BIO
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R.J. Ong is a cinematographer based in London and an alumni of the National Film and Television School. He has an affinity for narrative films with elements of social realism, surrealism, drama and magical realism.
Recently, he was nominated at the 2024 UKMVA for Best Cinematography in a Video (Newcomer) for his work on Konyikeh - "Lie To Me" Music Video. R.J’s cinematography also includes "See It, Say it", a short film directed Nez Khammal (Pulse Films), which had its international premiere at the Oscar & BAFTA Qualifying SXSW Film and TV Festival 2024 and competed at the 2024 BFI London Film Festival as part of the Short Film Award.
His other work includes “Watamula”, which was nominated for the prestigious Golden Calves Award in the Netherlands and “Do Not Feed the Pigeons” which won the BAFTA for Best British Short Animation in addition to "Launch Fever" which has also recently been selected at the Oscar and BAFTA-Qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival and Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival.
R.J. has also collaborated with brands such as Vogue, GQ, BULGARI, Red Bull, Universal Music, Columbia Records, Valentino, Manchester City and many more.
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​PRESS​
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AWARDS
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KONYIKEH "LIE TO ME" MV
UKMVA - Nomination/Shortlist - Best Cinematography in a Video (Newcomer)
UKMVA - Nomination/Shortlist - Best Colour Grading in a Video (Newcomer)
UKMVA - Nomination/Shortlist - Best Pop/R&B/Soul Video (Newcomer)
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ORIGINAL SKIN
***ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY
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Official Selection - Tribeca Film Festival 2024
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SEE IT, SAY IT
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Official Selection & Best Short Film Award Nomination - BFI London Film Festival 2024 (London Premiere)
Official Selection - Narrative Short - SXSW Film & TV Festival 2024 (International Premiere)
Nomination -Best British Film - Norwich Film Festival 2024​​
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LAUNCH FEVER
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Official Selection - Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival 2024 (Oscar & BAFTA - Qualifying)​​
Official Selection - LA SHORTS International Film Festival 2024 (Oscar, BAFTA, CSA, Goya - Qualifying)​​
45th Annual Telly Awards 2024 - Gold - Non-Broadcast - People's Telly
45th Annual Telly Awards 2024 - Gold - Non-Broadcast - Directing
45th Annual Telly Awards 2024 - Gold - Non-Broadcast - Narrative & Scripted
45th Annual Telly Awards 2024 - Silver - Non-Broadcast - History
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THE SMART DIVER
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Official Selection -Indy Shorts (Heartland) International Film Festival 2024 (Oscar - Qualifying)​​
Official Selection -Florida International Film Festival 2024
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FROM THE TOP
ASIFA Annie Awards 2023 - Nominee (Best Student Film)
Animadeba 2023 - Special Mention of the Jury
China International Student Animation Festival 2023 (ANIWOW) - Best Performance in an Animated Short
Piccolo Festival dell’Animazione 2023 - Awarded Special Mention
Ottawa International Animation Festival 2023 - Official Selection
Turku Animated Film Festival 2023 - Official Selection
Tacoma Film Festival 2023 - Official Selection
Animae Caribe International Animation & Digital Media Festival 2023 - Official Selection
Cinanima 2023 - Official Selection
London International Animation Festival 2023 - Official Selection
Sunderland Shorts Film Festival - Official Selection
International Film Festival Etiuda & Anima 2023 - Official Selection
Animateka International Animated Film Festival 2023 - Official Selection
Mieres Under-60’ Film Festival 2023 - Official Selection
Bilbao International Animation Community Festival (Animakom Fest) - Official Selection
17th Berlin British Shorts Film Festival 2023 - Official Selection
Animation Festival of Roanne 2023 - Official Selection
Animac 2023 - Official Selection
Mind The Indie Film Festival- Official Selection
Shortlist - Animation - BAFTA Student Awards 2023
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DO NOT FEED THE PIGEONS
Winner - "Best British Short Animation" - BAFTA Film Awards 2022
Official Selection - Annecy International Animated Film Festival 2022
Winner - "Silver Screen Award" - Young Director Award (YDA) 2022
Official Selection - LA Shorts International Film Festival 2022
Official Selection - Palm Springs International Shorts Fest 2022
Official Selection - Nuits En Or César 2022
Official Selection - Animafest Zagreb 2022
Official Selection - 19th In the Palace International Short Film Festival 2022
International Competition Selection - Tampere Film Festival 2022
Official Selection - London Short Film Festival
Official Selection - 19th Bogotá Short Film Festival
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WATAMULA
Finalist - Golden Calves Awards (Netherland's Oscar) - Nederlands Film Festival 2020
Official Selection - Go Short 2021 - Oscar & Bafta Qualifying
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PATROON
Official Selection - Nederlands Film Festival 2020
Young Directors Award - Shortlist 2020
Longlist "In the Making" - 1.4 Awards 2020
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CV​
NARRATIVE/DOC
REEL ISSUE FILMS | "OUR CHILD" | NARRATIVE SHORT (POST PRODUCTION)
AGILE FILMS x CASPIAN FILMS | "GREENLIGHT" | NARRATIVE SHORT (POST PRODUCTION)
INDEPENDENT | "THE REASON WE LEAVE" | NARRATIVE SHORT (POST PRODUCTION)
AMAZON PRIME x NFTS | "SEE IT, SAY IT" | NARRATIVE SHORT
DISNEY IMAGINE x NFTS | "LIONHEAD" | NARRATIVE SHORT
BFI x LAST CONKER | "LONGING" | NARRATIVE SHORT
REDBULL | "THE SMART DIVER" | DOCUMENTARY SHORT
RECENT x WERELDMUSEUM | "WATAMULA" | NARRATIVE SHORT
RECENT x VICE NL | "PATROON" | NARRATIVE SHORT
NFTS | "GOSSIP" | NARRATIVE SHORT
NFTS | "DO NOT FEED THE PIGEONS" | ANIMATION SHORT
NFTS | "FROM THE TOP" | ANIMATION SHORT
USC x SLOAN FOUNDATION | "LAUNCH FEVER" | NARRATIVE SHORT
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MUSIC VIDEO
TORRIANO GROUP | KONYIKEH "LIE TO ME" | DIR: BILLY KING
EMI RECORDS x TORRIANO GROUP | RUSHY x ANTSLIVE "ESTELLE" | DIR: BILLY KING
GEFFEN RECORDS x TORRIANO GROUP | YUNGBLUD "LOWLIFE" | DIR: PRIYA MINHAS
TORRIANO GROUP | JONITA x ALI SETHI "LOVE LIKE THIS" | DIR: PRIYA MINHAS
EMPIRE RECORDS x BT STUDIOS x TORRIANO GROUP | FIREBOY DML "OH MY" | DIR: JYDE AJALA
LOW KEY FILMS | INHALER "LOVE WILL GET ME THERE" | DIR: JAMES ARDEN
RECENT | REHAB FT. CLARA MAE & FRANK WALKER "MORE THAN OKAY" | DIR: MARIO GONSALVES
RECENT | NICOLE MANZO "EUFORIA/SI PUEDO" | DIR: KEVIN OSEPA
RECENT | NICOLE MANZO "CUANTICA" | DIR: MARIO GONSALVES
RECENT| KILATE "ENERGIA" | DIR: MARIO GONSALVES
RECENT| KILATE "REAL" | DIR: MARIO GONSALVES
LOW KEY FILMS | ALMA "EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL"| DIR: NICOLEE TSIN
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COMMERCIALS/AD
MIDEA X MANCHESTER CITY | ERLING HAALAND X MIDEA CAMPAIGN | PROD: MADE IN LONDON
BULGARI X THIS IS YUNG COMMERCIAL | ACADEMY FILMS | DIR: CANDICE LO
ZOE SALDANA & SELENA GOMEZ INTERVIEW EACH OTHER | VOGUE | DIR: ROXY REZVANY
THE CROWN'S ELIZABETH DEBICKI HAS TEA & TALKS PLAYING PRINCESS DIANA | VOGUE | DIR: ROXY REZVANY
TAYLOR ZAKHAR PEREZ GETS READY FOR VOGUE WORLD: LONDON | VOGUE | DIR: ROXY REZVANY
GQ CHINA X YANG YANG | DIR: JUSTIN TAN
TORRIANO GROUP | RELENTLESS PROMO | DIR: BILLY KING
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