Phedon Papamichael
Phedon Papamichael, ASC is a Greek cinematographer and film director, known for his collaborations with directors James Mangold, Alexander Payne, and Wim Wenders. He was nominated for both the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography for Payne's 2013 film Nebraska. He has been a member of the American Society of Cinematographers since 2000.
Early life and education
He was born in Athens, Greece in 1962 to a Greek father and a German mother. When Phedon was six years old, his family relocated to the United States, as his father, a well-known artist and set designer, was offered a job as a production designer for John Cassavetes. From an early age, he was involved in cinema. He studied photography and art at the University of Munich and received his Bachelor in Fine Arts in 1982.Career
Papamichael's first job as a cinematographer was in the 1988 film Dance of the Damned, directed by Katt Shea. He would go on to make several future collaboratons with director Shea and producer Roger Corman, making him a member of the so-called "Corman Film School", much like his contemporary Janusz Kamiński.As a cinematographer, he has shot nearly fifty films, including Phenomenon, America's Sweethearts, Sideways, Walk the Line, The Weather Man, The Monuments Men, and Nebraska, for which he received an Academy Award nomination. He has worked with directors James Mangold, Alexander Payne, Wim Wenders, Oliver Stone and George Clooney, and many others, and has also directed films, such as Sketch Artist, Dark Side of Genius, From Within, Arcadia Lost. He has worked with Hollywood stars Christian Bale, Will Smith, John Travolta, George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Nicolas Cage, Russell Crowe, Cameron Diaz and others, and maintains a long-term friendship with Joaquin Phoenix and Dustin Hoffman.
He later made his debut as a director in the film Showtime’s Sketch Artist in 1992 and two years later he directed Dark Side of Genius.
In 2000, he was awarded the Prix Vision of the Avignon Film Festival for his cinematography in 27 Missing Kisses.
Personal life
He spends his time between Los Angeles and Leonidio, Greece.In an interview with Greek Reporter Papamichael said, ”I want to spend more time in Greece from next year. My parents live there and my home is also there. I visit Los Angeles regularly just for my job. Obviously, I will move permanently to Leonidio some time in the future. It’s unlikely to live the twilight of my life in the United States.” He also has a wife and two children.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
| 1988 | Dance of the Damned | Katt Shea | |
| 1989 | ' | Katt Shea | |
| 1989 | After Midnight | Jim Wheat Ken Wheat | |
| 1989 | Nowhere to Run | Carl Franklin | |
| 1990 | Prayer of the Rollerboys | Rick King | |
| 1990 | Body Chemistry | Kristine Peterson | |
| 1990 | Streets | Katt Shea | |
| 1991 | Driving Me Crazy | Jon Turteltaub | |
| 1992 | Poison Ivy | Katt Shea | |
| 1993 | Cool Runnings | Jon Turteltaub | |
| 1995 | Unstrung Heroes | Diane Keaton | |
| 1995 | While You Were Sleeping | Jon Turteltaub | |
| 1996 | Unhook the Stars | Nick Cassavetes | |
| 1996 | Phenomenon | Jon Turteltaub | |
| 1996 | Bio-Dome | Jason Bloom | |
| 1997 | Mouse Hunt | Gore Verbinski | |
| 1997 | The Locusts | John Patrick Kelley | |
| 1998 | Willie Nelson at the Teatro | Wim Wenders | Documentary film |
| 1998 | Patch Adams | Tom Shadyac | |
| 2000 | 27 Missing Kisses | Nana Dzhordzhadze | Avignon Prix Vision Nominated- Camerimage Golden Frog |
| 2000 | The Million Dollar Hotel | Wim Wenders | Nominated- Camerimage Golden Frog |
| 2001 | America's Sweethearts | Joe Roth | |
| 2002 | Moonlight Mile | Brad Silberling | |
| 2002 | Ode to Cologne: A Rock 'N' Roll Film | Wim Wenders | Documentary film |
| 2003 | Identity | James Mangold | |
| 2004 | Mathilde | Nina Mimica | |
| 2004 | Sideways | Alexander Payne | |
| 2005 | The Weather Man | Gore Verbinski | |
| 2005 | Walk the Line | James Mangold | Camerimage Presidents' Award Nominated- Camerimage Golden Frog |
| 2006 | 10 Items or Less | Brad Silberling | |
| 2007 | ' | James Mangold | |
| 2008 | W. | Oliver Stone | |
| 2010 | Knight and Day | James Mangold | |
| 2011 | The Ides of March | George Clooney | |
| 2011 | The Descendants | Alexander Payne | |
| 2012 | This Is 40 | Judd Apatow | |
| 2013 | Nebraska | Alexander Payne | BSC Award for Best Cinematography in a Feature Film Nominated- Academy Award for Best Cinematography Nominated- BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography Nominated- ASC Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography Nominated- Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Cinematography Nominated- Camerimage Golden Frog Nominated- IndieWire Critics Poll Award for Best Cinematography Nominated- National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography Nominated- New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cinematography Nominated- San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cinematography Nominated- St. Louis Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography |
| 2014 | The Monuments Men | George Clooney | |
| 2016 | Cedric Nicolas-Troyan | ||
| 2017 | Downsizing | Alexander Payne | |
| 2019 | Ford v Ferrari | James Mangold | Nominated- ASC Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography Nominated- BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography Nominated- Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Cinematography Nominated- North Texas Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography Nominated- San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Cinematography Nominated- Satellite Award for Best Cinematography |
| 2020 | The Trial of the Chicago 7 | Aaron Sorkin | Post-production |