Remembering David Keighley

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of industry leader David B. Keighley—IMAX’s Chief Quality Officer, cofounder of IMAX Post/DKP, and a beloved member of our GSCA family.

Love at First Frame

David and Patricia often said it was “love at first frame.” As newlyweds in 1971, they sat together at Toronto’s Cinesphere to watch North of Superior. It was their first time seeing a film in the 1.43:1 IMAX aspect ratio. Overwhelmed by the cinematic immersion of the experience, David turned to Patricia and said, “I’ve got to figure out how to get involved.” He did—and never stopped.

By the third IMAX film, David was freelancing in production and post-production. Soon after, he and Patricia launched 70MM Inc., which became the backbone of IMAX post-production. That company evolved into IMAX Post/DKP, setting rigorous standards for image, sound, and established the foundation and defined the format for half a century. The bold, blocky 70MM logo—sketched by David on the back of a cocktail napkin—appeared on film canisters, shipping boxes, and vaults worldwide, becoming a secret seal of quality for generations of projectionists and filmmakers.

Building a Career, Shaping a Medium

Over five decades, David guided more than 500 IMAX films, personally overseeing over 450 releases across 15/70, digital, and IMAX with Laser. His collaborations spanned pioneers of the documentary giant screen with filmmakers like Stephen Low and Greg MacGillivray, and Hollywood visionaries including Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, James Cameron, Jordan Peele, and Ryan Coogler. Just weeks before his passing, he completed work on Nolan’s upcoming The Odyssey.

At IMAX, David and Patricia’s contributions were so unique that the company created a title just for them: Chief Quality Gurus. It was more than a role; it was a recognition that no one else embodied the guardianship of image and sound the way they did. They took that responsibility literally. For years, David’s personal contact information appeared at the end of IMAX presentations so audiences could report issues directly. “That wasn’t marketing,” he often said. “That was ownership.”

He believed excellence wasn’t an accident; it was the result of thousands of choices made in service of the audience. “Perfection is not attainable or affordable,” he once told aspiring filmmakers, “but excellence is—learn the difference.”

For David, it was never about titles or numbers. It was about people and the audience. Projectionists remember him as a mentor who restored pride to the booth. Filmmakers relied on him as the straight-talking guardian of their vision. Audiences—whether they knew his name or not—felt his hand in every brighter, steadier, sharper image.

The Architect of the IMAX Experience

David’s name lives on in the David Keighley Theater at IMAX’s Playa Vista headquarters, a 60’×42’ shrine to calibration and craft where filmmakers signed off on their work before release. He then chased those films into the field, personally auditing theaters on opening weekends to ensure audiences were seeing exactly what directors intended.

He wasn’t just protecting presentation standards—he was fighting for the medium itself. In the mid-2000s, when large-format film was at risk of disappearing, David worked with Christopher Nolan and others to persuade Kodak to keep its 65/70mm film pipeline alive. That stubborn commitment ensured that future storytellers could continue using one of cinema’s most powerful tools.

Stories of Grit and Grace

David loved to tell the story of 1976, when IMAX nearly collapsed. While filming parachutist Bill Cole, one of only two IMAX cameras in existence plummeted to the ground and shattered. David rushed to cover the film magazine with a black bag to save what he could. The footage was never used, but the insurance payout kept IMAX alive. “We saved the company by destroying one of two cameras,” he liked to say with a smile.

That mixture of grit, quick thinking, and wry humor defined him. Whether he was leading a projectionist training call for Oppenheimer, doodling logos on napkins, or answering fan emails directly, David engaged because he cared.

Recognized, Respected, Beloved

David and Patricia’s contributions were celebrated by the Giant Screen Cinema Association, which presented them with the Outstanding Achievement Award (2023) and earlier honored IMAX Post/DKP with the Big Shoe Award (2016) for exemplary volunteer service. David was also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a SMPTE Fellow, and an ASC Associate Member—fitting affiliations for someone who lived at the intersection of art and engineering.

Filmmakers paid tribute to him in ways that spoke to his reach:

• Christopher Nolan: “David Keighley was my friend and IMAX mentor for more than 20 years. His expertise and generosity of spirit put IMAX cameras into my hands for the first time and helped open Hollywood’s eyes to the power of the format, starting with The Dark Knight. He was relentless in his pursuit of excellence, always reminding us that the audience comes first. Just weeks before his passing, he was still reviewing dailies for The Odyssey, pouring his energy into making sure every frame met his uncompromising standards. It breaks my heart to know that we won’t finish that film together, but I take comfort knowing he personally supervised every detail we shot. No filmmaker would be able to shoot or screen film of any format today without David’s dedication and advocacy—our entire industry owes him a massive debt.”
• Greg MacGillivray: “Our industry simply wouldn’t be the same without the expertise and artistry of David Keighley. He is responsible in so many ways for the delight millions of moviegoers have experienced watching films on the giant IMAX screen. David worked on every one of our nearly 50 giant screen films beginning with To Fly back in 1976, and he and I spent countless hours honing our skills in this new industry together.  He was always a master of his craft, a dedicated artist and brilliant engineer, delivering to the public by far the finest quality of printmaking work the industry has ever seen. He and I were making plans to work together on a new film later this month and I will miss him immeasurably – his incomparable eye, his wise counsel and most of all, his friendship”
• Stephen Low: “David was my friend for nearly 50 years, and I just loved him. We spoke almost every day for the last decade—about airplanes, films, and life—and I thought he was bulletproof, that he’d be with us into his 90s. His passing is devastating. Over the years, we shared not just professional milestones but the rhythm of friendship, the kind where you can pick up the phone and know the other person is always there. David built a legacy that will live on through the films he touched, the audiences he fought for, and the standards he set. For me, I’ll remember most his warmth, his humor, and the rare gift of a lifelong friend.”

A Personal Legacy

For all the industry accolades, David’s greatest pride was his family. His son Geoff recently shared how, on the night of The Game Awards last year, David quietly sat in the audience with Patricia and his other children, texting notes about the screen and sound. He waited until the next day to share news of his illness, not wanting to overshadow Geoff’s moment. That was David: selfless, supportive, and always focused on making the experience better for someone else.

Above all, David loved Patricia, his wife and partner in every sense. Together, they built not only a career but a love story that spanned more than five decades. He was also a devoted father to Geoff, Chris, and Jennifer, and a proud grandfather to Sam and Eli.

Carrying the Standard Forward

David always told us the truth about the state of the show. It’s only right we tell the truth about his legacy: David Keighley made IMAX better — and because of that, he made movies better. May his example continue to light our screens, and our way.

If you would like to share memories, photos, or tributes to David, GSCA will gather them into a remembrance and share them with the community. Please email tammy@giantscreencinema.com.

P.S. We will always remember David not only for his unmatched dedication to IMAX, but also for his singing and dancing moves—moments of joy that reminded us his love of life was as big as the screens he championed.