Yann-Manuel Hernandez is a multifaceted creative force, born in Guatemala and raised in Quebec, with a strong foundation in cinematography, direction, and production. He is renowned for his work on several notable projects, including Desert's Cry (2016),The Evaporated (2019),and Jungle (2022),as well as a multitude of music videos for prominent artists such as Plants and Animals, SUUNS, Carla Blanc, and others.
Throughout his academic journey, Hernandez studied the influential work of director Philippe Grandrieux during his master's degree at the University of Montreal. This profound understanding of cinematic storytelling led him to direct his first feature film, Desert's Cry, which premiered through Telefilm Canada's Talents to Watch program. The film's success was marked by its selection as the opening film of the New Alchemists section of the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma.
Hernandez's creative endeavors have spanned multiple genres, including short fiction, contemporary dance, and music videos. His projects have garnered international recognition, with numerous festival appearances at esteemed events such as the Dresden Filmfest, FIFA, Golden Horse, Fantasia, and Trouville.
As a director of photography, Hernandez has collaborated on visually stunning projects, including the flagship video work for the Leonard Cohen exhibition at the Musée d'Art Contemporain de Montréal, created by South African artist Candice Breitz. He has also worked on several award-winning documentaries and music videos for esteemed clients such as Metafilms, Secret City, Opak Médias, and Moment Factory.
In 2023, Hernandez will bring his unique visual perspective to the new Elisapie show, shot in Nunavik. Throughout his career, his work has garnered accolades from the Canadian Society of Cinematographers, Panavision, and Kodak.
In 2016, Hernandez co-founded his film production company, Les mains sales films, with filmmaker Charles-André Coderre. This venture enables him to support innovative projects that push boundaries in terms of genre, form, media, and storytelling.
