About

[ BIO ]

Rick Joaquim is an award-winning Cinematographer based in London. Born and raised in South Africa, he honed his craft working across a diverse range of Narrative, Commercial and Music video projects before making the move to the UK. He believes that a Cinematographer has to be both the Scientist and the Artist, utilising the technical knowledge and creativity to bring the heart of a story into the light.

In 2019 Rick's work was featured in the prestigious ARRI Camera Showreel and has since been showcased at leading film festivals including Sundance, Cannes, Aesthetica and Clermont-Ferrand. He was also featured in British Cinematographer Magazine's 'Meet the New Wave' - a series spotlighting emerging talent in cinematography.

His work as a cinematographer has earned him multiple awards, including ‘Best Cinematography’ at the Manchester Film Festival, British Short Film Awards and The South African Independent Film Festival. In 2022 he also received the award for Best Achievement in Cinematography in a Documentary at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA's).

Rick was selected for the American Society of Cinematographers Vision Mentorship Program in both 2022 and 2023 where he was mentored by acclaimed cinematographers Jess Hall ASC BSC and Alice Brooks ASC. In 2025 he was also selected for the British Society of Cinematographers Mentorship Scheme where he was mentored by Catherine Goldschmidt ASC BSC.

Despite these achievements, Rick remains down to earth and passionate about his craft. He considers himself incredibly fortunate to be able to spend time behind the camera, collaborating with talented people and and finding new ways to bring stories and these unique visions to life.

Fun fact: Before all this Rick spent most of his life behind a drum kit playing for rock bands... which probably explains why he’s so comfortable with controlled chaos and has no problem keeping tempo on fast-moving film sets.

View his CV / Resume here

[ AWARDS + ACHIEVEMENTS ]

Winner "Best Cinematography" for "Largo"
- Manchester Film Festival 2026
Winner "Best Cinematography" for "Largo"
- Wolverhampton Film Festival 2026
Winner "Best Cinematography" for "Scope"
- Women Without Borders Film Festival 2026
Nominee “Best Cinematography” for "Largo"
- British Short Film Awards 2026
Nominee "Best Cinematography" for "Scope"
- Kino London Short Film Festival 2026
Winner "Best Cinematography" for "Amazeze"
- The South African Independent Film Festival 2025
Winner "Best Cinematography" for "Dante's Inferno"
- Black River Film Festival 2025
Winner "Best Cinematography" for "Stay Calm"
- The British Short Film Awards 2024
Winner "Gold Visible Spectrum Award" for "My Protector"
- SASC Visible Spectrum Awards 2024
Winner Best Cinematography + Best Horror Short for "Entitled"
- London International Short Film Festival 2023
Winner "Best Achievement in Cinematography"
- South African Film & Television Awards 2022 (SAFTA's)
Winner "Best Cinematography" for "Adjustments"
- The British Short Film Awards 2022
Official Selection + USA Premiere for "Five Tiger"
- Sundance Film Festival 2021
Official Selection for "Ring of Beasts"
- Zsigmond Vilmos Cinematography Film Festival 2021
Nominee "Best Short Film" for "The Stranger"
- South African Film and Television Awards 2021 (SAFTA's)
Winner "Best Cinematography" + "Best Film"
- 48 Hour Film Project London 2021
Winner "Best Cinematography"
- European Cinematography Awards 2020
Winner "Best Cinematography" + "Best Short Film" for "The Stranger"
- Venice Film Awards 2020
Winner “Best Short Film Cinematography”
- New York Cinematography Awards 2020
Winner "Best Cinematography"
- Kleinkaap Short Film Festival 2019
Selected for the BSC Mentorship Scheme 2025
- British Society of Cinematographers
Selected for the BAFTA Connect Programme 2022
Selected for the ASC Vision Mentorship Program 2022
- American Society of Cinematographers
Inducted as a full SASC Member in 2019
- South African Society of Cinematographers
Included in the ARRI Camera Showreel 2019

[ PRESS ]

[ PODCASTS ]