ASC awards 2026!

Why the ASC Awards Are So Important

🏆 1. Highest Peer Recognition for Cinematographers Worldwide

The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Awards are one of the most prestigious honors in the world of cinematography. They’re voted on by top cinematographers themselves — not critics or studios — making them a peer-driven celebration of the art and craft of visual storytelling.

Winning or even being nominated signals that your work stands out at the highest level of cinematic artistry — from feature films to television and documentary work.

🎬 2. Influence on Craft and Career

What the ASC Awards do for cinematographers:

Sets creative standards worldwide

ASC nominees and winners are often cited for innovative lighting, composition, camera movement, and visual language. Their work becomes a reference point for future filmmakers.

Boosts global visibility and opportunities

Recognition by the ASC can elevate a cinematographer’s profile internationally, opening doors to collaborations with major directors and studios.

Highlights trends in visual storytelling

From cutting-edge digital workflows to bold aesthetic choices, the ASC Awards often spotlight the visual directions that define the future of cinema.

🌍 3. Global Celebration of Cinematic Vision

Although the organization is based in Hollywood and primarily rooted in American cinema, the ASC Awards influence cinematographers all over the world — in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and beyond. Top global cinematographers watch the winners’ work closely as part of ongoing learning and inspiration.

🎖 Santosh Sivan & Ravi Varman — Indian Cinematographers with ASC Legacy

📌 Santosh Sivan — The Trailblazer

Santosh Sivan is widely regarded as one of India’s finest cinematographers, with a huge body of work across Indian cinema.

He was the first Indian cinematographer inducted into the ASC, a recognition that established a global benchmark for talent from India.

His international reputation helped open doors for other cinematographers in Asia to be recognized globally.

📌 Ravi Varman — A New Global Voice

Ravi Varman has become only the second Indian cinematographer to be inducted into the ASC, after Santosh Sivan.

This induction isn’t an award for a single film — it’s an invitation into the elite professional community based on his decades of outstanding visual storytelling.

Members of the ASC are reviewed by a board of acclaimed peers, many of whom are Oscar-winning cinematographers, making his inclusion a high honor.

🎬 So What Does All This Mean for Cinematographers in India & Globally?

✅ Recognition of Talent Across Borders

The fact that Indian cinematographers are being welcomed into the ASC reflects cinema’s global nature — outstanding visual artists are recognized whether they work in Hollywood, Bollywood, Kollywood, Mollywood, or world cinema.

✅ Inspiration for Emerging Artists

Young cinematographers can now see that excellence in storytelling and camera craft can attract global attention — not just local awards or festival honors.

✅ Bridge Between Cinematic Traditions

Membership in the ASC connects artists to a broader creative community, fostering exchange of techniques, philosophies, and innovations that enrich world cinema..

the 2026 American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Awards nominations have been announced for this year! These are the nominees for the 40th Annual ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards, honoring excellence in cinematography across film, television, documentaries and music videos. The winners will be revealed at the ceremony on March 8, 2026 at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.

🎬 2026 ASC Awards Nominations (Full List)

Theatrical Feature Film (Sponsored by Keslow Camera)

• Autumn Durald Arkapaw, ASC — Sinners
• Michael Bauman — One Battle After Another
• Darius Khondji, ASC, AFC — Marty Supreme
• Dan Laustsen, ASC, DFF — Frankenstein
• Adolpho Veloso, ABC, AIP — Train Dreams

Episode of a Half-Hour Series (RED Digital Cinema)

• Adam Bricker, ASC — Hacks (“I Love LA”)
• Fraser Brown, CSC — Twisted Metal (“NUY3ARZ”)
• Paul Daley — The Righteous Gemstones (“Prelude”)
• Daniel Grant — Murderbot (“Escape Velocity Protocol”)
• Matthew J. Lloyd, ASC — Government Cheese (“Trial and Error”)
• Adam Newport-Berra — The Studio (“The Oner”)

Limited or Anthology Series / TV Movie (ARRI)

• Michael Bauman — Monster: The Ed Gein Story (“Buxum Bird”)
• Sam Chiplin — The Narrow Road to the Deep North (“Episode One”)
• Pete Konczal, ASC — Black Rabbit (“Isle of Joy”)
• Matthew Lewis — Adolescence (“Episode Two”)
• Igor Martinović — Black Rabbit (“Attaf**kinboy”)

Episode of a One-Hour Regular Series (Panavision)

• Alex Disenhof, ASC — Task (“Crossings”)
• Jessica Lee Gagne — Severance (“Hello, Ms. Cobel”)
• Dana Gonzales, ASC — Alien: Earth (“Neverland”)
• Ben Kutchins, ASC — The White Lotus (“Killer Instincts”)
• Christophe Nuyens, SBC — Andor (“I Have Friends Everywhere”)

Spotlight Award (Panavision)

• Steven Breckon — The Plague
• Mátyás Erdély, ASC, HSC — Orphan
• Karl-Walter Lindenlaub, ASC, BVK — Amrum

Documentary Award (Canon U.S.A.)

• Mstyslav Chernov & Alex Babenko — 2000 Meters from Andriivka
• Brandon Somerhalder — Come See Me in the Good Light
• Lars Erlend Tubaas Øymo & Tor Edvin Eliassen — Folktales

ASC Music Video Award (Nanlux)

• Jeff Cronenweth, ASC — “Supernatural” (Ariana Grande)
• Jon Joffin, ASC & Mitchell Baxter — “False Prophet”
• Jon Joffin, ASC — “Visiting Hours”
• Juliette Lossky — “Altamaha-ha”
• Rodrigo Prieto, ASC, AMC — “The Fate of Ophelia” (Taylor Swift)

📅 Ceremony Date: March 8, 2026
📍 Location: The Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, California
📺 Livestream: Available on theasc.com

Article by

CJ Rajkumar

Author/ Cinematographer