Chris Menges
Awards & Honours
27
Awards Won
3
Honours
2
Rankings
2
Covers
2
Records
Chris Menges stands as a titan of cinematic lighting with two Oscars to his name. His mastery of natural light in The Mission and The Killing Fields set new standards for documentary-style realism in Hollywood. The Camerimage Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 cemented his legacy among peers. He is one of the few filmmakers to win back-to-back Oscars for cinematography while also successfully transitioning to directing major controversies like The Last Temptation of Christ. His influence extends to generations of DPs who study his refusal to use artificial lighting even in jungle settings.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
BSC Full Member
Full membership recognizing his contribution to UK cinematography
ASC Honorary Member
Honorary recognition for international impact on the craft
Camerimage Lifetime Achievement Award
Prestigious honor for contributions to the art of cinematography
Rankings & Lists
Top 10 Living Cinematographers
Best Cinematography Lists
Magazine Covers
American Cinematographer
October 1984
The Making of The Killing Fields
Variety
November 1986
Interview: Chris Menges on The Mission
Records & Feats
Back-to-Back Oscars for Cinematography
Won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography in consecutive years for The Killing Fields and The Mission
Natural Light Pioneer in Jungle Settings
Shot The Mission entirely using natural light in Paraguay without artificial sources