PHILIPPINES – MARCH 1, 2011 – While not bringing home the Oscar for Best Cinematography Black Swan, Matthew Libatique’s body of work does his home country proud. The Filipino-American cinematographer has worked with Darren Aronofsky since their film school days, and continued to do work for him in critically-acclaimed films Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, and The Wrestler.
Libatique and Aronofsky are slated to take on the next Wolverine movie starring Hugh Jackman. Libatique’s other films outside of Aronofsky’s oeuvre include both Iron Man films, Gothika, and Josie and the Pussycats.
Matthew Libatique is the son of two Filipinos who immigrated to New York. His father Justiniano came from Dagupan, Pangasinan while his mother Georgina came from Lucena, Quezon. Libatique’s passion for film came from playing with his father’s Nikon F. His father, an amateur photographer, who worked at a film lab also taught him photography basics. His dad has since passed on, but his mother is his most devoted fan. She was in the Oscars pre-show, where she expressed her pride at how far Matthew’s come along. “I am proud of Matt and couldn’t stop talking about it!” she gushed.
The 2011 Oscars has the most Filipino-American nominees among all previous Academy Award shows. Other Fil-Am nominees include Hailee Steinfeld, Best Supporting Actress nominee for True Grit; and Stefanie Walmsley, Gigi Dement and Stephen Dypiangco, producers of God of Love, which won Best Short Film.
The Oscars was also a showcase for U.S.-based Filipino designers. Monique Lhuillier designed Mandy Moore’s gown; Oliver Tolentino made Libatique’s tux and Dement’s gown; and Carolyn Nuyda-Calloway also created a gown for a producer of The Social Network.
