Gabriel Beristáin

Biography

Luis Gabriel Beristain is a Mexican cinematographer, producer and television director whose career spans European art cinema and Hollywood studio filmmaking. He is an active member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and his work runs from the 1980s to the present.

Born in Mexico City, the son of actor Luis Beristain, he became interested in filmmaking through Mexico's independent scene of the 1970s. After shooting documentaries and founding a small production company, he moved to Italy and then to Britain on the recommendation of Sergio Leone, enrolling at the National Film and Television School. His first feature as cinematographer was the Colombian horror film Bloody Flesh (1983). His work on Derek Jarman's Caravaggio earned him a Special Silver Bear in Berlin. Encouraged by Allen Daviau, he later settled in Hollywood, where he has shot thrillers and action films such as Blade II, S.W.A.T. and Street Kings. He has worked with Guillermo del Toro, Derek Jarman, David Mamet and David Ayer, and has also contributed additional photography to Marvel Studios productions, beginning with Iron Man.

His legacy lies in a career that bridges auteur cinema and studio work. He remains active, with recent titles including The Beekeeper and Harold and the Purple Crayon.

Key films

• Caravaggio (1986)
• Dolores Claiborne (1995)
• Blade II (2002)
• Street Kings (2008)