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 (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 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.”“Cinematographer Roundtable: Short Cuts With Linus Sandgren, Matthew Libatique & Chayse Irvin | THR” The Hollywood Reporter, 7 January 2019
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.”“The cinematography of A Star is Born: Matthew Libatique Case Study” CookeOpticsTV, 14 February 2019
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 Year Title Director Notes 1998 PiDarren AronofskyFirst of eight collaborations with Aronofsky2000 Requiem for a Dream Tigerland Joel SchumacherFirst of three collaborations with Schumacher 2001 Josie and the Pussycats Harry ElfontDeborah Kaplan2002 Abandon Stephen Gaghan Phone Booth Joel Schumacher 2003 Gothika Mathieu Kassovitz2004 She Hate Me Spike Lee First of five collaborations with Lee Never Die Alone Ernest Dickerson 2005 Everything Is Illuminated Liev Schreiber2006 Inside Man Spike Lee The Fountain Darren Aronofsky 2007 The Number 23 Joel Schumacher2008 Iron Man Jon Favreau First of three collaborations with Favreau Miracle at St. Anna Spike Lee2010 Black Swan Darren Aronofsky Iron Man 2 Jon Favreau My Own Love Song Olivier Dahan 2011 Cowboys & Aliens Jon Favreau 2012 Ruby Sparks Jonathan DaytonValerie Faris 2014 Noah Darren Aronofsky2015 Straight Outta Compton F. Gary Gray Chi-Raq Spike Lee2016 Money Monster Jodie Foster Pelé: Birth of a Legend Jeff ZimbalistMichael Zimbalist2017 The Circle James Ponsoldt Mother! Darren Aronofsky2018 Venom Ruben Fleischer A Star Is Born Bradley Cooper First of three collaborations with Cooper 2019 Native Son Rashid Johnson2020 Birds of Prey Cathy Yan The Prom Ryan Murphy2022 Don't Worry Darling Olivia Wilde The Whale Darren Aronofsky 2023 Maestro Bradley Cooper2025 Highest 2 Lowest Spike Lee Caught Stealing Darren Aronofsky Is This Thing On? Bradley Cooper
Music videos Year Title Artist Director1996 "Give Me One Reason" Tracy ChapmanJulie Dash "More Than One Way Home" Keb' Mo'1997 "In My Bed" Dru Hill Darren Grant "Otherside of the Game" Erykah Badu Erykah Badu "Rapper's Delight" Def Squad Steve Carr "Luv 2 Luv U" Timbaland & MagooDarren Grant "Anytime" Brian McKnight "All a Dream" Big Mike Daniel Zirilli1998 "Was It Something I Didn't Say" 98 Degrees Darren Grant "Clock Strikes" Timbaland & Magoo Steve Carr "No Worries" Hepcat Piper Ferguson "Second Round K.O." Canibus Chris Robinson "Westside" TQ Darren Grant "The City Is Mine" Jay-Z Steve Carr & Jay-Z "What U See Is What U Get" Xzibit Gregory Dark1999 "Can I Get A..." Jay-ZSteve Carr "My Favorite Girl" Dave Hollister "Just My Imagination" The Cranberries Phil Harder "Aisha" Death in Vegas Terry Richardson "Bodyrock" Moby Steve Carr "Get in Line" Barenaked Ladies Phil Harder "Ooh La La" The Wiseguys Scott Bibo "Lobster & Shrimp" Timbaland featuring Jay-Z Steve Carr "Apollo Kids" Ghostface Killah Chris Robinson & Ghostface Killah2000 "Anything" Jay-Z Chris Robinson "Dance Tonight" Lucy Pearl Darren Grant "Got Beef" Tha Eastsidaz Chris Robinson "Boyz-n-the-Hood" Dynamite Hack Evan Bernard "Whatever" Ideal Darren Grant "Stellar" Incubus Phil Harder "New America" Bad Religion Evan Bernard2001 "Fool" MansunPhil Harder "Mad Season" Matchbox 20 "The Trees" Pulp "Save Me" Remy Zero "Goodbye" Jagged Edge Forest Whitaker "Hate in Yo Eyes" Mack 10 Bille Woodruff2002 "Cold" Static-X Nathan Cox & Joe Hahn "Symphony in X Major" Xzibit Joe Hahn "Pitiful" BlindsideNathan Cox "Dem Girlz" Oxide & Neutrino 2003 "The Golden Path" The Chemical Brothers featuring The Flaming Lips Chris Milk2004 "alt.end" The CureThe Saline Project "Taking Off" The Cure 2008 "The Lake" Muscles Jaron Albertin 2011 "The View" Lou Reed and Metallica Darren Aronofsky2013 "Suit & Tie" Justin Timberlake featuring Jay-Z David Fincher "Mirrors" Justin Timberlake Floria Sigismondi 2016 "Needed Me" Rihanna Harmony Korine 2021 "I Bet You Think About Me" Taylor Swift Blake Lively
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 Year Title Award/Nomination2010Black SwanLos Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best CinematographyNominated– Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best CinematographyNominated– National Society of Film Critics Award for Best CinematographyNominated– New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best CinematographyNominated– San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best CinematographyNominated– San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cinematography 2018A Star Is BornNominated– St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography
References
External links
Internet Encyclopedia of Cinematographers