Born in Bergen on Norway's west coast, Ole Bratt Birkeland has been based in the UK since 1996. A multiple BAFTA and BIFA-nominated cinematographer, he has been a member of the British Society of Cinematographers (BSC) since 2014.
His feature film credits include Judy (dir. Rupert Goold), American Animals (dir. Bart Layton), and In the Blink of an Eye (dir. Andrew Stanton), due for release in 2026.
Renowned for his stylised naturalism and expressive use of colour, Ole's work spans acclaimed narrative features and groundbreaking documentaries. His credits include Clio Barnard's award-winning The Arbor, celebrated for its innovative drama-documentary form; Listen to Me Marlon (dir. Stevan Riley), described by MUBI as "the definitive Marlon Brando cinema documentary"; and the BIFA-nominated Ten Billion (dir. Peter Webber).
Ole is equally recognised for his work in high-end television. His credits include the acclaimed "The Fog" episode of The Crown (Season 1), directed by Julian Jarrold and Philip Martin; Tales from the Loop, directed by Jodie Foster, Andrew Stanton, Tim Mielants and So Yong Kim; Utopia (Season 1); National Treasure; and The Third Day: Autumn, directed by Marc Munden. The latter was an extraordinary live 12-hour broadcast starring Jude Law, filmed as a single continuous choreographed take and described by The Telegraph as "breathtaking."
Most recently, Ole completed photography on the BBC drama Prisoner 951, directed by Philippa Lowthorpe.
Alongside his work as a cinematographer, Ole has mentored emerging filmmakers through both the European Film Academy and ScreenSkills.
Ole is represented by Independent Talent in the UK and WME in the United States.