Dante Spinotti, A.S.C., A.I.C. (born 22 August 1943) is an Italian cinematographer and a member of the board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.^[1] He is known for his collaborations with directors Michael Mann, Michael Apted, Deon Taylor, and Brett Ratner, and is frequently credited with helping to pioneer the use of high-definition digital video in cinematography.^[2][3] He is a BAFTA Award recipient and two-time Academy Award nominee (for L.A. Confidential and The Insider).

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Spinotti was born in Tolmezzo, near the Austrian border. He began experimenting with still photography at the age of 11 with a camera given to him by his uncle, a cinematographer and director specializing in documentaries and newsreels. He worked as a camera operator on documentaries for much of his early career.

Among the more notable films he has worked on are The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, and L.A. Confidential. Spinotti also was the cinematographer for Brett Ratner's films, such as Red Dragon (2002), After the Sunset (2004), and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006).

Spinotti was the cinematographer on both adaptations of the novel Red Dragon by Thomas Harris: Michael Mann's 1986 adaptation (titled Manhunter), and Brett Ratner's 2002 adaptation.^[4] He won the Golden Camera 300 award at the Manaki Brothers Film Festival in North Macedonia for lifetime achievement.

Academy Awards

BAFTA Awards

American Society of Cinematographers

Los Angeles Film Critics Association

Satellite Awards

Chicago Film Critics Association

National Society of Film Critics