American Society of Cinematographers Complete 2026 Winners List

“One Battle After Another” dp Michael Bauman has won the top prize at the 40th annual American Society of Cinematographers Awards.

This year, the American Society of Cinematographers has chosen to nominate five DPs 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 Durald Arkapaw and “Train Dreams” (Netflix) — Adolpho Veloso. They all match the Oscar nominees in the cinematography category.

For statistical viewership, the ASC has matched the Oscar for Best Cinematography 18 times over the past 39 years. However, last year’s winner, Ed Lachman, who won best feature at ASC for ‘Maria’, did not claim the Oscar, which went to Lol Crawley for ‘The Brutalist’.

Bauman received two nominations this year, the other nod being for “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” (“Buxum Bird”) in the category of limited anthology series or film made for television.

Mandy Walker, the 48th president of the American Society of Cinematographers, kicked off the evening’s events. She is the first woman to lead the centuries-old honorary society that was founded in 1919. She made history in 2024 when she became the first woman to win the top prize for Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis.” Walker said: “We are a diverse, representative international group of cinematographers who advocate camaraderie, education, exchange of ideas and the advancement of the technology of cinematography.”

First prize of the half-hour evening series went to Adam Newport-Berra for “The Studio” (“The Oner”). ‘Black Rabbit’ also triumphed in the TV category. There was a tie in the one-hour regular series episode, with both Alex Disenhof, ASC for “Task” (“Crossings”) and Christophe Nuyens, SBC for “Andor” (“I Have 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 Governors Award. Reitman joked as he recalled meeting the director of “Frankenstein,” “I knew I had a big brother when I proposed buying the Village Theater in Westwood and asked for his support. He threw his hand up so fast I think his accountant had a hernia.”

Reitman praised the filmmaker who had wanted to make Mary Shelley’s gothic novel since his youth. “Guillermo was apparently already a lover of Gothic literature. But this is why, like any virtuoso, there is an undeniable continuity in his work. That is why there are traveling art exhibitions of his creations. That 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 shadows, of architecture, of light.”

del Toro said: “Of all the collaborations in the world of image creation, the most intimate collaboration is with cinematographer and director.”

As a film buff and someone who has spoken out about AI and how “Frankenstein” was handcrafted by its team of artisans, he said, “We’re living in a very, very dangerous moment where we’re being told that visuals are something you can get in an app that anyone can make, and I say fuck, no.” del Toro further said, “If we come together, if we really commit to never abandoning our duty, it doesn’t matter what the industry does, it doesn’t matter what the media does, it doesn’t matter what you can get on the phone or on the tablet. I don’t care. If we commit to the spiritual power of images, we can do anything.”

Cynthia Pusheck, whose credits include “Our Flag Means Death” and “CSI: Miami,” received the Presidents Award. To celebrate International Women’s Day, Pusheck honored the women who came before her and praised those on whose shoulders she stood. She recognized Walker and said, “Mandy may be our first female president, but I’m pretty sure she won’t be our last because did you see how many women were in the picture tonight, or how many women are on our board now?”

Actor, writer and producer Kerri Kenney-Silver was the evening’s emcee. Kenney-Silver joked about Warner Bros. Skydance deal. Discovery Paramount. She joked, “Paramount Skydance just merged with the valet station, so you’ll need your ticket, and you’ll need to sign up for HBO Max if you want to get your car tonight.” Kenney-Silver said, “The more chaotic our world is, the more chaotic our industry is, the more inspired images you create.”

At the ASC Awards, Robert Yeoman, ASC, was honored 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 film (Sponsored by Keslow Camera)

Michael Bauman for “One fight after another”

Episode of a half-hour series (Sponsored by RED Digital Cinema)
Adam Newport-Berra for “The Studio” (“The Oner”)

Limited series or anthology series or made-for-television movie (Sponsored by ARRI)

Pete Konczal, ASC for “Black Rabbit” (“Isle of Joy”)

Episode of a regular series of one hour (Sponsored by Panavision) *TIE*

Alex Disenhof, ASC for “Task” (“Crossing”)
Christophe Nuyens, SBC for “Andor” (“I have friends everywhere”)

Spotlight Award (Sponsored by Panavision)

Mátyás Erdély, ASC, HSC for “Be”

Documentary Award (Sponsored by Canon USA)

Mstyslav Chernov and Alex Babenko for “2000 meters from Andriivka”

ASC Music Video Award (Sponsored by Nanlux)

Rodrigo Prieto, ASC, AMC for “The Fate of Ophelia” (performed by Taylor Swift)