Bill Viola

Known for: Directing
Born: January 25, 1951, Queens, New York, USA
Movies: 93

A pioneer in the medium of video art, Bill Viola's work explores the spiritual and perceptual side of human experience. Since 1970 he has created videotapes, architectural video installations, sound environments, electronic music performances and pieces for television. Works include Hatsu Yume (First Dream), The Passing, and installations Room for St. John of the Cross, The Messenger and The Quintet of the Astonished, recently shown at the National Gallery, London in "Encounters, New Art from Old". A 25-year survey exhibition of his work organized by The Whitney Museum of American Art recently traveled to 6 institutions in the USA and Europe. MacArthur Fellow.

Upcoming Bill Viola Movies

Das Theater im Sucher - Die Fotografin Ruth Walz

2026

October 21, 2026

Best-Known Movies

6.4

What Is Cinema?

2013

5.3

The Reflecting Pool

1979

5.5

The Passing

1992

7.1

Ancient of Days

1982

6.3

Anthem

1983

6.7

I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like

1986

6.3

Chott el-Djerid (A Portrait in Light and Heat)

1979

6.0

Migration (for Jack Nelson)

1976

6.4

Hatsu Yume (First Dream)

1981

5.2

Reasons for Knocking at an Empty House

1983

Filmography

2026	Das Theater im Sucher - Die Fotografin Ruth Walz	Self
2017	Bill Viola: The Road to St. Paul's	Self
2013	What Is Cinema?	Self
2003	Bill Viola: The Eye of the Heart	Self
2002	Going Forth By Day	(segment "The Voyage")
2002	The Voyage	Gatekeeper
1995	Trovoada	Self (voice)
1986	I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like	Himself
1983	Reasons for Knocking at an Empty House
1979	The Reflecting Pool	Performer
1976	Migration (for Jack Nelson)
1975	Return

Directing, Writing & Producing

2018	Wagner: Tristan und Isolde	Director
2016	Mary	Director, Writer
2014	Martyrs: Earth	Director
2014	Martyrs: Water	Director
2014	Martyrs: Fire	Director
2014	Martyrs: Air	Director
2014	Martyrs	Director
2014	Inverted Birth	Director
2013	Man Searching for Immortality/Woman Searching for Eternity	Director
2013	The Dreamers	Director
2012	The Encounter	Director
2012	Walking on the Edge	Director
2012	Traveling on Foot	Director
2011	A Phrase from Chris	Director
2008	The Innocents	Director
2008	Three Women	Director
2007	Ocean Without a Shore	Director
2006	Poem B (The Guest House)	Director
2005	Basin of Tears	Director
2005	Ablutions	Director
2005	Fire Woman	Director
2005	Tristan’s Ascension (The Sound of a Mountain Under a Waterfall)	Director
2004	The Tristan Project	Director
2004	The Raft	Writer, Director
2003	Emergence	Director
2002	Going Forth By Day	Director, Writer
2002	Fire Birth	Director
2002	The Path	Director
2002	The Voyage	Director
2002	The Silent Sea	Director
2001	Four Hands	Director
2001	Catherine's Room	Director
2001	Surrender	Director
2000	The Quintet of the Astonished	Director
2000	Anima	Director
2000	Eternal Return	Director
2000	Ascension	Director
1996	The Crossing	Director
1995	The Veiling	Director
1995	Interval	Director
1995	The Greeting	Director
1994	Déserts	Director, Writer
1992	The Passing	Director
1992	Slowly Turning Narrative	Director
1992	The Nantes Triptych	Director
1992	Heaven and Earth	Director
1992	The Sleepers	Director
1990	The Stopping Mind	Director
1989	Angel's Gate	Director
1986	Sodium Vapor	Director
1986	I Do Not Know What It Is I Am Like	Director, Producer
1986	Silent Life	Director
1984	Reverse Television - Portraits of Viewers	Director
1983	Reasons for Knocking at an Empty House	Writer, Director
1983	Anthem	Director, Writer
1982	Ancient of Days	Director
1981	Hatsu Yume (First Dream)	Director, Producer, Writer
1980	Vegetable Memory	Director
1979	The Reflecting Pool	Director, Writer
1979	Moonblood	Director
1979	Chott el-Djerid (A Portrait in Light and Heat)	Director
1979	Moving Stillness: Mount Rainier 1979	Director
1977	Memories Of Ancestral Power	Director
1977	The Wheel of Becoming	Director
1977	Memory Surfaces and Mental Prayers	Director
1977	The Morning After the Night of Power	Director
1977	Sweet Light	Director
1977	He Weeps for You	Director
1976	The Space Between the Teeth	Director
1976	Junkyard Levitation	Director
1976	Songs of Innocence	Director
1976	Truth Through Mass Individuation	Director
1976	Four Songs	Director
1976	Migration (for Jack Nelson)	Director
1975	A Million Other Things (2)	Director
1975	Red Tape: Collected Works	Director
1975	The Semi-Circular Canals	Director
1975	Playing Soul Music to My Freckles So They Won't Get Lonely	Director
1975	A Non-Dairy Creamer	Director
1975	Return	Director, Writer
1973	Information	Director

Data from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.