Institute of Art Design + Technology Dún Laoghaire
Ireland’s campus for the Creative Industries

Maiya Rice 

BA [Hons] Film + Television Production

Maiya is a Cinematographer from Co. Laois currently based in Dublin. Her passion for visual storytelling, world building and collaboration are central to her approach. Whether working in fiction or documentary, Maiya is fascinated by the human condition, drawn to unusual stories which are rooted in universal truths. Most recently, her documentary "A Farm Out West" premiered at NFFTY in the United States. During her time at the National Film School, Maiya has also developed a love for shooting on 16mm film. One of her more recent films, "A Savoury Gag," is up for nomination at the Kodak/Nahemi Commercial Awards.

Tough Love - Graduate Short Film

I was absolutely delighted to work as cinematographer on the short film Tough Love (2024), a dark satirical comedy written and directed by Oisín McKeogh.

Synopsis: After accidentally killing one of her clients, a recently divorced housewife turned dominatrix must figure out what to do next - all while dealing with her manipulative teenage son.



Thesis: The Role of the Cinematographer: Navigating the Boundary Between Reality and Illusion in Fantasy Films

Focusing on two seminal works, Jean Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast (1946) and Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire (1988), both shot by Henri Alekan over forty years apart, this thesis delves into how a cinematographer navigates this tightrope between reality and illusion to create captivating visuals which still connect with an audience's innate sense of reality. Despite their distinct eras and narrative approaches, both films adeptly blend the inherent magic of their subject matter with a commitment to visual coherence and fidelity to reality, thanks to the realist lens.