“One Battle After Another” cinematographer Michael Bauman has won the top award at the 40th American Society of Cinematographers Awards.
This year, the American Society of Cinematographers nominated five directors in the feature film category. “Frankenstein” (Netflix) – Dan Laustsen, “Marty Supreme” (A24) – Darius Khondji, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) – Michael Bauman, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.) – Autumn Durard Alcapeau, “Train Dreams” (Netflix) – Adolfo Veloso. All are in line with Oscar nominees for cinematography.
For stats watchers, the ASC has matched the Oscar for best cinematography 18 times in the past 39 years. However, last year’s winner, Ed Lachman, who won the ASC Best Feature Feature Film award for “Maria”, did not win the Oscar, instead Lol Crowley for “The Brutalist” won.
Bauman earned two nominations this year, the other being in the limited or anthology series or film made for television category for “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” (“Buxum Bird”). Director Ryan Coogler’s go-to cinematographer Arkapaw became the fifth woman in history to be nominated in the ASC’s top category.
Mandy Walker, the 48th president of the American Society of Cinematographers, opened the evening’s events. She is the first woman to lead the 100-year-old honor society, which was founded in 1919. In 2024, she made history when she became the first woman to win the top award for Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis. “We are a diverse and representative group of international cinematographers who champion friendship, education, the exchange of ideas, and the advancement of cinematography,” Walker said.
The first award in the evening’s half-hour series went to Adam Newport-Bera for “The Studio” (“The Oneer”). “Black Rabbit” also won in the television category. There was a tie for the hour-long regular series episode, with both ASC’s Alex Diesenhoff for “Tusk” (“The Crossing”) and SBC’s Christoph Nuens for “Andor” (“Friends Everywhere”) winning.
Seven-time nominee Rodrigo Prieto won his first ASC Award in the music video category for Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia.”
Jason Reitman presented Guillermo del Toro with the ASC Board of Directors Award. Reitman joked, recalling his encounter with the director of “Frankenstein.” “When I proposed buying the Village Theater in Westwood and asked for help, I knew I had an older brother. He put his hand up too soon. I think his accountant had a hernia.”
Reitman praised the filmmaker for wanting to make Mary Shelley’s gothic novels from an early age. “It seems that Guillermo was already a lover of Gothic literature. But like other masters, there is an unmistakable continuity in his work. That is why there are traveling art exhibitions of his work. This is why the name del Toro is significant. Guillermo is not just an actor or a director of stories. He is a director of atmosphere, shadow, architecture, light.”
“Of all the collaborations in the world of filmmaking, the most intimate collaboration is between a cinematographer and a director,” del Toro said.
As a movie buff and someone who has been vocal about AI and how Frankenstein was handcrafted by his team of artisans, he said: “We live in a very dangerous moment where we are told that footage is available on apps that anyone can create. I say no, that’s not the case,” del Toro continued, “if we stand together and never give up on our obligations. It doesn’t matter what the industry does, it doesn’t matter what the media does, it doesn’t matter what you get on your phone or tablet when you commit to not abandoning it. If we commit to the spiritual power of images, we can do anything.”
The President’s Award went to Cynthia Puschek, whose work includes “Our Flag Means Death” and “CSI: Miami.” To celebrate International Women’s Day, Przek paid tribute to the women who came before her and praised the women who stood by her side. She recognized Walker and said, “Mandy may be our first female president, but I’m sure she won’t be our last. Because have you seen how many women are in the photos released tonight, or how many women are sitting on our boards right now?”
Actor, writer, and producer Kelly Kenny Silver served as the night’s host. Kenny-Silver criticized Warner Bros. Discovery Paramount’s Skydance deal. she joked. “Paramount Skydance just merged with Valley Station, so you’re going to need a ticket. And if you want to get a car tonight, you’re going to have to sign up for HBO Max.” Kenny Silver says, “The more chaotic the world, the more chaotic the industry, the more exciting the images you create.”
The ASC Awards presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Robert Yeoman, ASC. M. David Mullen, ASC, recipient of the Career Achievement Award in Television. Steven Pizzello, editor-in-chief of American Cinematographer, received the ASC Award of Excellence. The Curtis Clark Technology Award was awarded to Kodak.
The complete list of winners is below.
Theatrical movie (sponsored by Keslow Camera)
Michael Bauman “One Battle After Another”
Half-hour series episodes (sponsored by RED Digital Cinema)
Adam Newport-Bera “The Studio” (“The Honor”)
Limited or anthology series or films made for television (sponsored by ARRI)
Pete Konczal, ASC “Black Rabbit” (“Isle of Joy”)
1 Hour Regular Series Episode (Sponsored by Panavision) *TIE*
Alex Disenhoff, ASC of “Task” (“Crossing”)
Christophe Nuens, SBC “Andor” (“I have friends everywhere”)
Spotlight Award (sponsored by Panavision)
Matthias Erdery, ASC, HSC “Orphan”
Documentary Award (Sponsored by Canon USA)
Mstislav Chernov and Alex Babenko “2000 meters from Andriivka”
ASC Music Video Awards (Sponsored by Nanlux)
Rodrigo Prieto, ASC, AMC “The Fate of Ophelia” (starring Taylor Swift)
