Michael Bauman has received the top prize at the 40th annual American Society of Cinematographers Awards for his work on “One Battle After Another.”
A Night of Honors
This year, the American Society of Cinematographers nominated five directors of photography in the feature film category: Dan Laustsen for “Frankenstein,” Darius Khondji for “Marty Supreme,” Michael Bauman for “One Battle After Another,” Autumn Durald Arkapaw for “Sinners,” and Adolpho Veloso for “Train Dreams.” These nominees also align with the Academy Award nominations for cinematography.
Bauman received a second nomination this year for “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” (“Buxum Bird”) in the limited or anthology series or motion picture made for television category.
Breaking Barriers
Mandy Walker, the 48th president of the American Society of Cinematographers, opened the awards ceremony. She is the first woman to lead the century-old society, founded in 1919, and previously won the top prize in 2024 for her work on Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis.” Walker stated that the ASC is “a diverse representative international group of cinematographers that champion camaraderie, education, exchange of ideas and the advancement of the technology of cinematography.”
Additional Winners
Adam Newport-Berra won the award for Episode of a Half-Hour Series for “The Studio” (“The Oner”). “Black Rabbit” was honored in the TV category. A tie occurred in the Episode of a One-Hour Regular Series category, with both Alex Disenhof, ASC for “Task” (“Crossings”) and Christophe Nuyens, SBC for “Andor” (“I Have Friends Everywhere”) receiving the award.
Rodrigo Prieto, a seven-time nominee, won his first ASC award in the music video category for Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia.”
Honoring Visionaries
Jason Reitman presented the ASC Board of Governors Award to Guillermo del Toro. Reitman praised del Toro’s long-held passion for Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and his unique directorial vision, noting that del Toro directs “atmosphere, of shadow, of architecture, of light.”
Del Toro emphasized the collaborative relationship between cinematographers and directors, stating, “Of all the collaborations in the world of image creation, the most intimate is with cinematographer and director.”
Del Toro also spoke passionately about the importance of handmade artistry in filmmaking, particularly in light of advancements in artificial intelligence. He stated, “We 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.” He continued, “When we commit to the spiritual power of images, we can do everything.”
Cynthia Pusheck, whose credits include “Our Flag Means Death” and “CSI: Miami,” received the Presidents Award. She celebrated International Women’s Day by acknowledging the women who paved the way for her success, specifically recognizing Mandy Walker.
Kerri Kenney-Silver served as the evening’s emcee and jokingly referenced the recent Warner Bros. Discovery Paramount’s Skydance deal.
The ASC Awards also honored Robert Yeoman with the Lifetime Achievement Award, M. David Mullen with the Career Achievement in Television Award, Stephen Pizzello with the ASC Award of Distinction, and Kodak with the Curtis Clark Technology Award.
Frequently Asked Questions
What film won the ASC Award for Theatrical Feature Film?
“One Battle After Another,” with Michael Bauman as the cinematographer, won the ASC Award for Theatrical Feature Film.
Who is the current president of the American Society of Cinematographers?
Mandy Walker is the 48th president of the American Society of Cinematographers.
Did any awards result in a tie?
Yes, there was a tie in the Episode of a One-Hour Regular Series category, with both Alex Disenhof, ASC for “Task” (“Crossings”) and Christophe Nuyens, SBC for “Andor” (“I Have Friends Everywhere”) winning.
As filmmaking continues to evolve, what role do you believe awards like the ASC Awards play in recognizing and celebrating the artistry of cinematography?
