Veteran cinematographer Edward Lachman took home the top prize at the 39th annual American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Awards for his work on Maria, marking his first-ever ASC win.
A Competitive Year for Cinematographers
This year’s feature film category saw an expanded field of seven nominees, a rare occurrence last seen in 2014. Lachman’s fellow nominees included Lol Crawley (The Brutalist), Phedon Papamichael (A Complete Unknown), Stéphane Fontaine (Conclave), Greig Fraser (Dune: Part Two), Jarin Blaschke (Nosferatu), and Alice Brooks (Wicked).
Winning the ASC Award is often an indicator of future Oscar success. However, in the organization’s 38-year history, only 18 ASC winners have gone on to claim the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Last year’s recipient, Hoyte Van Hoytema (Oppenheimer), ultimately secured the Oscar as well.
Television Winners Shine
In television categories, Robert Elswit won for his work on Ripley, having previously secured a Creative Arts Emmy for the same series. Discussing the noir-inspired black-and-white aesthetic, Elswit told Variety, “Lighting was important. It needed to reflect who Tom was and the world he lived in—a world full of contrast, anxiety, tension, and mystery.”
Other notable winners included Richard Rutkowski for Sugar in the half-hour category and Sam McCurdy for Shogun – Crimson Sky in the one-hour episode category.
Kathleen Kennedy Honored with Board of Governors Award
Producer Kathleen Kennedy, known for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park, and Back to the Future, received the Board of Governors Award for her contributions to cinema. In her acceptance speech, she praised cinematographers for their work in bringing films to life. “As you honor me, I really want to honor you for creating magic in movies,” Kennedy said. “It’s not about the bloody technology; it’s about the person behind it.” She also announced that 46 new female members had joined the ASC this year.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The ASC also recognized renowned cinematographer Andrzej Bartkowiak (Speed, Falling Down) with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
Complete List of Winners
The ASC Awards, held Sunday night at The Beverly Hilton, honored the best in cinematography across film, television, and music videos. Here are the winners:
Theatrical Feature Film
- Edward Lachman, ASC – Maria (Netflix)
Episode of a Half-Hour Series
- Richard Rutkowski, ASC – Sugar – “Starry-Eyed” (Apple TV+)
Limited or Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
- Robert Elswit, ASC – Ripley – “Lucio” (Netflix)
Episode of a One-Hour Regular Series
- Sam McCurdy, ASC, BSC – Shōgun – “Crimson Sky” (FX)
Spotlight Award
- Michal Dymek – The Girl with the Needle (MUBI)
Documentary Award
- Michael Crommett – Photographer: Dan Winters Life is Once. Forever. (National Geographic)
ASC Music Video Award
- Rodrigo Prieto, ASC, AMC – Fortnight (Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone)
With a night full of honors and recognition, the ASC Awards once again celebrated the art of cinematography, highlighting both established industry veterans and rising talent.