RED EYE PRODUCTIONS

RED EYE PRODUCTIONS

Founded in 1998 by award-winning Director of Photography Rick Rifici, Red Eye Productions is a land and water production company dedicated to creating visually stunning & emotionally powerful content. From the remote edges of the ocean to cinematic landscapes around the world, Rick and Sonya Rifici lead with creativity, precision, and decades of experience.

LAND & WATER PRODUCTION COMPANY

ABOUT RED EYE PRODUCTIONS

Red Eye Productions is the creative partnership of Rick and Sonya Rifici — two accomplished professionals with a shared passion for visual storytelling. With decades of experience across documentaries, feature films, TV and commercials, they offer full-service production capabilities with specialist equipment for above and below the waterline.

Together, they deliver immersive, cinematic results for clients seeking world-class production values and a collaborative, quality-first approach.

SONYA RIFICI

Creative Producer and Brand Executive

Sonya Rifici is a Global Brand Executive and Creative Producer with over 20 years of experience in production, sales, and marketing for culturally driven and audience-focused lifestyle brands.

A natural leader and storyteller, Sonya builds strategic partnerships that integrate all facets of brand capabilities. As a Creative Director, she has successfully managed brand partnerships from concept to execution, ensuring each project authentically represents the brand's voice while achieving its objectives.

Now based in Perth, Western Australia, Sonya has expanded her expertise into the film and production industry.

As a co-producer of the award-winning feature documentary Facing Monsters, she has demonstrated her ability to execute complex film projects.

Alongside her husband, award-winning Director of Photography Rick Rifici, Sonya is a partner in Red Eye Productions. Together, they have contributed to a wide range of Australian and international projects across TV, commercials, documentaries, and feature films.

RICK RIFICI

Director of Photography

An award-winning director of photography, Rick Rifici has over 35 years’ experience in Documentary, Feature Film and Television industry.

Based in Australia, Rick has been a leading cinematographer on a variety of critically acclaimed projects over the past decade.

His creativity, eye for detail and professionalism has seen him work with both Australian and International Directors and Producers.

Rick’s passion for cinematography has seen his recognised by The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) and The Film Critics Circle of Australia.

With a talent for capturing the authenticity of individuals in diverse environments, Rick enriches narratives through careful visual composition, use of light and shade, and technical means.


He is driven by a profound sense of responsibility to honour the rawness of each subject and setting, translating a place, a moment or an idea into the reality of cinema.

Rick is committed to realising a director’s vision and bringing it to life on screen, cultivating a strong connection with both the subject and the story. He is passionate about exploring mixed formats and equipment to achieve the highest production value in distinctive and unpredictable surroundings.

Bringing a collaborative, considerate, and calming approach to every project, Rick works hard to create beautiful cinematography that visually elevates story and connects audiences.

RICK RIFICI RESUME

  • FACING MONSTERS - KERBY BROWN / LAND AND WATER D.O.P

    SUCH IS LIFE - AFL GREAT BEN COUSINS / LAND AND WATER D.O.P

    BEHIND THE SMILE - PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE SALLY FITZGIBBON / LAND AND WATER D.O.P

    BENDING COLOURS - PROFESSIONAL SURFER JORDY SMITH / LAND AND WATER D.O.P

    STORM SURFERS - EXPLORATION WITH TOM CARROL AND ROSS CLARKE JONES / LAND AND WATER D.O.P

    RED BULL X FIGHTERS MEXICO / D.O.P

    OPERATION BIG WAVE TAHITI / LAND AND WATER D.O.P

    THE SIXTH ELEMENT - PROFESSIONAL SURFER ROSS CLARKE JONES / LAND AND WATER D.O.P

    THE COACH IN THE KIMBERLEYS - AFL COACH MICK MALTHOUSE / D.O.P

    RED BULL NORTHERN TIDES / LAND AND WATER D.O.P

  • THE SURFER / WATER D.O.P

    RUNT / LAND B CAMERA

    BLUEBACK / WATER D.O.P

    THE FURNACE / LAND 2ND UNIT D.O.P

    BREATH / WATER D.O.P

    DRIFT / WATER D.O.P & LAND 2ND UNIT D.O.P

    KARTS / LAND PHANTOM CAMERA D.O.P

    DIRT MUSIC / WATER D.O.P

    H IS FOR HAPPINESS / WATER D.O.P

    STORM BOY / WATER D.O.P

    OTHERLIFE / WATER D.O.P

    BAD GIRLS / WATER D.O.P

    ADORE / WATER D.O.P

  • THE SURVIVORS / NETFLIX / WATER D.O.P

    SURVIVING SUMMER, SERIES 1 & 2 / NETFLIX / WATER D.O.P & CO-DIRECTOR

    STATELESS, SEASON 1 / SBS / WATER D.O.P

    THE HUNTING, SEASON 2 / SBS / WATER D.O.P

    DRAIN THE OCEANS / NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC / LAND & WATER D.O.P

    LAST DAYS OF THE SPACE AGE / DISNEY / WATER D.O.P

  • ABC / AUSTRALIAN STORY / D.O.P

    NETWORK 10 / DRAMA + SPORT

    NETWORK 7 / DRAMA + SPORT

  • NOMINEE / FILM CRITICS CIRCLE OF AUSTRALIA / BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A FEATURE FILM - BLUEBACK, 2024

    WINNER / AACTA AWARDS / BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A FEATURE DOCUMENTARY - FACING MONSTERS, 2022

    WINNER / WASCA / OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY - FACING MONSTERS, 2022

    WINNER / FILM CRITICS CIRCLE OF AUSTRALIA / BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A FEATURE FILM - BREATH, 2018

    NOMINEE / AACTA AWARDS / BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A FEATURE FILM - BREATH, 2018

    WINNER / MUMBRELLA AWARDS / BEST TV COMMERCIAL OF THE YEAR - ST JOHN AMBULANCE / BREAK THE BARRIER, 2014

    NOMINEE / AACTA AWARDS / BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A FEATURE FILM - DRIFT. 2013

  • PHANTOM TECHNICIAN AND OPERATOR COURSE / SYDNEY, AUS

    RED DIGITAL CINEMA CAMERA COURSE / HOLLYWOOD, USA

    ADVANCED 3D COURSE / MUNICH, GER

    ADVANCED CAMERA OPERATION COURSE / PERTH, AUS