‘Maestro’ DP Matthew Libatique Set For AFI’s Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal

Matthew Libatique, the Academy Award-nominated cinematographer most recently lending his talents to Bradley Cooper’s Netflix pic Maestro, has been set to receive the American Film Institute’s Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal at the AFI Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute to Nicole Kidman, taking place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on April 27th.

The Schaffner Alumni Medal recognizes the extraordinary creative talents of AFI Conservatory Alumni who embody the qualities of filmmaker Franklin J. Schaffner: talent, taste, dedication and commitment to quality storytelling in film and television. Past recipients include Libatique’s frequent collaborator (and one-time classmate) Darren Aronofsky, Lesli Linka Glatter, Siân Heder, Patty Jenkins, Janusz Kamiński, Mimi Leder, David Lynch, Terrence Malick, Melina Matsoukas and Rachel Morrison.

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While this year will be the ninth that the AFI Life Achievement Award special airs on TNT, air dates for the Kidman tribute special on TNT and TCM will be announced at a later time.

“Matthew Libatique is one of our generation’s defining voices in the art of visual storytelling,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President and CEO. “Now, AFI is honored to shine the light upon on him – celebrating his impact on the art form and the pride he brings us as a graduate of the AFI Conservatory.”

Part of AFI’s Class of 1992, Libatique earned his Oscar noms for his work on the films A Star Is Born and Black Swan. In addition to Maestro, which stars Cooper as famed conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein, he’s most recently lensed The Whale, the Aronofsky flick for A24 that brought star Brendan Fraser his first Academy Award. Libatique’s other most recent project, the Aronofsky-helmed Postcard from Earth, was made for the headline-grabbing Sphere in Las Vegas.

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