Thirty-nine years after his birth in Barcelona, Néstor Almendros secured an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on Terrence Malick's 1978 film Days of Heaven. This achievement solidified his status as the Spanish individual with the highest number of Oscar nominations, reflecting a career defined by naturalistic lighting and technical versatility across continents and political shifts.
Early Development and Education
Born in 1930, Almendros moved to Havana at eighteen to join his father, who lived in exile to escape the regime of Francisco Franco. During his time in Cuba, he engaged with film criticism and directed six short films. His formal education included study at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome and the Centro Universitário Católica do Leste de Minas Gerais.
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Following the 1959 Cuban Revolution, he returned to Spain to produce documentaries concerning the Castro administration. After authorities banned two of his short films, Gente en la playa and La tumba francesa, he relocated to Paris. This move facilitated his entry into the French New Wave, where he became a frequent collaborator with Éric Rohmer and later François Truffaut, for whom he earned a César Award for The Last Metro in 1980.
Technical Style and Hollywood Success
Almendros gained international recognition for his departure from heavy studio lighting, favoring the natural illumination techniques of silent cinema. This approach caught the attention of Terrence Malick, leading to their collaboration on Days of Heaven. Beyond feature films, he served as a cinematographer for high-profile advertisements, including works directed by Martin Scorsese for Giorgio Armani and Richard Avedon for Calvin Klein.
Documentary Work and Human Rights
In his later years, Almendros shifted focus toward directing documentaries addressing human rights abuses in Cuba. He co-directed Improper Conduct in 1984, which examined the persecution of gay citizens, and Nadie escuchaba, a study of the imprisonment and torture of former Fidel Castro allies. His advocacy resulted in the creation of the Nestor Almendros Award for Courage in Filmmaking, presented annually at the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival.
Fast facts
- Born: 1930, Barcelona, Spain
- Died: 1992, New York City
- Education: Centro Universitário Católica do Leste de Minas Gerais
- Academy Award for Best Cinematography: 1979
- César Award for Best Cinematography: 1980
- Member of: American Society of Cinematographers
- Spoken languages: French, Spanish, Catalan
Questions readers ask
What was Néstor Almendros’s signature approach to cinematography?
He favored natural light and minimalist studio equipment, drawing inspiration from the techniques used during the silent film era.
Which major awards did he receive?
He won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography in 1979 for Days of Heaven and the César Award for his work on The Last Metro.
Achievements
- Academy Award for Best Cinematography — 1979
- César Award for Best Cinematography
- Worked as cinematographer, film director and actor
