Matthew Libatique

Matthew Libatique (born July 19, 1968) is an American cinematographer who is best known for his work with director Darren Aronofsky on the films π (1998), Requiem for a Dream (2000), The Fountain (2006), and Black Swan (2010).

Background

Libatique, a Filipino-American, was born in Elmhurst, Queens, New York. He studied sociology and communications at California State University Fullerton before earning a MFA in cinematography at AFI Conservatory.

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), and Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Iron Man 2 and Cowboys & Aliens).

Libatique's notable films include blockbusters such as Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and Requiem for a Dream. 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.

Filmography

Film

Music videos