---
name: "José Luis Alcaine"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/jose-luis-alcaine"
fi1m_id: "jose-luis-alcaine"
imdb_id: "nm0003900"
tmdb_id: 4376
wikidata_id: "Q974798"
roles: ["Cinematographer"]
born: "26 December 1938"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 83
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-03T02:12:11.411402+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# José Luis Alcaine

## Identity

José Luis Alcaine

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jose-luis-alcaine
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** jose-luis-alcaine
- **IMDb ID:** nm0003900
- **TMDB ID:** 4376
- **Wikidata ID:** Q974798
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Luis_Alcaine, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q974798, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003900/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4376

Cinematographer. Born 26 December 1938 in Tangier, Morocco.

## Details

- **Work:** Cinematographer
- **Born:** 26 December 1938, Tangier, Morocco
- **Active:** 1988–present
- **Also known as:** J. Luis Alcaine, J.L. Alcaine, Jose Luis Alcaine, José Luís Alcaine
- **Frequently works with:** [Pedro Almodóvar](https://film.one/person/pedro-almodovar.md), [Agustín Almodóvar](https://film.one/person/agustin-almodovar.md), [Antonio Banderas](https://film.one/person/antonio-banderas.md), [Esther García](https://film.one/person/esther-garcia.md), [Carmen Maura](https://film.one/person/carmen-maura.md), [Julieta Serrano](https://film.one/person/julieta-serrano.md), [Penélope Cruz](https://film.one/person/penelope-cruz.md), [Rossy de Palma](https://film.one/person/rossy-de-palma.md)
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 84 (1), 2000s 84 (1), 2010s 82 (2), 2020s 82 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 83 to 79 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 5, Comedy 2, Horror 1, Mystery 1, Romance 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $195m across 5 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Luis_Alcaine, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q974798, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003900/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4376

## Streaming the US now

- **Tubi:** [*Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown*](https://film.one/film/women-on-the-verge-of-a-nervous-breakdown.md) (84), [*The Skin I Live In*](https://film.one/film/the-skin-i-live-in.md) (80)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

José Luis Alcaine is a Spanish cinematographer. Born on 26 December 1938 in Tangier, Morocco, he trained at the Escuela Oficial de Cinematografía in Madrid and began working in the mid-1960s. He is noted as a pioneer in the use of fluorescent tubes as key lighting during the 1970s.

Alcaine has collaborated extensively with directors including Pedro Almodóvar on films such as *Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown* (1988), *Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!* (1990), *Bad Education* (2004), *Volver* (2006) and *The Skin I Live In* (2011). His other credits include *El sur* (1983), *Belle Époque* (1992) and *Parallel Mothers* (2021).

He has received five Goya Awards for best cinematography and the European Film Award for Best Cinematographer for *Volver*. In 2019 he was awarded the Medalla de Oro al Mérito en las Bellas Artes.

*Sources: variety.com, es.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (5)

- *Parallel Mothers* (2021), Fi1m 82, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/parallel-mothers.md)
- *Pain and Glory* (2019), Fi1m 84, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/pain-and-glory.md)
- *The Skin I Live In* (2011), Fi1m 80, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-skin-i-live-in.md)
- *Volver* (2006), Fi1m 84, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/volver.md)
- *Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown* (1988), Fi1m 84, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/women-on-the-verge-of-a-nervous-breakdown.md)

## Complete filmography (121)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Delights of the Garden* (2025), Director of Photography
- *Speak Sunlight* (2023), Director of Photography
- *Strange Way of Life* (2023), Director of Photography
- *Cuidado con lo que deseas* (2021), Director of Photography
- *Parallel Mothers* (2021), Director of Photography — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/parallel-mothers.md)
- *Glow and Darkness* (2021), series, Director of Photography
- *So My Grandma's a Lesbian!* (2020), Director of Photography
- *The Human Voice* (2020), Director of Photography
- *Domino* (2019), Director of Photography
- *Pain and Glory* (2019), Director of Photography — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/pain-and-glory.md)
- *Everybody Knows* (2018), Director of Photography
- *The Queen of Spain* (2016), Director of Photography
- *Wild Oats* (2016), Director of Photography
- *Finding Altamira* (2016), Director of Photography
- *I'm So Excited!* (2013), Director of Photography
- *Passion* (2013), Director of Photography
- *La banda Picasso* (2013), Director of Photography
- *The Skin I Live In* (2011), Director of Photography — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-skin-i-live-in.md)
- *My Life in Ruins* (2009), Director of Photography
- *Martes de Carnaval* (2009), series, Director of Photography
- *Lolita's Club* (2007), Director of Photography
- *The 13 Roses* (2007), Director of Photography
- *Theresa: The Body of Christ* (2007), Director of Photography
- *Blame* (2006), Director of Photography
- *The Maidens' Conspiracy* (2006), Director of Photography
- *Volver* (2006), Director of Photography — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/volver.md)
- *Vida y color* (2005), Director of Photography
- *The Wretched Life of Juanita Narboni* (2005), Director of Photography
- *Roma* (2004), Director of Photography
- *The Whore and the Whale* (2004), Director of Photography
- *Bad Education* (2004), Director of Photography
- *South from Granada* (2003), Director of Photography
- *Nobody's Life* (2002), Cinematography
- *Ruy Blas* (2002), Director of Photography
- *The Dancer Upstairs* (2002), Director of Photography
- *Antonio, a Boy in Lisbon* (2002), Director of Photography
- *The Lost Lover* (1999), Director of Photography
- *Blast from the Past* (1999), Director of Photography
- *Gunslinger's Revenge* (1998), Director of Photography
- *Don Juan* (1998), Director of Photography
- *My Brother's Gun* (1997), Director of Photography
- *Más allá del jardín* (1996), Director of Photography
- *Freedomfighters* (1996), Director of Photography
- *Confidencias* (1996), Director of Photography
- *Two Much* (1995), Director of Photography
- *Turkish Passion* (1994), Director of Photography
- *The Tit and the Moon* (1994), Director of Photography
- *Golden Balls* (1993), Director of Photography
- *Intruso* (1993), Director of Photography
- *Cuentos de Borges* (1993), series, Director of Photography
- *Belle Époque* (1992), Director of Photography
- *El sur* (1992), Cinematography
- *Jamon Jamon* (1992), Director of Photography
- *Lovers: A True Story* (1991), Director of Photography
- *Dancing Machine* (1990), Cinematography
- *Ay, Carmela!* (1990), Director of Photography
- *Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!* (1990), Director of Photography
- *Twisted Obsession* (1989), Director of Photography
- *The Sea and the Weather* (1989), Director of Photography
- *Misadventure* (1988), Cinematography
- *El Lute II: Tomorrow I'll Be Free* (1988), Director of Photography
- *Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown* (1988), Director of Photography — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/women-on-the-verge-of-a-nervous-breakdown.md)
- *Lute: Forge On or Die* (1987), Director of Photography
- *Casanova* (1987), Director of Photography
- *Voyage to Nowhere* (1986), Director of Photography
- *Half of Heaven* (1986), Director of Photography
- *Hay que deshacer la casa* (1986), Director of Photography
- *Mambru Went to War* (1986), Director of Photography
- *Star Knight* (1985), Director of Photography
- *The Court of the Pharaoh* (1985), Cinematography
- *Rustlers' Rhapsody* (1985), Director of Photography
- *La reina del mate* (1985), Director of Photography
- *The Lost Paradise* (1985), Director of Photography
- *Tasio* (1984), Cinematography
- *Akelarre* (1984), Director of Photography
- *El caso Almería* (1984), Director of Photography
- *Después de… Primera parte: no se os puede dejar solos* (1983), Director of Photography
- *Después de… Segunda parte: atado y bien atado* (1983), Director of Photography
- *El Sur* (1983), Director of Photography
- *Murder in the Central Committee* (1982), Director of Photography
- *Bésame, tonta* (1982), Director of Photography
- *The Triple Death of the Third Character* (1981), Director of Photography
- *Per favore, occupati di Amelia* (1981), Director of Photography
- *La campanada* (1980), Director of Photography
- *Girl with the Golden Panties* (1980), Director of Photography
- *Gulliver* (1979), Director of Photography
- *From Hell to Victory* (1979), Director of Photography
- *Marián* (1979), Director of Photography
- *Soldados* (1978), Director of Photography
- *Let's Go, Barbara* (1978), Director of Photography
- *Stay as You Are* (1978), Director of Photography
- *Red Gold* (1978), Director of Photography
- *God Bless Each Corner of This House* (1977), Director of Photography
- *Goodbye Alicia* (1977), Director of Photography
- *María, la santa* (1977), Director of Photography
- *School Trip* (1976), Director of Photography
- *Family Portrait* (1976), Director of Photography
- *Who Can Kill a Child?* (1976), Director of Photography
- *Songs for After a War* (1976), Director of Photography
- *País S. A.* (1975), Director of Photography
- *A Diary of a Murderess* (1975), Director of Photography
- *Sensualidad* (1975), Director of Photography
- *The Devil's Exorcist* (1975), Director of Photography
- *Bride to Be* (1975), Director of Photography
- *¿... Y el prójimo?* (1974), Director of Photography
- *I Saw Her First* (1974), Director of Photography
- *The Lonely Heart* (1973), Director of Photography
- *El niño es nuestro* (1973), Director of Photography
- *Plinio* (1972), series, Director of Photography
- *El cronicón* (1970), Director of Photography
- *El último día de la humanidad* (1969), Cinematography
- *Tinto con amor* (1968), Director of Photography
- *Paseo por los letreros de Madrid* (1968), Director of Photography
- *Acteón* (1967), Still Photographer
- *Javier y los invasores del espacio* (1967), Director of Photography
- *Nine Letters to Berta* (1966), Still Photographer
- *Los buenos samaritanos* (1966), Director of Photography
- *Carmen de Carabanchel* (1965), Director of Photography
- *Anabel* (1964), Still Photographer
- *Adam's Perfection*, Director of Photography
- *El sastre del rey*, Director of Photography

## Gallery

- ![Cast & Crew von The Queen of Spain bei der Berlinale 2017](https://film.one/media/person/99271/gallery-acde88697dcd.jpg) Cast & Crew von The Queen of Spain bei der Berlinale 2017 — Maximilian Bühn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Cast_%26_Crew_Photo_Call_The_Queen_of_Spain_Berlinale_2017_1.jpg/1280px-Cast_%26_Crew_Photo_Call_The_Queen_of_Spain_Berlinale_2017_1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![José Luis Alcaine](https://film.one/media/person/99271/gallery-04a335ce650a.jpg) José Luis Alcaine — Maximilian Bühn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Jos%C3%A9_Luis_Alcaine_Press_Conference_The_Queen_of_Spain_Berlinale_2017.jpg/1280px-Jos%C3%A9_Luis_Alcaine_Press_Conference_The_Queen_of_Spain_Berlinale_2017.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![José Luis Alcaine](https://film.one/media/person/99271/gallery-dafbab74fa73.jpg) José Luis Alcaine — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 10 won, 2 nominated

- Goya Award for Best Cinematography 2022: Goya Award for Best Cinematography (nominated), for *Parallel Mothers*
- Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts 2017: Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts (won)
- CST Award of the Technical Artist 2011: CST Award of the Technical Artist (won)
- Medalla de Oro 2011: Medalla de Oro (won)
- Goya Award for Best Cinematography 2008: Goya Award for Best Cinematography (won), for *Las 13 rosas*
- European Film Award for Best Cinematographer 2006: European Film Award for Best Cinematographer (won), for *Volver*
- European Film Award for Best Cinematographer 2004: European Film Award for Best Cinematographer (nominated), for *Bad Education*
- Goya Award for Best Cinematography 2003: Goya Award for Best Cinematography (won), for *El caballero Don Quijote*
- Goya Award for Best Cinematography 1994: Goya Award for Best Cinematography (won), for *The Bird of Happiness*
- Goya Award for Best Cinematography 1993: Goya Award for Best Cinematography (won), for *Belle Époque*
- Goya Award for Best Cinematography 1990: Goya Award for Best Cinematography (won), for *Twisted Obsession*
- Premio Nacional de Cinematografía 1989: Premio Nacional de Cinematografía (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/jose-luis-alcaine