Alejandro Catalán (11 December 1968 in El Pobo de Dueñas, Spain – present) better known as Alex Catalán, is a Spanish
director of photography
The cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the person responsible for the photographing or recording of a film, television production, music video or other live action piece. The cinematographer is the ch ...
, who has worked in more than 20 feature films and other
short films which have won several prizes.
Biography
One of his first jobs related with the audiovisual sector was when her sister, who was a 1st. Camera Assistant, gave him the opportunity of working as a Clapper/Loader in a commercial for the Spanish National Organization for the blind (
ONCE
Once means a one-time occurrence.
Once may refer to:
Music
* ''Once'' (Pearl Jam song), a 1991 song from the album ''Ten''
* ''Once'' (Roy Harper album), a 1990 album by Roy Harper
* ''Once'' (The Tyde album), a 2001 debut album by The Tyd ...
) at the Puerta del Sol of Madrid in the mid – 80s. There he found out the intensity of the professional filming. He also started working as press photographer.
Although he matriculated at
biology
Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary i ...
at the Universidad de Sevilla, he was more attracted by the photography. But not only photography, he also has always loved scuba diving. He attended the schools from
Madrid
Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...
, London, Los Angeles and
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
and after passing the public examination, he started working as a camera operator in the public Spanish television (TVE) in Seville, where he worked for 12 years. After leaving these public organism he has photographed more than 30
short films and creative documentaries which have won many national and international festivals since 2000.
His interest with the word of the films. He has worked as a director of photography in more than 20 feature films. In 2014 he received the Special Jury Prize on the
San Sebastián
San Sebastian, officially known as Donostia–San Sebastián (names in both local languages: ''Donostia'' () and ''San Sebastián'' ()) is a city and Municipalities of Spain, municipality located in the Basque Country (autonomous community), B ...
International Film Festival for ''
Marshland
A marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous rather than woody plant species.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p Marshes can often be found at ...
'' and in 2015 he won the Goya prize for Best Photography Direction for the same film, where the created atmosphere in the marsh of the Guadalquivir was distinguished.
Awards
* 5 Teo Escamilla Awards for the best technical and artistical contribution in 2001, 2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015 given by the Asotiation of Cinematographic Writers from Andalucía.
* Best photography for "Camino" in the 24 edition of the International Film Festival from Guadalajara, Mexico.
* Nominated to the Goya awards in 2010, 2013 and 2019 for the best photography in ''After'', ''Grupo 7'' and ''Yuli: The Carlos Acosta Story''.
* 2 medals from the Cinematographic Writers Circle (CEC) for the best photography in ''
Even the Rain
''Even the Rain'' ( es, También la lluvia, links=no) is a 2010 drama film directed by Icíar Bollaín and written by Paul Laverty.
The plot concerns Mexican director Sebastián (Gael García Bernal), Spanish executive producer Costa (Luis Tosar) ...
'' and ''Marshland''.
* Special mention from the jury to the photography in the
Tribeca
Tribeca (), originally written as TriBeCa, is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan in New York City. Its name is a syllabic abbreviation of "Triangle Below Canal Street". The "triangle" (more accurately a quadrilateral) is bounded by Canal Stre ...
Festival, New York, for ''Grupo 7''.
* Jury award on the 62nd San Sebastian Festival to beste photography for ''Marshland''.
* Goya award to the best photography for ''Marshland''.
Filmography
*2018 ''
Yuli: The Carlos Acosta Story''
* 2014 ''
Marshland
A marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous rather than woody plant species.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p Marshes can often be found at ...
''
* 2014 ''Anochece en la India''
* 2013 ''
¿Quién mató a Bambi?''
* 2013 ''No tiene gracia'' (short film)
* 2012 ''
Grupo 7''
* 2011 ''
La voz dormida''
* 2011 ''No tengas miedo''
* 2011 ''Tres'' (short film)
* 2010 ''
Even the Rain
''Even the Rain'' ( es, También la lluvia, links=no) is a 2010 drama film directed by Icíar Bollaín and written by Paul Laverty.
The plot concerns Mexican director Sebastián (Gael García Bernal), Spanish executive producer Costa (Luis Tosar) ...
''
* 2010 ''
Habitación en Roma''
* 2009 ''
After
After may refer to:
Literature
* ''After'' (Elgar), an 1895 poem by Philip Bourke Marston set to music by Edward Elgar
* ''After'' (Prose novel), a 2003 novel by Francine Prose
* ''After'' (book), a 2005 book by Canadian writer Francis Chalifour
...
''
* 2009 ''Desátate'' (TV)
* 2009 ''La sirena y el buzo'' (Documentary)
* 2008 ''Bajo el mismo cielo'' (TV)
* 2008 ''
Camino''
* 2007 ''Dame veneno'' (Documentary)
* 2006 ''
Cabeza de perro''
* 2006 ''Cielo sin ángeles'' (short film)
* 2006 ''Tocata y fuga'' (short film)
* 2005 ''
7 vírgenes''
* 2004 ''Necesidades'' (short film)
* 2004 ''Atún y chocolate''
* 2004 ''Mirados'' (short film)
* 2003 ''Nieves'' (short film)
* 2003 ''Queda demostrado'' (short film)
* 2003 ''Ulises'' (short film)
* 2003 ''Astronautas''
* 2003 ''Underground, la ciudad del Arco Iris'' (Documentary)
* 2003 ''La nariz de Cleopatra'' (short film)
* 2003 ''Eres mi héroe''
* 2002 ''Asalto informático'' (TV)
* 2002 ''Mayte y las nubes'' (short film)
* 2002 ''Por dónde rayos sale el sol'' (short film)
* 2002 ''El traje''
* 2002 ''María la Portuguesa'' (TV)
* 2001 ''Muerte y resurrección'' (short film)
* 2001 ''Diminutos del calvario'' (short film)
* 2000 ''Invasión Travesti''
* 2000 ''Los Almendros – Plaza nueva'' (short film)
* 2000 ''El congreso'' (Short film)
References
* https://web.archive.org/web/20140508173006/http://www.cineandcine.tv/curiocinedades/67-la-gran-familia-andaluza/1488-alex-catalan-fotografia-cada-pelicula-es-un-reto-siempre-hay-que-tener-los-ojos-abiertos.html
* http://www.juliomedem.org/colaboradores/alex.html
External links
* http://www.alexcatalan.com
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Catalan, Alex
Living people
1968 births