Timothy Quay
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- 17 June 1947 · Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA
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
Directing 48
- 2026Kieślowski by Quays · director
- 2025Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass · director
- 2022The Art Teacher from Drohobycz: Bruno Schulz · director
- 2022Ghosts and Whispers · director
- 202111 Preliminary Orbits Around Planet Lem · director
- 2021VadeMecum · director
- 2019The Doll's Breath · director
- 2013Unmistaken Hands: Ex Voto F.H. · director
- 2011Through the Weeping Glass: On the Consolations of Life Everlasting (Limbos & Afterbreezes in the Mütter Museum) · director
- 2010Wonderwood: Comme des garçons · director
- 2010Maska · director
- 2009Kinoteka Ident · director
- 2009Inventorium of Traces · director
- 2007Eurydice: She, So Beloved · director
- 2007Alice in Not So Wonderland · director
- 2007Phantom Museums: The Short Films of the Quay Brothers · director
- 2005The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes · director
- 2004Quay Brothers: The Short Films 1979-2003 · director
- 2003The Phantom Museum: Random Forays Into the Vaults of Sir Henry Wellcome's Medical Collection · director
- 2003Songs for Dead Children · director
- 2001Sonic Cinema: Sparklehorse · director
- 2001Stille Nacht V: Dog Door · director
- 2000The Sandman · director
- 2000In Absentia · director
- 2000The Brothers Quay Collection: Ten Astonishing Short Films 1984-1993 · director
- 1995Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life · director
- 1995The Summit · director
- 1993Stille Nacht IV: Can't Go Wrong Without You · director
- 1993Stille Nacht III: Tales from Vienna Woods · director
- 1993Anamorphosis · director
- 1992Stille Nacht II: Are We Still Married? · director
- 1991The Comb · director
- 1991The Calligrapher · director
- 1989Ex Voto · director
- 1988Rain Dance · director
- 1988Stille Nacht I: Dramolet · director
- 1988Rehearsals for Extinct Anatomies · director
- 1987Tales of the Brothers Quay · director
- 1986Street of Crocodiles · director
- 1985This Unnameable Little Broom · director
- 1984The Cabinet of Jan Švankmajer: Prague's Alchemist of Film · director
- 1984The Cabinet of Jan Švankmajer · director
- 1983Janáček: Intimate Excursions · director
- 1982Igor Stravinsky: The Paris Years Chez Pleyel 1920-1929 · director
- 1981A Fratricide · director
- 1981The Eternal Day of Michel de Ghelderode · director
- 1981Punch and Judy: Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy · director
- 1979Nocturna Artificialia · director
Acting 9
- 2026Sledgehammer Revealed as Self
- 2017The Music of Zdeněk Liška as Self
- 2015The 1000 Eyes of Dr Maddin
- 2015Quay as Self
- 2011Behind the Scenes with the Quay Brothers as Self
- 2009The Art of Time as Self
- 2009The Bug Trainer as Self - stop-motion animator
- 2006The Making of "The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes"
- 1982The Falls as Pulat Fallari
Writing 11
- 2025Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass · screenplay
- 2013Unmistaken Hands: Ex Voto F.H. · writer
- 2010Maska · writer
- 2007Alice in Not So Wonderland · writer
- 2005The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes · writer
- 2001Stille Nacht V: Dog Door · writer
- 1995Institute Benjamenta, or This Dream People Call Human Life · writer
- 1991The Comb · writer
- 1986Street of Crocodiles · writer
- 1985This Unnameable Little Broom · writer
- 1981The Eternal Day of Michel de Ghelderode · writer
Sound 3
- 2025Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass · sound
- 2011Through the Weeping Glass: On the Consolations of Life Everlasting (Limbos & Afterbreezes in the Mütter Museum) · sound
- 2009Inventorium of Traces · sound designer
visual effects 15
- 2025Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass · animation
- 2022Ghosts and Whispers · animation
- 2013Unmistaken Hands: Ex Voto F.H. · animation
- 2011Through the Weeping Glass: On the Consolations of Life Everlasting (Limbos & Afterbreezes in the Mütter Museum) · animation
- 2000In Absentia · animation
- 1993Stille Nacht IV: Can't Go Wrong Without You · animation
- 1993Stille Nacht III: Tales from Vienna Woods · animation
- 1993Anamorphosis · animation
- 1992Stille Nacht II: Are We Still Married? · animation
- 1991The Comb · animation
- 1991The Calligrapher · animation
- 1988Rehearsals for Extinct Anatomies · animation
- 1986Street of Crocodiles · animation
- 1981A Fratricide · animation
- 1981Punch and Judy: Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy · animation
Editing 7
- 2025Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass · editor
- 2011Through the Weeping Glass: On the Consolations of Life Everlasting (Limbos & Afterbreezes in the Mütter Museum) · editor
- 2009Inventorium of Traces · editor
- 2007Eurydice: She, So Beloved · editor
- 1993Anamorphosis · editor
- 1991The Comb · editor
- 1986Street of Crocodiles · editor
crew 4
- 2015Quay · thanks
- 2007Alice in Not So Wonderland · cinematography
- 1988Rehearsals for Extinct Anatomies · cinematography
- 1979Nocturna Artificialia · cinematography
Camera 8
- 2009Inventorium of Traces · director of photography
- 1993Stille Nacht IV: Can't Go Wrong Without You · camera operator
- 1993Stille Nacht III: Tales from Vienna Woods · camera operator
- 1993Anamorphosis · camera operator
- 1992Stille Nacht II: Are We Still Married? · camera operator
- 1991The Comb · camera operator
- 1985This Unnameable Little Broom · director of photography
- 1984The Cabinet of Jan Švankmajer · director of photography
art 6
- 2007Eurydice: She, So Beloved · set designer
- 2005The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes · production design
- 1993Anamorphosis · art direction
- 1991The Comb · art direction
- 1988Rehearsals for Extinct Anatomies · decorator
- 1986Street of Crocodiles · production design