

YearNominated WorkAwardCategoryResult
2005The Autograph HuntersEdinburgh International Film FestivalSaltire Society Grierson Award for Short DocumentaryNominated
2013Sarah's RoomBootleg Film Festival New YorkBest CinematographyWon
2015Sarah's RoomLos Angeles Independent Film Festival AwardsBest CinematographyNominated
Los Angeles Independent Film Festival AwardsBest Action/Thriller/Horror/FantasyNominated
Jerome Indie Film and Music FestivalBest Narrative FeatureWon
Eureka Springs Digital Film FestivalBest Foreign FilmNominated
Big Gold DreamEdinburgh International Film FestivalAudience Choice AwardWon
2017Night KaleidoscopeBloodstained Indie Film FestivalBest Horror FeatureNominated
Diabolical Horror Film FestivalBest CinematographyWon
Genre Celebration FestivalBest CinematographyWon
Shiver International Film FestivalBest Horror FilmWon
Best DirectorWon
Best Feature of the YearWon
Shock StockBest CinematographyWon
Tabloid Witch AwardsBest CinematographyWon
Teenage SuperstarsEdinburgh International Film FestivalAudience AwardNominated
Best Documentary Feature FilmNominated
WigiliaLove Film FestivalBest CinematographyWon
Best Foreign FilmNominated

External links