Timothy Quay

Known for directing · Born 17 June 1947 · 79 · Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA

58 credits

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.

Known for

Street of Crocodiles

1986

Quay

2015

Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life

1995

The Cabinet of Jan Švankmajer

1984

The Falls

1982

The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes

2005

Stille Nacht I: Dramolet

1988

The Comb

1991

Stille Nacht II: Are We Still Married?

1992

In Absentia

2000

This Unnameable Little Broom

1985

Anamorphosis

1993

Acting (9)

2026Sledgehammer RevealedSelfFilm

2017The Music of Zdeněk LiškaSelfFilm

2015QuaySelfFilm

2015The 1000 Eyes of Dr MaddinFilm

2011Behind the Scenes with the Quay BrothersSelfFilm

2009The Bug TrainerSelf - stop-motion animatorFilm

2009The Art of TimeSelfFilm

2006The Making of "The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes"Film

1982The FallsPulat FallariFilm

Art (1)

2007Eurydice: She, So BelovedSet Designer, Editor, DirectorFilm

Crew (1)

2015QuayThanksFilm

Directing (43)

2022The Art Teacher from Drohobycz: Bruno SchulzDirectorFilm

2022Ghosts and WhispersDirector, AnimationFilm

2021VadeMecumDirectorFilm

202111 Preliminary Orbits Around Planet LemDirectorFilm

2019The Doll's BreathDirectorFilm

2011Through the Weeping Glass: On the Consolations of Life Everlasting (Limbos & Afterbreezes in the Mütter Museum)Director, Editor, Sound, AnimationFilm

2010MaskaDirector, WriterFilm

2010Wonderwood: Comme des garçonsDirectorFilm

2009Kinoteka IdentDirectorFilm

2007Phantom Museums: The Short Films of the Quay BrothersDirectorFilm

2005The Piano Tuner of EarthquakesDirector, Writer, Production DesignFilm

2004Quay Brothers: The Short Films 1979-2003DirectorFilm

2003The Phantom Museum: Random Forays Into the Vaults of Sir Henry Wellcome's Medical CollectionDirectorFilm

2003Songs for Dead ChildrenDirectorFilm

2001Stille Nacht V: Dog DoorDirector, WriterFilm

2001Sonic Cinema: SparklehorseDirectorFilm

2000In AbsentiaDirector, AnimationFilm

2000The SandmanDirectorFilm

2000The Brothers Quay Collection: Ten Astonishing Short Films 1984-1993DirectorFilm

1995Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human LifeDirector, WriterFilm

1995The SummitDirectorFilm

1993AnamorphosisDirector, Animation, Art Direction, Camera Operator, Editor, DecoratorFilm

1993Stille Nacht III: Tales from Vienna WoodsDirector, Animation, Camera OperatorFilm

1993Stille Nacht IV: Can't Go Wrong Without YouDirector, Camera Operator, AnimationFilm

1992Stille Nacht II: Are We Still Married?Director, Animation, Camera OperatorFilm

1991The CombDirector, Writer, Animation, Editor, Art Direction, Camera OperatorFilm

1991The CalligrapherDirector, AnimationFilm

1989Ex VotoDirectorFilm

1988Stille Nacht I: DramoletDirectorFilm

1988Rehearsals for Extinct AnatomiesDirector, Cinematography, Animation, DecoratorFilm

1988Rain DanceDirectorFilm

1987Tales of the Brothers QuayDirectorFilm

1986Street of CrocodilesDirector, Editor, Animation, Production Design, WriterFilm

1985This Unnameable Little BroomDirector, Writer, Director of PhotographyFilm

1984The Cabinet of Jan ŠvankmajerDirector, Director of PhotographyFilm

1984The Cabinet of Jan Švankmajer: Prague's Alchemist of FilmDirectorFilm

1983Janáček: Intimate ExcursionsDirectorFilm

1982Igor Stravinsky: The Paris Years Chez Pleyel 1920-1929DirectorFilm

1981Punch and Judy: Tragical Comedy or Comical TragedyDirector, AnimationFilm

1981The Eternal Day of Michel de GhelderodeDirector, WriterFilm

1981A FratricideDirector, AnimationFilm

1979Nocturna ArtificialiaDirector, CinematographyFilm

—Kieślowski by QuaysDirectorFilm

Editing (1)

2009Inventorium of TracesEditor, Director of Photography, Sound DesignerFilm

Visual Effects (2)

2025Sanatorium Under the Sign of the HourglassAnimation, Director, Screenplay, Sound, EditorFilm

2013Unmistaken Hands: Ex Voto F.H.Animation, Writer, DirectorFilm

Writing (1)

2007Alice in Not So WonderlandWriter, Cinematography, DirectorFilm