Janusz Kamiński
From Wikipedia
Janusz Zygmunt Kamiński (Polish: [ˌjanuʂ kaˈmiɲskʲi]; born June 27, 1959) is a Polish[1] cinematographer and director of film and television, who started his career in the United States. He rose to fame in the 1990s with his work on Schindler’s List (1993). He has established a partnership with Steven Spielberg, working as a cinematographer on his films since 1993.[4] He won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan (1998). In recent years, Kamiński has also moved into the field of directing, first with the horror film Lost Souls, and later television series like The Event and The Divide.
In 2019, the American Society of Cinematographers included Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan, both shot by Kamiński, on the list of the best-
photographed films of the 20th century.[5
Life and career
Kamiński was born in Ziębice, Poland, the son of mother, Jadwiga Celner, and father, Marian Kaminski.[6] In 1981, he emigrated to the United States at the age of 21 after Prime Minister Jaruzelski imposed martial law.
He attended Columbia College in Chicago from 1982 to 1987, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree,[2] taking up filmmaking as a profession before attending to the AFI Conservatory, where he graduated with a Master of Fine Arts degree. He worked under cinematographer Phedon Papamichael, first as a gaffer, and eventually as second unit director of photography. He shot numerous B-movies for directors Roger Corman and Katt Shea, as well as the romantic musical comedy Cool as Ice, starring Vanilla Ice.
Kamiński was first discovered by Steven Spielberg in 1991. After seeing the television film Wildflower, Spielberg hired Kamiński to shoot Class of ’61, a television film in which Spielberg served as producer.[7]
He twice won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography in the 1990s, for Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan. He has been nominated four additional times for Amistad, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, War Horse and Lincoln. In 2010, he was awarded the Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal by the AFI Conservatory.[8]
Kamiński became a member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) in 1994,[9] but resigned in 2006.[9][10][11]
Kamiński was married to actress Holly Hunter from 1995 until 2001. He married ABC reporter Rebecca Rankin in 2004. They divorced in 2010.[12]
Filmography
 | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Film
Additional photography credits
| Year | Title | Dir. | DoP. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Lords of the Deep | Mary Ann Fisher | Austin McKinney | Second unit photography |
| 1990 | Streets | Katt Shea | Phedon Papamichael | |
| Watchers II | Thierry Notz | Edward J. Pei | ||
| 1992 | Star Time | Alexander Cassini | Fernando Argüelles | Additional photography |
| One False Move | Carl Franklin | James L. Carter | Second unit photography | |
| 1993 | Love, Cheat & Steal | William Curran | Kent L. Wakeford | Additional photography |
| 1998 | Armageddon | Michael Bay | John Schwartzman |
Directorial credits
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Lost Souls | Directorial debut |
| 2007 | Hania | |
| 2021 | American Dream | Pre-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Dir. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Wildflower | Diane Keaton | Television film |
| 1993 | Class of ’61 | Gregory Hoblit | |
| 2021 | Oslo | Bartlett Sher |
Directorial credits
| Year | Title | DoP. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | The Event | Feliks Parnell | Episode: “Face Off” |
| 2014 | The Divide | Robert Aschman | Episode: “Never Forget” |
Awards and nominations
| Award | Wins | Nominations |
|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | 2 | 6 |
| BAFTA Film Awards | 1 | 4 |
| ASC Awards | N/A | 6 |
| César Award | 1 | N/A |
| Independent Spirit Awards | 1 | N/A |
Industry awards
Academy Awards
| Year | Title | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Schindler’s List | Best Cinematography | Won |
| 1997 | Amistad | Nominated | |
| 1998 | Saving Private Ryan | Won | |
| 2007 | The Diving Bell and the Butterfly | Nominated | |
| 2011 | War Horse | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Lincoln | Nominated |
BAFTA Awards
| Year | Title | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Schindler’s List | Best Cinematography | Won |
| 1998 | Saving Private Ryan | Nominated | |
| 2011 | War Horse | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Lincoln | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Bridge of Spies | Nominated |
American Society of Cinematographers
| Year | Title | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Schindler’s List | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography | Nominated |
| 1997 | Amistad | Nominated | |
| 1998 | Saving Private Ryan | Nominated | |
| 2007 | The Diving Bell and the Butterfly | Nominated | |
| 2012 | Lincoln | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Bridge of Spies | Nominated |
American Film Institute (AFI) Awards
- 2002: A.I. Artificial Intelligence (won)
- 2010: Franklin J. Schaffner Award (won)
British Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematography
- 1993: Schindler’s List (won)
- 1998: Saving Private Ryan (nomination)
- 2007: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (nomination)
- 2015: Bridge of Spies (nomination)
- 1998: Saving Private Ryan − Golden Frog (nominated)
- 2002: Atlas Award (won)
- 2007: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly − Golden Frog (won)
- 2007: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly − Vulcan Prize for the Technical Artist (won)
César Award for Best Cinematography
- 2007: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (nomination)
- 2002: Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography
- 2015: Bridge of Spies (won)
Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography
- 2007: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (won)
Palm Springs International Film Festival
- 2000: Da Vinci’s Cinematographer’s Award (won)
Satellite Award for Best Cinematography
- 1997: Amistad (won)
- 1998: Saving Private Ryan (nomination)
- 2002: Minority Report (nomination)
- 2005: Munich (nomination)
- 2007: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (won)
- 2011: War Horse (won)
- 2012: Lincoln (nomination)
- 2015: Bridge of Spies (nomination)
Stockholm International Film Festival
- 2007: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (won)
Critics awards
Alliance of Women Film Journalists
- 2002: A.I. Artificial Intelligence – Cinematographer of the Year (won)
Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography
- 1993: Schindler’s List (won)
- 1998: Saving Private Ryan (won)
- 2007: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (won)
Broadcast Film Critics Association
- 2011: War Horse (won) – Critics Choice Award for Best Cinematography
- 2012: Lincoln (nomination) – Critics Choice Award for Best Cinematography
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography
- 1993: Schindler’s List (won)
- 1998: Saving Private Ryan (nomination)
- 2001: A.I. Artificial Intelligence (nomination)
- 2002: Minority Report (nomination)
- 2005: Munich (nomination)
- 2007: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (nomination)
- 2011: War Horse (nomination)
- 2012: Lincoln (nomination)
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography
- 1993: Schindler’s List (won)
- 1998: Saving Private Ryan (won)
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cinematography
- 1998: Saving Private Ryan (won)
Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Cinematography
- 2007: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (nomination) – Best Cinematography
International Online Film Critics’ Poll
- 2002: Minority Report (nomination) – INOCA Award for Best Cinematography
- 2007: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (nomination) – INOCA Award for Best Cinematography
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematography
- 1993: Schindler’s List (won)
- 1998: Saving Private Ryan (won)
- 2007: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (won)
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography
- 1993: Schindler’s List (won)
- 1998: Saving Private Ryan (won)
- 2007: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (won)
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cinematographer
- 1993: Schindler’s List (won)
St. Louis Film Critics Association Award for Best Cinematographer
- 2007: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (nomination)
- 2011: War Horse (nomination)
Other recognition
- 2008: Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member George Lucas[13][14]