David Keighley, Imax’s first chief quality officer, died after a battle with cancer on Aug. 28. He was 77.
“We honor the life and legacy of David Keighley, a true pioneer of film presentation and one of Imax’s most iconic voices,” said the company in a statement. “For decades, he served as our first Chief Quality Officer and oversaw post-production on more than 500 Imax films.”
Keighley worked in the role for over 15 years. He worked and collaborated with various filmmakers in the industry, such as Christopher Nolan, Francis Ford Coppola, James Cameron and more. Keighley’s last project at Imax was overseeing Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” set to release in theaters on July 17, 2026.
“No filmmaker today would be able to shoot or screen film of any format today if not for David Keighley, our entire industry owes him a massive debt,” said Nolan in a statement. “While it breaks my heart to know that we will not be finishing ‘The Odyssey’ together, I take comfort in knowing that he personally supervised the processing and printing of everything we shot.”
“I remember so vividly working closely with David on many projects, starting 25 years ago when I started exploring digital 3D with Imax,” said Cameron. “He was a strong ally and a true believer in creating the ultimate cinema experience for audiences around the world.”
Beginning his career in 1972 with his wife and business partner Patricia, the pair founded David Keighley Productions, a post-production company with a focus in large-format. Later that year, the duo co-directed “Catch the Sun,” beginning their decades-long partnership with Imax.
In 1988, David Keighley Productions 70MM was acquired by Imax, where Keighley oversaw multiple Imax film prints and personally approved them.
Keighley previously received the Giant Screen Theater Association’s inaugural Special Achievement in Film Award, where he was honored alongside his wife with Giant Screen Theater’s Association’s Outstanding Achievement Award. He served as a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the American Society of Cinematographers, a Life Fellow of the SMPTE, where he was a previous recipient of the Herbert T. Kalmus Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Color Motion Pictures.
Keighley is survived by his wife, his three children Geoff, Chris and Jennifer, and two grandchildren, Sam and Eli.
