American Cinematographer's Shot Craft Wins 2025 Folio: Eddie Award for Best Service Journalism
The renowned column, written by ASC associate member and AC technical editor Jay Holben, takes top honors in a year in which AC garnered the most nominations in the publication's history.
Shot Craft, American Cinematographer's column of educational lessons on the art and science of cinematography, has received the 2025 Folio: Eddie Award for Best Instructional/How-To in the category of "Service Journalism." The long-running series, which provides insights and actionable advice for aspiring and working cinematographers alike, is written by Jay Holben, an ASC associate member and the technical editor of American Cinematographer.
“Jay has long been one of our magazine’s most valuable contributors, both as a writer and as our technical editor, so it’s extremely gratifying to see his hard work rewarded with this honor,” says AC editor-in-chief Stephen Pizzello. “Since his start with us many years ago, he’s become an ASC associate member, which shows the Society’s high regard for him as well. Jay has done an outstanding job with Shot Craft, which offers our readers invaluable filmmaking wisdom every month, and he truly embodies the excellence we always strive for with each issue of American Cinematographer.”
"Receiving the Folio: Eddie Award for my Shot Craft column is a tremendous honor," Holben tells AC. "Being a contributor to American Cinematographer has long been one of the great joys of my career, and it’s an extraordinary privilege that Shot Craft has a home within the pages of AC. I’m genuinely humbled that the column resonates with our readers, and this recognition means a great deal.
"My sincere thanks to editor-in-chief Stephen Pizzello for more than three decades of fearless leadership, and to staff editors Andrew Fish, Max Weinstein, and Rachael Bosley, whose guidance consistently elevates the work," Holben continues. "Thank you to the Folio: Awards committee, and to our readers for their ongoing support. I look forward to contributing to American Cinematographer for many years to come."
Shot Craft's win comes two short years after the release of Holben's 2023 book, American Cinematographer's Shot Craft: Lessons, Tips & Techniques on the Art and Science of Cinematography — a 345-page compilation of 80 curated articles from the first five years of the column's run.
The honor also caps off an unprecedented showing for AC, whose editorial staff and contributors were nominated for a total of seven Folio: Eddie Awards. (See here for all other nominated work.) This is the highest number of nods for a single year in the publication's history.
Readers can find American Cinematographer's Shot Craft: Lessons, Tips & Techniques on the Art and Science of Cinematography, as well as its companion book, Lessons From American Cinematographer, at the ASC Store.
