Matthew Libatique

Biography:

Matthew José Libatique ASC, LPS (born July 19, 1968) is an American cinematographer, widely recognized for his collaborations with directors Darren Aronofsky, Spike Lee, and Bradley Cooper. Over the course of his career, he has earned three Academy Award nominations for Black Swan (2010), A Star Is Born (2018), and Maestro (2023). He is also a two-time recipient of the Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography and has received two BAFTA nominations.

Born in Elmhurst, Queens, New York, Libatique is the son of Filipino immigrants Georgina (née José) and Justiniáno Libatique. His father was originally from Dagupan, while his mother came from Lucena. After studying sociology and communications at California State University, Fullerton, he went on to complete an MFA in cinematography at the AFI Conservatory.

Libatique began his career as a director of photography for music videos, where he frequently worked with Julie Dash and filmed projects such as Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason.” At AFI, he met Darren Aronofsky, with whom he made the short film Protozoa. This partnership led to Libatique shooting Aronofsky’s first three features and later reuniting for additional projects. His other frequent collaborations include Spike Lee (She Hate Me, Inside Man, Miracle at St. Anna), Joel Schumacher (Tigerland, Phone Booth, The Number 23), Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Cowboys & Aliens), and Bradley Cooper (A Star Is Born, Maestro, Is This Thing On?).

His work spans both independent films and major blockbusters, with notable credits including Iron Man and Iron Man 2. For Black Swan, he earned an Academy Award nomination and won several critics’ awards, as well as his second Independent Spirit Award. His cinematography has been honored by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, New York Film Critics Online, and the San Francisco Film Critics Circle, among others.

Discussing his approach to cinematography, Libatique has emphasized the importance of aligning closely with the director’s vision: “The main thing is that you (both cinematographer and director) have the same goal and are telling the same story… it’s really important to listen.” He has also described his process as adaptable, shaped by each director’s style—whether through detailed visual discussions or a looser focus on performance—stating that his role is to create a unique visual language for every project.

On a personal note, Libatique married attorney Mary-Ellen Libatique (née Vales) in 2021. He was previously married to cinematographer Magela Crosignani, with whom he divorced in 2017.