Bradford Young

Bradford Marcel Young, A.S.C (born July 6, 1977) is an American cinematographer.

For his work on Arrival (2016), he became the first African-American to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography.

Background Young spent his early years in Louisville, Kentucky, where he attended The Brown School and Central High School , and then moved to Chicago at age 15 to live with his father.

In his youth, he went to the theater to see Spike Lee films with his family.

Young received early artistic inspiration by the works of Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, and Aaron Douglas. Although he intended to study writing, he studied film at Howard University, where he was influenced by Haile Gerima.

His first film project at Howard was a group project, a black and white silent film shot on a Canon Super 8. Working on set with filmmaking colleagues at Howard was his introduction to film.

Prior to moving to Washington, D.C. for college, Young says "the only reason I cared about movies was how most people cared about movies. I liked watching them."

Career In 2014, Young was inducted into the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).

In 2017, Young was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for Arrival (2016), along with a nomination for a BAFTA and the American Society of Cinematographers.

Young worked three times with director Ava DuVernay, on Middle of Nowhere (2012), Selma (2014), and the Netflix miniseries When They See Us (2019).

In addition to his feature film work, Young has collaborated with directors Kathryn Bigelow, Derek Cianfrance, Todd Haynes, Spike Jonze, and Steve McQueen on numerous short films and commercials.

He has filmed music videos for artists Beck, Common, Kamasi Washington, MGMT, and Norah Jones. Young has also collaborated with artists Elissa Blount Moorhead and Leslie Hewitt on video installations that have been displayed in fine art museums around the world.

Personal life Young is married to Stephanie Etienne, who received special thanks in A Most Violent Year.

They currently reside in Baltimore, Maryland with their two sons.

Filmography

Feature film Year Title Director Notes2009 Mississippi Damned Tina Mabry Entre nos Gloria La MortePaola Mendoza2011 Pariah Dee Rees Restless City Andrew Dosunmu 2012 Middle of Nowhere Ava DuVernay2013 Mother of George Andrew Dosunmu Ain't Them Bodies Saints David Lowery Vara: A Blessing Khyentse Norbu2014 Pawn Sacrifice Edward Zwick A Most Violent Year J. C. Chandor Selma Ava DuVernay 2016 Arrival Denis Villeneuve 2017 Where Is Kyra? Andrew Dosunmu 2018 Solo: A Star Wars Story Ron Howard 2027 Michael B. Jordan Post-production

Television Year Title Director Notes 2012 The Boring Life of Jacqueline Sebastián Silva All 10 episodes 2019 When They See Us Ava DuVernay Miniseries 2024 Adam Sandler: Love You Josh Safdie Stand-up special

Documentary works Film Year Title Director Notes 2008 Eventual Salvation Dee Rees 2010 The Western Front Zachary Iscol With Radha Agrawal 2011 More Than Conquerors Andre Wilkins 2012 Free Angela and All Political Prisoners Shola Lynch With Sandi Sissel 2015 Everything Is Copy Jacob BernsteinNick Hooker With Christine Ng 2016 I Called Him Morgan Kasper Collin With Erik Vallsten 2024 2073 Asif Kapadia 2025 BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions Kahlil Joseph

TV movies Year Title Director Notes 2008 Alicia in Africa: Journey to the Motherland Earle Sebastian 2010 My Mic Sounds Nice: A Truth About Women and Hip Hop Ava DuVernay 2013 Six by Sondheim Autumn de Wilde Segment "Send in the Clowns"

TV series Year Title Director Note 2025 Number One on the Call Sheet Shola Lynch Episode "Black Leading Women in Hollywood"

Music video Year Title Artist Director Notes2013 "Hello, Again" Beck Colin K. GrayChris Milk "Fire We Make" Alicia Keys feat. Maxwell Chris Robinson "Cool Song No. 2" MGMT Isaiah Seret 2016 "Black America Again" Common feat. Stevie WonderHimself With Maceo Bishop, Jrr-Kwesi Fantiand Shawn Peters 2021 "For It Shall Perish and Never Leave Us Again" Leon Bridges Also writer

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Title Result 2011Sundance Film Festival Excellence in Cinematography Award: Dramatic Pariah 2013Cinematography Award: U.S. Dramatic Ain't Them Bodies Saints Mother of George 2014 Independent Spirit Awards Best Cinematography Selma 2016 Academy Awards Best CinematographyArrival BAFTA Awards Best Cinematography American Society of Cinematographers Outstanding Cinematography Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Cinematography Florida Film Critics Circle Best Cinematography Houston Film Critics Society Best Cinematography Online Film Critics Society Best Cinematography San Diego Film Critics Society Best Cinematography San Francisco Film Critics Circle Best Cinematography St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Best Cinematography Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Cinematography 2019 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Cinematography When They See Us