Matthew Libatique
Matthew Libatique | |
|---|---|
 Libatique in 2011 | |
| Born | Matthew José Libatique July 19, 1968 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Other names | Matty Libatique |
| Alma mater | California State University, Fullerton AFI Conservatory |
| Occupation | Cinematographer |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Spouse | Mary-Ellen Libatique |
| Awards | See below |
Matthew José Libatique ASC, LPS[1] (born July 19, 1968) is an American cinematographer. He is best known for his collaborations with directors Darren Aronofsky, Spike Lee, and Bradley Cooper. He has received three Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography - for Black Swan (2010), 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
[edit]Matthew Libatique was born in Elmhurst, Queens, New York City,[2] to Filipino immigrant parents Georgina (née José) and Justiniáno Libatique. His father was from Dagupan, and his mother was from Lucena.[3]
Libatique studied sociology and communications at California State University, Fullerton, before earning an MFA in cinematography at AFI Conservatory.[4]
Career
[edit]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.”[5]
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.”[6]
Personal life
[edit]Libatique married film professional and former attorney Mary-Ellen Libatique (née Vales)[7] in 2021 in Malibu, CA.
Filmography
[edit]Feature films
[edit]| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Music videos
[edit]Awards and nominations
[edit]Award
|
Wins
|
Nominations |
|---|---|---|
| N/A | 3 | |
| N/A | 2 | |
| N/A | 3 | |
| 2 | 1 |
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Black Swan | Best Cinematography | Nominated |
| 2018 | A Star Is Born | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Maestro | Nominated |
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Black Swan | Best Cinematography | Nominated |
| 2023 | Maestro | Nominated |
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Black Swan | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography | Nominated |
| 2018 | A Star Is Born | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Maestro | Nominated |
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Pi | Best Cinematography | Nominated |
| 2000 | Requiem for a Dream | Won | |
| 2010 | Black Swan | Won |
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Requiem for a Dream | Best Cinematography | Nominated |
| 2006 | The Fountain | Nominated | |
| 2010 | Black Swan | Nominated |
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Requiem for a Dream | Best Cinematography | Nominated |
| 2010 | Black Swan | Nominated |
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The Fountain | Best Cinematography | Nominated |
| 2010 | Black Swan | Nominated |
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The Fountain | Best Cinematography | Nominated |
| 2018 | A Star Is Born | Won | |
| 2023 | Maestro | Won |
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Black Swan | Best Cinematography | Nominated |
| 2018 | A Star Is Born | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Maestro | Nominated |
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Black Swan | Best Cinematography | Nominated |
| 2018 | A Star Is Born | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Maestro | Nominated |
Other awards
References
[edit]- ^ Williams, Tom (April 17, 2024). "Matthew Libatique ASC LPS / Maestro". British Cinematographer. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
- ^ Neumaier, Joe (February 21, 2011). "Oscars 2011: 'Black Swan' cinematographer Matthew Libatique gave Natalie Portman film feminine feel". New York Daily News. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ Medina, Jun (February 4, 2011). "Pinoy on Best Cinematographer list". Manila Times. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
- ^ "American Film Institute - AFI Conservatory". Archived from the original on August 29, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ “Cinematographer Roundtable: Short Cuts With Linus Sandgren, Matthew Libatique & Chayse Irvin | THR” The Hollywood Reporter, 7 January 2019
- ^ “The cinematography of A Star is Born: Matthew Libatique Case Study” CookeOpticsTV, 14 February 2019
- ^ "Mary-Ellen Vales Libatique # 322187 - Attorney Licensee Search". apps.calbar.ca.gov. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
