As the ever-popular Oscars creep closer and closer, most people don't know about the multitude of other filmmaking awards ceremonies that happen leading up to Academy recognition. Achievement awards are given out for all cinematic professions and all kinds of movies, including the recent Director's Guild Awards. Some of these awards predict who will take home the Academy Award in their respective field, including today's American Society of Cinematographers' Awards.
The ASC Awards recognize achievement in cinematography across film and television, with top prizes going to one film and three television series (commercial series, non-commercial series, and TV movie/miniseries/pilot). The film winner often goes on to clinch the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, and, with all five ASC film nominees mirroring the Oscar hopefuls, it seems likely that that trend will continue. That means that the ASC Award for Outstanding Cinematography in Theatrical Release winner, Lion (via cinematographer Greig Fraser), could go on to win big later this month. TV winners Game of Thrones (Fabian Wagner), Mr. Robot (Tod Campbell), and The Night Of (Igor Martinovic) continue their own award-winning streaks.
The ceremony also recognizes several other individuals for their contributions to the field with awards like the Spotlight Award, for outstanding cinematography in limited release films, or the Lifetime Achievement Award. Check out a full list of the ASC Award nominees and winners, below.
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Release
Greig Fraser, Lion
James Laxton, Moonlight
Rodrigo Prieto, Silence
Linus Sandgren, La La Land
Bradford Young, Arrival
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular Series for Non-Commercial Television
Fabian Wagner, Game of Thrones ("Battle of the Bastards")
John Conroy, Penny Dreadful ("The Day Tennyson Died")
David Dunlap, House of Cards ("Chapter 45")
Anette Haellmigk, Game of Thrones ("Book of the Stranger")
Neville Kidd, Outlander ("Prestonpans")
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular Series for Commercial Television
Tod Campbell, Mr. Robot ("eps.2.0_unm4sk-pt1.tc")
John Grillo, Preacher ("Finish the Song")
Kevin McKnight, Underground ("The Macon 7")
Christopher Norr, Gotham ("Wrath of the Villains: Mr. Freeze")
Richard Rutkowski, Manhattan ("Jupiter")
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Television Movie, Miniseries, or Pilot
Igor Martinovic, The Night Of ("Subtle Beast")
Balazs Bolygo, Harley and the Davidsons ("Amazing Machine")
Paul Cameron, Westworld ("The Original")
Jim Denault, All the Way
Alex Disenhof, The Exorcist ("Chapter One: And Let My Cry Come Unto Thee")
Spotlight Award
Gorka Gómez Andreu, House of Others
Lol Crawley, The Childhood of a Leader
Ernesto Pardo, Tempestad
Juliette van Dormael, My Angel
Other Awards
Board of Directors Award: Denzel Washington
Lifetime Achievement Award: Edward Lachman
Career Achievement in Television: Ron García
International Award: Philippe Rousselot
Presidents Award: Nancy Schreiber
Cinematography is an integral behind-the-scenes filmmaking job, and it's fantastic to see all of these visionaries and their projects get their due. Beyond all that goes into shot aesthetics -- lighting and the like -- cinematographers are also responsible for camera movements and shot composition, which can be especially taxing in an action-packed battle scene or a heartfelt reunion sequence. Now that we know what the ASC thinks of this excellent year in cinematography, all that's left to see is whether Greig Fraser will take home an Oscar as well, or whether the award will go to rivals like Moonlight or La La Land.