Blog Dion Beebe Honored with the 2025 Pierre Angénieux Tribute at Cannes Film Festival

As an official partner of the Cannes Film Festival for the 12th year, Angénieux is proud to announce that acclaimed cinematographer Dion Beebe ACS, ASC is the recipient of the 2025 Pierre Angénieux Tribute, awarded during the 78th Cannes Film Festival. As part of this prestigious, the tribute highlights the exceptional visual storytellers behind the camera, artists without whom cinema would simply not exist.

Born in Brisbane, Australia, and raised in Cape Town, Dion Beebe developed an early appreciation for cinema, photography, and visual storytelling. His first cinematic awakening came at age 13 when he saw Ingmar Bergman’s Cries and Whispers, an experience that reshaped his understanding of what cinema could be. Influenced early on by editorial photography, particularly the works of Peter Lindbergh, Guy Bourdin, and Helmut Newton, Beebe’s sensibilities as a cinematographer reflect a deep connection to the power of image composition, texture, and emotional tone. After studying at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS), Beebe embarked on a career that would eventually take him from local features in Australia and New Zealand to Hollywood blockbusters. His breakout came with Rob Marshall’s Chicago (2002), and their creative partnership continued through multiple films including Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), for which Beebe won both the Academy Award and BAFTA for Best Cinematography. His work on Michael Mann’s Collateral (2004), meanwhile, became a landmark in digital cinematography, showcasing the possibilities of high-definition night photography using the Thomson Viper FilmStream camera. That project, and the follow-up Miami Vice (2006), established Beebe as a technical and aesthetic innovator during the digital transition in cinema.

Over the years, Dion Beebe has collaborated with an array of prominent directors, including Jane Campion, Ang Lee, Michael Bay, Antoine Fuqua, and of course, Rob Marshall, with whom he has made seven films. Their latest collaboration, Disney’s The Little Mermaid (2023), continues their tradition of visually lush, emotionally rich filmmaking. Beebe’s credits span an eclectic range, from gritty urban thrillers to fantastical musicals, always unified by his distinctive visual touch: stylized, highly saturated palettes, and a willingness to experiment. Whether it’s the elegant softness of Memoirs of a Geisha or the nocturnal vibrancy of Collateral, his images are never static; they pulse with emotional and narrative intent.

Dion Beebe’s long-standing relationship with Angénieux lenses is reflected in many of his most celebrated works. From the stylized elegance of Chicago and Memoirs of a Geisha to the vibrant spectacle of Mary Poppins Returns and the recent reimagining of The Little Mermaid, Angénieux lenses have been integral to his visual language. Other titles where Beebe turned to Angénieux optics include Charlotte Gray, Equilibrium, Into the Woods, Gangster Squad, Nine, The Snowman, and Gemini Man; each demonstrating his trust in their performance across genres and formats. “I try not to have rigid parameters,” Beebe notes. “I find it’s much more interesting and rewarding to have an open mind about the story and what you want to achieve.” That spirit of exploration and adaptability makes Angénieux a natural creative partner in his cinematic journey.

As Angénieux celebrates its 90th anniversary as a global leader in high-end cinema optics, marking nine decades of innovation, craftsmanship, and trust among the world’s most visionary cinematographers, the 2025 Pierre Angénieux Tribute honors both legacy and future. This year, alongside Dion Beebe’s tribute, Angénieux proudly recognizes Eunsoo Cho, a rising South Korean cinematographer, with the Angénieux Special Encouragement. It supports emerging voices in cinematography, offering access to Angénieux technology for Cho’s next creative project. From Australia’s bold visual innovation to South Korea’s narrative depth, 2025 invites us to look forward while honoring the lens through which we’ve captured cinema for nearly a century.

Just like his predecessors Darius Khondji (AFC, ASC) Barry Ackroyd (BSC), and Santosh Sivan (ISC, ASC), Dion Beebe (ACS, ASC) will deliver a Masterclass on May 22, 2025 moderated by The Hollywood Reporter’s Jordan Mintzer, offering cinematographers and cinematography lovers a rare glimpse into the thinking behind his celebrated images.   This event will precede the grand homage to his work at the Pierre Angénieux Tribute on Friday, 23rd May, at the Palais des Festivals. For the latest news, follow us on Instagram or subscribe to our newsletter bellow.   Photos Courtesy of Dion Beebe. All Rights Reserved.
Featured picture taken by Ted Newsome