Visionary Film Pioneer David Keighley, Innovator in Imax's Large-Screen Movie Technology, Passes Away at 77
David Keighley, the first chief quality officer for Imax, has passed away at the age of 77. Keighley died at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York after a battle with neuroendocrine prostate cancer.
Throughout his 50-year career in the large-format cinema industry, Keighley made significant contributions to Imax and the film industry as a whole. He started his journey in 1972 when he and his wife and business partner, Patricia, founded the large-format postproduction company DKP 70MM. In 1988, their company was acquired by Imax, with the couple formally joining the company.
Keighley served as Imax's first chief quality officer for the past 15 years. He was incredibly energized and proud of his work on the upcoming Christopher Nolan adaptation of The Odyssey, completing his review of the dailies just days before his death.
Hollywood filmmakers closely connected with David Keighley during his career at IMAX included Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, and Francis Ford Coppola, all of whom received his support in using IMAX cameras, the large-format film, and ensuring the promised visual and acoustic quality. Nolan credits Keighley for putting Imax cameras into his hands for the first time and opening Hollywood's eyes to the power of the format, starting with The Dark Knight.
James Cameron praised Keighley for his work on various projects, including digital 3D for Imax. Denis Villeneuve lauded Keighley for ensuring the best visual and sound quality on the giant screen for his upcoming Dune 3 tentpole.
In addition to his wife and son Geoff, a producer, Keighley is survived by their two other children, Chris and Jennifer, and their grandchildren, Sam and Eli. Ryan Coogler, director of Sinners, spoke highly of Keighley's work on the film and his contributions to the industry.
Imax CEO Richard Gelfond stated that Keighley was as close to the human embodiment of Imax as there has ever been. Keighley oversaw postproduction on more than 500 Imax films, from Hollywood tentpoles to pioneering nature documentaries. During his tenure, he helped Imax migrate from showing mainly institutional movies to digitally reformatting Hollywood titles for the local multiplex and fanboy audiences.
Keighley was also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the American Society of Cinematographers, and the recipient of the Giant Screen Theater Association's inaugural Special Achievement in Film Award. Nolan praised Keighley for alerting filmmakers and major studios to the existential threat faced by the traditional film medium in the face of digital production.
Keighley completed work reviewing dailies for The Odyssey, which will be the first theatrical release ever shot entirely with Imax cameras. The Keighleys' company was acquired by Imax in 1988, with the couple formally joining the company.
The news of Keighley's passing has left a profound impact on the film industry. His dedication, passion, and expertise will be deeply missed.
