ASC Awards 2026: Winners & Highlights from the 40th Ceremony
The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) celebrated its 40th annual awards ceremony on , at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. The event, hosted by actor Kerri Kenney-Silver, marked a significant milestone for the organization, drawing over 1,100 attendees – a considerable leap from the inaugural ceremony in 1986, which hosted around 100 guests.
The evening wasn’t just about recognizing cinematic achievement; it was as well a look back at the ASC’s four-decade legacy. Attendees were able to follow along with an ASC Awards Program Book, detailing the honorees and charting the Society’s history. ASC President Mandy Walker opened the show, setting a celebratory tone for the night.
Among the awards presented, Adam Newport-Berra took home the prize for Episode of a Half-Hour Series
for his operate on The Studio
– The Oner
. This win is particularly notable as it marked Newport-Berra’s first ASC Award nomination, building on the momentum from his 2025 Emmy Award win for the same project. His broader filmography includes features like The Invite, Good Fortune, Splitsville and The Last Black Man in San Francisco, as well as episodes of The Bear.
The ceremony also honored M. David Mullen, ASC, with the Career Achievement in Television Award
, presented by actress Rachel Brosnahan. Mullen’s distinctive visual style has become synonymous with series like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, earning him both ASC and Emmy accolades – two ASC Awards and three Emmys to date. His extensive television credits also include Smash, Huge Love, Westworld, and Get Shorty, alongside features like The Love Witch and Jennifer’s Body.
Documentary filmmaking was also recognized, with Mstyslav Chernov and Alex Babenko winning the Documentary Award
for 2000 Meters from Andriivka. This was the first ASC Award nomination for both filmmakers, highlighting their impactful work. Chernov, a Ukrainian filmmaker and war correspondent, is known for his coverage of conflicts including the war in Donbas and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, and previously earned a BAFTA Award and an Academy Award for his film 20 Days in Mariupol. Babenko is a Ukrainian documentary photographer and video journalist who has documented Ukraine’s fight for freedom since 2022.
Kodak received the Curtis Clark ASC Technology Award
, acknowledging the company’s enduring contribution to the art of cinematography through its film stocks. The award, presented by actor and filmmaker Giovanni Ribisi, recognized Kodak’s impact on both classic and contemporary filmmaking.
The Spotlight Award
– recognizing smaller feature projects – went to Mátyás Erdély, ASC, HSC for Orphan. This marks Erdély’s second win in this category, having previously shared the honor in 2016 for Son of Saul. His other credits include Delta, Tender Son: The Frankenstein Project, and Miss Bala, as well as the miniseries Southcliffe.
Stephen Pizzello, editor-in-chief of American Cinematographer, was presented with the ASC Award of Distinction
for his three decades of leadership at the publication. The award, presented by ASC President Mandy Walker, acknowledged Pizzello’s dedication to supporting and inspiring cinematographers.
Rodrigo Prieto, ASC, AMC, secured his first ASC Award win in the Music Video Award
category for his work on Taylor Swift’s The Fate of Ophelia
. Prieto has been nominated five times previously, recognizing his work on projects like Silence, The Irishman, Killers of the Flower Moon, and another Taylor Swift music video, Fortnight
. His feature film credits include Brokeback Mountain, Babel, Argo, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Barbie.
Cynthia Pusheck, ASC, was honored with the Presidents Award
for her long-standing commitment to the ASC as a governor and co-chair of the Society’s Vision Committee.
The Bud Stone Award was presented as a surprise to Tom Fletcher, recognizing his contributions to the industry.