Jonathan Rayner

Professor Jonathan Rayner is a prominent academic in Film Studies at the University of Sheffield's School of English. He co-directs the Sheffield Centre for Research in Film (SCRIF) and has taught at institutions including the University of Portsmouth, Glyndwr University, and Sheffield Hallam University before joining Sheffield in 2001.

• Research focuses on Australasian cinema (especially Australian Gothic), genre films, auteur studies, and the interplay between cinema and landscape. He explores war/conflict representation and naval history in film, television, and popular culture.
• His 2025 book Screening the Fleet analyzes Royal Navy portrayals in UK television documentaries (1973–2023). Earlier works include studies on Australian Gothic, war illustrated magazines, and suburban landscapes in cinema.
• Public engagement includes collaborations with Sheffield schools and the Showroom Cinema, applying his World War I research to GCSE history classes and international exhibitions.

Teaching spans Australian, Hollywood, and Japanese cinema; genre/auteur theories; war films; and literature modules. He supervises SCRIF, a multidisciplinary center fostering film research and public activities.