Babette Mangolte

Babette Mangolte is a Professor in the Department of Visual Arts at the University of California, San Diego. A renowned figure in experimental cinema and photography, she is celebrated for her work as cinematographer and filmmaker, particularly in feminist film practice and avant-garde techniques. Her career spans over five decades with significant contributions to both film and visual arts.

Education & Early Career: Mangolte studied cinematography at L’École Nationale de la Photographie et de la Cinématographie (1965–66) in Paris. She began her career as an assistant camera operator in the late 1960s and directed her first feature film, What Maisie Knew, in 1970. By the 1970s, she became deeply involved in New York’s experimental art scene, collaborating with figures like Yvonne Rainer and Trisha Brown.

Research & Work: Her research interests include the intersection of cinema, performance, and photography. Notable films include Jeanne Dielman (1975), News From Home (1976), and Visible Cities (1991). Her work often explores themes of gender, space, and narrative form. Mangolte has contributed critically to feminist film theory and authored essays on technology’s impact on filmmaking, such as A Matter of Time: Analog versus Digital (2002).

Awards & Recognition: Mangolte received the Prix de la Lumiere at the 1975 Toulon Film Festival for What Maisie Knew. Her films have been showcased globally at institutions like MoMA, the Whitney Museum, and the Tate Modern. Retrospectives of her work were held in Germany (2000) and New York (2004).

Labs & Collaborations: She has collaborated extensively with dancers, choreographers, and artists, including Robert Rauschenberg and Robert Whitman. Her photography captures performance art and theater, featured in publications like October and Artforum. Currently, she is archiving her photographic works and writing on Robert Bresson’s legacy.