Born in Kingston, Herefordshire, England. Former documentary cameraman whose first feature work was for socially conscious director, Ken Loach (POOR COW, 1967). Menges graduated to big-budget international films in the 1980s (THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, 1980, THE MISSION, 1986) but re-affirmed his social and political concerns with A WORLD APART (1988), a sensitive feature directorial debut based on the life of murdered South African activist Ruth First. Other directing credits include CRISSCROSS (1992), SECOND BEST (1994) and THE LOST SON (1999). Other notable credits include ABEL GANCE: THE CHARM OF DYNAMITE and IF... (camera operator) (both 1968), KES and LOVING MEMORY (both 1969), BLACK BEAUTY and GUMSHOE (both 1971), A SENSE OF FREEDOM, BLACK JACK and BLOODY KIDS (all 1979), BABYLON, THE GAMEKEEPER and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (2nd unit d.p.) (all 1980), EAST 103RD STREET (also producer & director) and LOOKS AND SMILES (both 1981), WARLORDS OF THE 21ST CENTURY, COUPLES AND ROBBERS and ANGEL (all 1982), LOCAL HERO (1983), WINTER FLIGHT, WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?, COMFORT AND JOY and THE KILLING FIELDS (all 1984), MARIE (1985), FATHERLAND and THE MISSION (both 1986), SHY PEOPLE and HIGH SEASON (both 1987), MICHAEL COLLINS (1996), THE BOXER (1997), THE PLEDGE (2001), DIRTY PRETTY THINGS and THE GOOD THIEF (both 2002), CRIMINAL (2004), TICKETS, THE THREE BURIALS OF MELQUIADES ESTRADA and NORTH COUNTRY (all 2005), NOTES ON A SCANDAL (2006), and STOP LOSS and YELLOW HANDKERCHIEF (both scheduled for 2008).  Cinematography 1984: THE KILLING FIELDS  Cinematography 1986: THE MISSION  Nominated for Achievement in Cinematography 1996: MICHAEL COLLINS 3 nominations, 2 Awards