Timothy Quay
Directing
Biography
Timothy Quay was born in 1947 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA, as the identical twin of Stephen Quay. He studied at the Philadelphia College of Art and later at the Royal College of Art in London, where he began working with his brother in experimental animation. Timothy has directed and co-directed numerous short films, feature films, and stop-motion projects, including Nocturna Artificialia (1979), Street of Crocodiles (1986), Institute Benjamenta (1995), and The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes (2005). His work is distinguished by surreal, detailed atmospheres, frozen worlds, and objects full of history, with a constant collaboration alongside Stephen throughout his career.
Filmography
Acting (9)
2026
Sledgehammer Revealedas Self
2017
The Music of Zdeněk Liškaas Self
6.0
6.0
2015
Quayas Self
6.0
2011
2009
The Art of Timeas Self
2009
The Bug Traineras Self - stop-motion animator
4.0
1982
The Fallsas Pulat Fallari
7.3
Production & Directing (103)
2025
5.8
2025
5.8
2025
5.8
5.8
5.8
2022
6.0
2022
Ghosts and WhispersDirector
2022
Ghosts and WhispersAnimation
2021
6.0
2021
VadeMecumDirector
7.0
2019
The Doll's BreathDirector
6.0
2015
QuayThanks
6.0
2013
Unmistaken Hands: Ex Voto F.H.Animation
6.1
2013
6.1
2013
Unmistaken Hands: Ex Voto F.H.Director
6.1
6.4
2011
6.4
6.4
2010
Wonderwood: Comme des garçonsDirector
6.0
2010
MaskaDirector
7.0
2010
MaskaWriter
7.0
2009
Kinoteka IdentDirector
2009
Inventorium of TracesEditor
5.0
2009
Inventorium of TracesDirector
5.0
2009
Inventorium of TracesDirector of Photography
5.0
2009
Inventorium of TracesSound Designer
5.0
2007
Eurydice: She, So BelovedSet Designer
5.6
2007
5.6
2007
Eurydice: She, So BelovedDirector
5.6
2007
Alice in Not So WonderlandDirector
6.3
2007
Alice in Not So WonderlandCinematography
6.3
2007
6.3
9.0
2005
The Piano Tuner of EarthquakesDirector
6.3
2005
6.3
2005
The Piano Tuner of EarthquakesProduction Design
6.3
2004
6.0
2003
6.3
2003
Songs for Dead ChildrenDirector
5.2
2001
Sonic Cinema: SparklehorseDirector
6.0
2001
Stille Nacht V: Dog DoorDirector
5.8
2001
Stille Nacht V: Dog DoorWriter
5.8
2000
The SandmanDirector
6.3
2000
In AbsentiaDirector
6.5
2000
In AbsentiaAnimation
6.5
7.6
1995
The SummitDirector
5.3
1993
6.9
1993
Stille Nacht IV: Can't Go Wrong Without YouCamera Operator
6.9
1993
6.9
1993
6.1
1993
6.1
1993
Stille Nacht III: Tales from Vienna WoodsCamera Operator
6.1
1993
AnamorphosisDirector
6.6
1993
AnamorphosisArt Direction
6.6
1993
AnamorphosisEditor
6.6
1993
AnamorphosisCamera Operator
6.6
1993
AnamorphosisAnimation
6.6
1993
AnamorphosisDecorator
6.6
1992
6.1
1992
6.1
1992
Stille Nacht II: Are We Still Married?Camera Operator
6.1
1991
The CombDirector
6.7
1991
The CombWriter
6.7
1991
The CombCamera Operator
6.7
1991
The CombArt Direction
6.7
1991
The CombEditor
6.7
1991
The CombAnimation
6.7
1991
The CalligrapherDirector
6.4
1991
The CalligrapherAnimation
6.4
1989
Ex VotoDirector
4.0
1988
Rain DanceDirector
5.0
1988
Rehearsals for Extinct AnatomiesDirector
6.6
1988
Stille Nacht I: DramoletDirector
6.4
1988
Rehearsals for Extinct AnatomiesCinematography
6.6
1988
Rehearsals for Extinct AnatomiesAnimation
6.6
1988
Rehearsals for Extinct AnatomiesDecorator
6.6
1987
Tales of the Brothers QuayDirector
6.9
1986
Street of CrocodilesDirector
6.6
1986
Street of CrocodilesEditor
6.6
1986
Street of CrocodilesAnimation
6.6
1986
Street of CrocodilesWriter
6.6
1986
Street of CrocodilesProduction Design
6.6
1985
This Unnameable Little BroomDirector
6.2
1985
This Unnameable Little BroomDirector of Photography
6.2
1985
6.2
1984
The Cabinet of Jan ŠvankmajerDirector
6.9
6.0
1984
The Cabinet of Jan ŠvankmajerDirector of Photography
6.9
1983
Janáček: Intimate ExcursionsDirector
5.8
6.2
1981
A FratricideDirector
9.0
1981
A FratricideAnimation
9.0
6.3
1981
6.3
1981
6.7
1981
6.7
1979
Nocturna ArtificialiaDirector
5.9
1979
Nocturna ArtificialiaCinematography
5.9
—
Kieślowski by QuaysDirector