October 11, 2024

Ernest Vincze BSC HSC (1942-2024)

Ernest (Ernie) Vincze BSC HSC centre of frame on SHANGHAI SURPRISE (1986) starring Madonna with director Jim Goddard right of frame

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ernie Vincze on 6th October 2024, aged 81. Born in Budapest, Hungary, Ernie called London home for most of his adult life.

Ernie was a well-respected cinematographer with a passion for his work and visual storytelling. Starting out in ground-breaking documentary work he moved into narrative film and television where he forged a career that lasted decades. His dedication and talent earned him two BAFTA nominations and two BAFTA awards, both for his cinematography on the Doctor Who reboot. Ernie was elected to the British Society of Cinematographers in 1978 and was an active member of BAFTA, serving on several committees and judging panels, throughout his life. He also generously shared his expertise by teaching cinematography at the National Film and Television School (NFTS), passing his passion on to future generations.

Outside of his illustrious career, Ernie was an avid tennis player and fan of music. He was a loving and dedicated husband, father and grandfather, and leaves behind family, friends and colleagues who will miss him greatly. 

Our thoughts go out to his family at this difficult time especially his wife Lyn. Thank you Ernie for your work and all you did for our community.

Biography from Phil Méheux BSC

ERNEST VINCZE BSC HSC

1942 - 2024

Honorary Full Member

Born in Budapest, Hungary, Ernie Vincze describes himself as a, ‘self-taught, self-made cameraman’, who lived through communism for the first 22 years of his life. At school, he became interested in human studies, particularly philosophy, ethnography and anthropology. At age 15, he found a cinema in Budapest that showed documentaries all day. ‘I knew then that I wanted to be involved.’ He applied for a university course in directorial/cinematography studies but was not accepted as he was too young so, he applied to the Hungarian national television station as a runner.

He started in the camera room in the early 1960s maintaining film cameras. Due to a shortage of qualified cameraman, he soon found himself working alongside veterans, graduating to main camera at football matches. Later, he made friends with a visiting English teacher who sponsored him to come to the UK.

Ernie arrived in England in early 1964, took the train to London and booked himself into a youth hostel. He did a number of menial jobs until he came across Reflex Films who needed a camera assistant. Asked if he was familiar with the Éclair camera, he said yes, but realised the next day that he knew nothing about it. Ernest confessed and was sent to the camera room where the technician showed him everything about the camera. He worked a few more times for Reflex Films, which was a turning point in his life.

His next job was as an assistant for the documentary film company, Allan King Associates where his first job was a film portrait of RADA directed by Dick Fontaine and photographed by Chris Menges ASC BSC. Both became his mentors, ‘Teachers in the art, psychology and construction of documentary filmmaking.’

In 1974, Kevin Brownlow and Andrew Mollo were planning to shoot a low-budget feature film backed by the BFI. They wanted everyone to work for free, for the ‘love of cinema.’ After days of deliberation, Ernest phoned Kevin and offered his services.

His commitment, and hard work paid off a couple years later when Winstanley (1975 d. Kevin Brownlow) screened at the London Film Festival to great critical success. Producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory were in the audience. The next day he received a call from New York and was on the plane to photograph the Merchant Ivory film Roseland (1977).

He became a member of the BSC in 1978 and was Head of Cinematography at the National Film and Television School from 2000-2002. He lived in London.

OTHER CREDITS: Fox (TV series), Jane Austen in Manhattan, High Hopes, A Woman of Substance, Shanghai Surprise, The Camomile Lawn, Doctor Who

SELECTED AWARDS: BAFTA TV Award Nomination: Kennedy (1983 d. Jim Goddard) BAFTA TV Award Nomination: A Very British Coup (1988 d. Mick Jackson)

BAFTA Cymru Award Winner: Doctor Who (2006)

BAFTA Cymru Award Winner: Doctor Who: Voyage of the Damned (2007 d. James Strong)