Oscar Nominated Cinematographer Matthew Libatique to Receive AFI’s Franklin Schaffner Honor

Chris Gardner
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

The American Film Institute has its sights set on Matthew Libatique.

The Oscar nominated cinematographer, who graduated from the institution in 1992, has been tapped to receive AFI’s Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal. It will be presented during the AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to Nicole Kidman at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on April 27.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

The medal is awarded annually “to an alumnus of either the AFI Conservatory or the [AFI Directing Workshop for Women] who best embodies the qualities of the late director: talent, taste, dedication and commitment to quality filmmaking.” Schaffner, who died in 1989, won a best director Oscar for Patton in 1970. Recipients of the Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal include David Lynch, Edward Zwick, Amy Heckerling, Terrence Malick, Darren Aronofsky, Patty Jenkins, Paul Schrader, Janusz Kamiński, Caleb Deschanel, Lesli Linka Glatter, Rachel Morrison, Melina Matsoukas, Siân Heder and others.

The honor comes as Libatique has earned raves for working on Bradley Cooper’s Maestro after having previously worked with the actor, writer and director on his last picture, A Star is Born. “Matthew Libatique is one of our generation’s defining voices in the art of visual storytelling,” praised 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.”

Libatique previously teamed with AFI pal Darren Aronofsky, his longtime collaborator who he met on their third day at AFI Conservatory, on The Whale, Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, Black Swan, Noah and Mother! Other credits include Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling, Ryan Murphy’s The Prom starring Kidman, Spike Lee’s Inside Man, Miracle at St. Anna, Chi-Raq and She Hate Me, Ruben Fleischer’s Venom, F. Gary Gray’s Straight Outta Compton, Liev Schrieber’s Everything is Illuminated, Joel Schumacher’s Tigerland and three films with Jon Favreau: Iron Man, Iron Man 2 and Cowboys & Aliens.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter