Michal Dąbal is a cinematographer with a diverse background in both the film and commercial industries. Hailing from Warsaw, Poland, he honed his craft at the prestigious American Film Institute, where he earned a degree in Cinematography. Before embarking on his own career as a Director of Photography, Dąbal served as an apprentice to the legendary cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, renowned for his work on Steven Spielberg's films such as Munich, Schindler's List, and Saving Private Ryan.
His talent and dedication soon caught the attention of the film industry, and he was recruited to shoot A New York Heartbeat starring Rachel Brosnahan (Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), followed by Blind in 2015, directed by Michael Mailer and starring Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore. His work on Blind received high praise from the press, including Variety, whose reviewers commended his use of widescreen compositions.
Since then Dąbal shot director Albert Chi's thriller Amaranth in 2017 and collaborated with director Daniel Jaroszek on the 2022 box office hit Johnny, his fifth feature film, which garnered praise from audiences and critics alike.
His portfolio also includes a diverse array of hundreds of commercials for top brands such as Samsung, McDonald's, Visa, Volkswagen, Mercedes, and Johnny Walker, as well as fashion and beauty campaigns featuring supermodels such as Kate Moss, Cara Delevigne, and celebrities like Conor McGregor, Mike Tyson, or Robert Lewandowski.
With his extensive experience and impressive body of work, Michal has earned recognition as a member of the Polish Society of Cinematographers, solidifying his reputation as one of the most talented cinematographers of his generation.
He is a member of the Polish Society of Cinematographers PSC since 2013, an alum of the American Film Institute Conservatory (Class of 2010) and the Warsaw Film School (Class of 2007).