โOne Battle After Anotherโ dp Michael Bauman has won the top prize at the 40th annualย American Society of Cinematographersย Awards.
This year, theย American Society of Cinematographersย chose to nominate five DPs in the feature film category: โFrankensteinโ (Netflix) โ Dan Laustsen, โMarty Supremeโ (A24) โ Darius Khondji, โOne Battleย after Anotherโ (Warner Bros.) โ Michael Bauman, โSinnersโ (Warner Bros.) โ Autumn Durald Arkapaw and โTrain Dreamsโ (Netflix) โ Adolpho Veloso. All match the Oscar nominees in the cinematography category.
For statistic watchers, the ASC has matched the best cinematography Oscar 18 times over the last 39 years. However, last yearโs winner, Ed Lachman who won best theatrical feature film at ASC for โMaria,โ did not claim the Oscar, that went to Lol Crawley for โThe Brutalist.โ
Bauman landed two nominations this year, the other nod was for โMonster: The Ed Gein Storyโ (โBuxum Birdโ) in the limited or anthology series or motion picture made for television category.
Mandy Walker, the 48th president of theย American Society of Cinematographers kicked off the nightโs events. She is the first woman to lead the century-old honorary society which was founded in 1919. She made history in 2024 when she became the first woman to win the top prize for Baz Luhrmannโs โElvis.โ Walker said, โWe are a diverse representative international group of cinematographers that champion camaraderie, education, exchange of ideas and the advancement of the technology of cinematography.โ
The first award of the evening, half-hour series, went to Adam Newport-Berra for โThe Studioโ (โThe Onerโ). โBlack Rabbitโ also triumphed in the TV category. There was a tie in episode of a one-hour regular series with both Alex Disenhof, ASC for โTaskโ (โCrossingsโ) and Christophe Nuyens, SBC for โAndorโ (โI Have Friends Everywhereโ) winning.
Seven-time nominee Rodrigo Prieto won his first ASC award in the music video category for Taylor Swiftโs โThe Fate of Ophelia.โ
Jason Reitman presented Guillermo del Toro with the ASC Board of Governors Award. Reitman joked as he recalled meeting the โFrankensteinโ director, โI knew I had a big brother when I suggested we buy the village theater in Westwood and asked for his support, he threw his hand up so fast, I think his accountant had a hernia.โ
Reitman praised the filmmaker who has wanted to make Mary Shelleyโs gothic novel since he was a young boy. โGuillermo was apparently already a gothic literature enthusiast. But this is why, like any virtuoso, there is an undeniable continuity of his work. This is why there are traveling art exhibits of his creations. This is why the name del Toro means something. Guillermo is not just a director of actors or stories. He is a director of atmosphere, of shadow, of architecture, of light.โ
del Toro said, โOf all the collaborations in the world of image creation, the most intimate is with cinematographer and director.โ
As a lover of film, and someone who has spoken out about AI and how โFrankensteinโ was handmade by his team of artisans, he said, โWe live in a very, very dangerous moment in which we are being told that image is something you can get on an app that anyone can create, and I say fuck, no.โ del Toro went on to say, โWhen we come together, when we really vouch never to relinquish our duty, it doesnโt matter what the industry does, it doesnโt matter what the media does, it doesnโt matter what you can get on the phone or on the tablet. I donโt give a fuck. When we commit to the spiritual power of images, we can do everything.โ
Cynthia Pusheck whose credits include โOur Flag Means Deathโ and โCSI: Miamiโ was presented with the Presidents Award. To celebrate International Womenโs Day, Pusheck honored the women who came before her, praising those whose shoulders she stood on. She recognized Walker and said, โMandy may be our first female president, but Iโm pretty sure she wonโt be our last because did you see how many women were in the photo out there tonight, or how many are sitting on our board now?โ
Actor, writer and producer Kerri Kenney-Silver was the eveningโs emcee. Kenney-Silver took a jab at the Warner Bros. Discovery Paramountโs Skydance deal. She joked, โParamount Skydance just merged with the valet station, so youโre going to need your ticket, plus youโre going to need to sign up for HBO Max if you want to get your car tonight.โ Kenney-Silver said, โThe more chaotic our world is, the more chaotic our industry is, the more inspired images you create.โ
The ASC Awards honored Robert Yeoman, ASC, with the Lifetime Achievement Award; M. David Mullen, ASC, with the Career Achievement in Television Award; Stephen Pizzello, editor-in-chief of American Cinematographer, with the ASC Award of Distinction. The Curtis Clark Technology Award went to Kodak.
Full list of winners below.
Theatrical Feature Filmย (Sponsored by Keslow Camera)
Michael Bauman for โOne Battle After Anotherโ
Episode of a Half-Hour Seriesย (Sponsored by RED Digital Cinema)
Adam Newport-Berra for โThe Studioโ (โThe Onerโ)
Limited or Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Televisionย (Sponsored by ARRI)ย
Pete Konczal, ASC for โBlack Rabbitโ (โIsle of Joyโ)
Episode of a One-Hour Regular Seriesย (Sponsored by Panavision) *TIE*
Alex Disenhof, ASC for โTaskโ (โCrossingsโ)
Christophe Nuyens, SBC for โAndorโ (โI Have Friends Everywhereโ)
Spotlight Awardย (Sponsored by Panavision)
Mรกtyรกs Erdรฉly, ASC, HSC for โOrphanโ
Documentary Awardย (Sponsored by Canon U.S.A.)
Mstyslav Chernov and Alex Babenko for โ2000 Meters from Andriivkaโ
ASC Music Video Awardย (Sponsored by Nanlux)
Rodrigo Prieto, ASC, AMC for โThe Fate of Opheliaโ (Performed by Taylor Swift)