Matthew Libatique

Matthew José Libatique (born July 19, 1968) is an American cinematographer. He is best known for his collaborations with directors Darren Aronofsky, Joel Schumacher, Spike Lee, and Bradley Cooper. He has received three Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography - for Black Swan, A Star Is Born (2018), and Maestro (2023). He is also a two-time Independent Spirit Award winner, and two-time BAFTA Award nominee.

Early life and education Matthew Libatique was born in Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, to Filipino immigrant parents Georgina (née José) and Justiniáno Libatique. His father was from Dagupan, and his mother was from Lucena.

Libatique studied sociology and communications at California State University, Fullerton, before earning an MFA in cinematography at AFI Conservatory. In 2024, Labatique was awarded the 31st Annual Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal.

Career Libatique served as director of photography for music videos and teamed with fellow AFI alumnus Aronofsky for the short film Protozoa. The two collaborated on the first three of Aronofsky's feature films. Other frequent collaborators are Julie Dash (music videos including Tracy Chapman's "Give Me One Reason"), Spike Lee (She Hate Me, Inside Man and Miracle at St. Anna), Joel Schumacher (Tigerland, Phone Booth and The Number 23), Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Iron Man 2 and Cowboys & Aliens), and Bradley Cooper (A Star Is Born, Maestro, and Is This Thing On?).

Libatique's notable films include blockbusters such as Iron Man and Iron Man 2. In 2010, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on Black Swan, for which he won his second Independent Spirit award. He has also won best cinematography awards at the LA Film Critics Association, NY Film Critics Online, SF Film Critics, among many others.

Libatique discussed the importance of working closely with a director on a Cinematographer Roundtable with The Hollywood Reporter, revealing: “The main thing is that you (both cinematographer and director) have the same goal and are telling the same story. Going into preparation you really need to be on the same page. Conflicts may arise when there’s a miscommunication about what’s important in a scene. So, it’s really important to listen...The director can (understandably) get pulled in a lot of different directions in prep. We, cinematographers are sort of guarding the gate of filmmaking, amongst all the other things that are happening.”

He has also said of his process: “I’d like to think each film is custom made. The director obviously dictates the approach that I have because everybody has a different working style. Some people want to talk intensely and visually about shots. Some don’t talk much at all. They concentrate more on the performances and they give you a broad idea of what they want the film to look like. So my first approach is to evaluate them, which may start in the interview process. But you also learn in preparation, as much as you can about the director. And that informs how I prepare in pre-production. If I’m lucky I can shape a visual language off some kind of inspiration. But the director definitely dictates how I do it.”

Personal life Libatique married film professional and former attorney Mary-Ellen Libatique (née Vales) in 2021 in Malibu, CA.

Filmography Film +KeyDenotes films that have not yet been released

Music videos

Awards and nominations +Nominations Academy Awards BAFTA Film Awards ASC Awards Independent Spirit Awards

Academy Awards Year Title Category Result 2010 Black Swan Best Cinematography 2018 A Star Is Born 2023 Maestro

British Academy Film Awards Year Title Category Result 2010 Black SwanBest Cinematography 2023 Maestro

American Society of Cinematographers Awards Year Title Category Result 2010 Black SwanOutstanding Achievement in Cinematography 2018 A Star Is Born 2023 Maestro

Independent Spirit Awards Year Title Category Result 1998 Pi Best Cinematography 2000 Requiem for a Dream 2010 Black Swan

Online Film Critics Society Year Title Category Result 2000 Requiem for a DreamBest Cinematography 2006 The Fountain 2010 Black Swan

Boston Society of Film Critics Year Title Category Result 2000 Requiem for a Dream Best Cinematography 2010 Black Swan

Chicago Film Critics Association Year Title Category Result 2006 The Fountain Best Cinematography 2010 Black Swan

Satellite Awards Year Title Category Result 2006 The Fountain Best Cinematography 2018 A Star Is Born 2023 Maestro

Critics' Choice Movie Awards Year Title Category Result 2010 Black Swan Best Cinematography 2018 A Star Is Born 2023 Maestro

Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Year Title Category Result 2010 Black SwanBest Cinematography 2018 A Star Is Born 2023 Maestro

Other awards