Yahoo Lifestyle Cinematographer Andrzej Bartkowiak to Receive ASC Lifetime Achievement Award
Andrzej Bartkowiak is set to receive the American Society of Cinematographers Lifetime Achievement Award during the Society’s 39th annual Awards, which will be held Feb. 23 at the Beverly Hilton.
The Society also announced that ASC past president Michael Goi will be recognized with the Career Achievement in Television Award; John Simmons, with the President’s Award; Joan Churchill, with the Lifetime Documentary Award; and Pete Romano, with the Curtis Clark Technology Award.
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Bartkowiak’s breakthrough film was the gritty urban thriller “Prince of the City,” which marked the first of 11 films that he made in collaboration with director Sidney Lumet. Others included “Deathtrap,” “The Verdict” and “A Stranger Among Us.”
The DP’s credits include Jan de Bont’s “Speed,” James L. Brooks’ “Terms of Endearment,” John Huston’s “Prizzi’s Honor,” Ivan Reitman’s “Twins,” Stephen Gyllenhaal’s “Losing Iasiah,” Taylor Hackford’s “The Devil’s Advocate,” and Barbra Streisand’s “The Mirror Has Two Faces.” A native of Łódź, Poland, Bartkowiak’s directing credits include “Romeo Must Die,” “Exit Wounds,” “Cradle 2 the Grave,” “Doom” and “Dead Reckoning.”
“Throughout Andrzej’s illustrious career, he has crafted unforgettable visual narratives that have resonated with audiences and inspired countless filmmakers,” said ASC president Shelly Johnson. “His remarkable body of work stands as a testament to the power of visual storytelling, leaving an indelible mark on the art of cinematography.”
Goi, a three-time past president of the ASC, has compiled over 75 narrative credits, earning Emmy nominations for his work on “American Horror Story,” “Glee” and “My Name Is Earl.” His credits also include “The New Normal,” “Judas,” “The Fixer,” “Scream Queens” and “The Mentalist.” As a director and executive producer, Goi helmed the pilot and first regular episode of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and episodes of “The Rookie: Feds”. He directed multiple episodes of series including “American Horror Story,” “Big Sky” and “The Rookie.”
Churchill began her career shooting music films, including “Gimme Shelter,” “No Nukes,” and “Jimi Plays Berkeley,” which she also directed. Her collaborations with Nick Broomfield include “Lily Tomlin,” “Kurt & Courtney” and “Biggie & Tupac.” Her work on “Soldier Girls” earned her a BAFTA and the Sundance Grand Jury Prize. In collaboration with Alan Barker, Churchill produced and shot “The Residents” and the Emmy Award-winning “American High.” They have recently brought out two shorts on late cinematographer Haskell Wexler as well as “Bedlam” and “Medicating Normal,” which both focus on the mental health system.
Simmons will be honored for dedication and service to the ASC and the broader industry. A former ASC vice president and member of the Board of Governors, he co-founded the Society’s Vision Committee in 2016 to champion the advancement of underrepresented filmmakers. Simmons also served on the Board of Governors of the Television Academy for six years, where he advocated for increased diversity on set. His body of work includes “Family Reunion” and “Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn,” for which he won Emmys. Simmons has also taught as an adjunct professor at the UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television for 25 years. His still photography is featured in the permanent collection at the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Romano is an underwater cinematographer with a career spanning more than 40 years, and is the founder of underwater cinema housing and lighting company HydroFlex. A former Navy diver and member of the Pacific Fleet Underwater Combat Camera Group, Romano’s early underwater housing designs were used by the Cousteau Society and IMAX. He earned two Motion Picture Academy Technical Achievement Awards and an SOC Technical Achievement Award for his contributions. As an underwater director of photography, his long list of credits includes “The Abyss,” “Titanic,” “Saving Private Ryan” and “Inception.”
“We are excited to honor these visionary cinematographers whose artistry and innovation have transformed the landscape of film,” said ASC Awards Committee chairman Chuck Minsky. “Their contributions remind us of the profound impact that cinema can have on our world.”
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