yiannismanolopoulos
Cinematographer
I'm a BAFTA-nominated, BSC-nominated cinematographer. I'm based in London, a British and Greek citizen, and I work in the UK, the EU and abroad.
In 2024, Yellow — which I shot and co-produced — was nominated for a BAFTA and shortlisted for an Oscar. Since then my work has earned a further BSC Short Film Cinematography nomination (Gesualdo, 2025) and Best Cinematography at the Planos Film Festival (There Will Come Soft Rains, 2025). Long-form credits include the historical epic The Empire for Disney+ Hotstar and Al Sharar for MBC Studios; my first feature, Utopia, was longlisted at the 88th Academy Awards.
Whether it's a commercial spot or an eight-part series, I light and frame for story: purposeful images that strive to carry the idea visually before a word is spoken. I'm a member of BAFTA and the European Film Academy.
“Yiannis is a great person to work with. He is collaborative, open to discussing ideas, thorough in his preparation and a confident and calming presence on set. I would work with him again in a heartbeat.”
Maria Caruana Galizia, Producer
y.manolopoulos@gmail.com
+44 (0)7861 098886
Based in London. British and Greek citizen. Works in the UK, the EU and abroad.
Screen Talent Agency
Ben Freeden
ben@screen-talent.com
+44 (0)20 7729 7477
Yiannis Manolopoulos is a BAFTA-nominated cinematographer based in London. He shoots commercials, short and feature films and television series, and has worked in the UK, India, Saudi Arabia and across Europe. He is originally from Athens, Greece, trained at the London Film School, and is a member of BAFTA and the European Film Academy.
Selected work: Yellow (short, 2023; BAFTA, British Short Film, nominee 2024), Gesualdo (short, 2025; BSC Short Film Awards, Best Cinematography, nominee 2025), There Will Come Soft Rains (short, 2025), The Empire (series, Disney+ Hotstar, 2021), Al Sharar (series, MBC Studios, 2024), The Band (pilot, Studio Pow, 2024), Fracture (Hulu, 2022), Namaste England (feature, 2018), Utopia (feature, 2015), and commercials for Champagne Bollinger, C.P. Company, NOWNESS, VisitScotland, Wahl, Knorr, FreeNow and Deloitte. The full credits page lists every title with director and production company.
Planos Film Festival, Best Cinematography, winner 2025 (There Will Come Soft Rains). BSC Short Film Awards, Best Cinematography, nominee 2025 (Gesualdo). BAFTA, British Short Film, nominee 2024 (Yellow). 96th Academy Awards, Live Action Short, shortlisted 2024 (Yellow). BSC Short Film Awards, Cinematography, nominee 2021 (Clean). BSC Emerging Cinematographers, nominee 2017 (Avo). 88th Academy Awards, Foreign Language (Afghanistan submission), longlisted 2016 (Utopia). London Film School, Panalux Award for Cinematography, winner 2014.
He is based in London. He is a British and Greek citizen. He works in the UK, the EU and abroad. He has shot long-form drama in India (The Empire, Namaste England, '83, The Final Call) and Saudi Arabia (Al Sharar), and commercials across the UK and Europe.
Story-led commercials and brand films, short films, feature films and television drama. He plans lighting around natural light and location where possible; three worked examples from The Empire are in the Breakdowns section.
Through his agent, Ben Freeden at Screen Talent Agency, London (ben@screen-talent.com, +44 (0)20 7729 7477), or directly at y.manolopoulos@gmail.com. He contracts through his UK company, Filmstead Ltd.