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Leeds School of Arts

Cinematographer Fabian Wagner awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Leeds Beckett University

15 July 2022

Internationally renowned Cinematographer, Fabian Wagner has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts from Leeds Beckett University.

Fabian Wagner graduated from Leeds Beckett University in 2003 with an MA in Film & Moving Image Production from the Northern Film School.

Since then he has enjoyed a very successful career as a cinematographer, working across the world on productions including The Crown, Sherlock, Game of Thrones and DC’s Justice League.

Fabian Wagner said: ‘’I have never expected or taken anything for granted in my career so to be awarded Honorary Graduate came as a great surprise. I wish my mum was still alive, she would be very proud of me today.

“During my time in Leeds, I met the most wonderful people who inspired me during my studies and I’ve even been lucky to work with some of those people throughout my career.’’

Fabian’s work on the Sherlock episode "A Scandal in Belgravia" and the Game of Thrones episode "Hardhome" earned him two Emmy nominations in 2012 and 2015.

His first feature film was Victor Frankenstein for 20th Century Fox in 2013. His next film, The Legend of Barney Thomson (2015) under director Robert Carlyle won the Scottish Bafta award for best movie.

Professor Peter Slee, Leeds Beckett University Vice Chancellor said: ‘’On behalf of all of our staff, students and Governors here at Leeds Beckett University, I would like to congratulate Fabian Wagner on this Honorary Degree.

“We’re proud to see one of our alumni being internationally recognised for his talent and his significant contribution to the film and television industry.

“Our university’s commitment to the arts can be seen in the new £80m Leeds School of Arts building, offering industry standard facilities for hands-on learning to support the next generation of filmmakers and creatives.’’

Fabian’s work has also been internationally recognised, winning the American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular Series for his work on Game of Thrones in 2017 and for The Crown in 2021.

The Honorary Doctorate was granted as part of the university’s 2022 Graduation ceremonies at the first direct arena in Leeds.

Honorary Graduate 2022 Fabian Wagner, internationally renowned Cinematographer and Director of Pictures

My name is Fabian Wagner, I'm a cinematographer and also a graduate of the Northern Film School. I think I started my course in September 2001, and then I did my masters here a couple of years later. I'm very grateful for all the things that have happened in my career since I've been to the Northern Film School.

I've been lucky enough to do various projects from films to TV. I mean, for me it was always about gaining as much experience as possible and learning as much as possible. When I got my first break as a main DP on a bigger show up here that was shooting in Bradford, and that was sort of the start of my more professional career.

Sherlock, you know, getting my first Emmy nomination from Sherlock. I then got Game of Thrones because the show runners on Game of Thrones, they love Sherlock and they particularly loved my episode. From that show came Justice League because Zack Snyder loves my Game of Thrones episodes. It's a very sort of lucky, but also, you know, you make your own luck. You put a lot of work into it to make things happen. I had a great time doing all these different jobs. All of those things have come together to I guess, get me to where I am.

One of the nicest things that I've done a few years ago was shooting The Crown together with my best friend, Sam Donovan, who's the director. And Sam and I met in Leeds back in film school, 20 years ago. I was shooting all of his short films. The fact that we've met here, we used to be kids with crazy big dreams. And then 20 years later, we're shooting The Crown together, which is obviously a big show. Together with Sam, and making that show was probably one of the best things I've experienced.

It's a tough industry. It's a very competitive industry. You really have to put in a lot of work, a lot of hours, but you also have to have the right attitude. I think that if you do as much as you can, you know the rest kind of hopefully comes by itself.

When I was starting out, I never really had anyone that I could go to and sort of ask for support or ask for help. What I've seen today here is just incredible. You know, when you're young and when you're starting out, you can get carried away quite easily by wanting to mould into other things, stick to who you are. I think that will always take you the furthest.

If you have an idea for something, I want you to tell me because just because I think that might be the best thing, that doesn't mean it is the best thing, so it's about what we can all do together and create something and i think that's something that you learn at film school or in uni, something that you really want to get into as much as possible. And I think if you can find the enjoyment in that and grow that passion together, I think that's when success eventually comes.

For anyone who comes here, it will really give you the best starting point that you can hope for. To receive an honorary degree is just something to be honest I've never expected. It's something that I feel extremely proud of and then… I wish, I wish my mum was still alive because she would be very proud right now and it means a lot.