ASC Inclusivity Milestones

James Wong Howe, ASC was the first person of color invited to join the ASC (1933). He was the first Asian cinematographer to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Algiers) (1938) and the first Asian cinematographer to win the award (The Rose Tattoo) (1955). Throughout his career, Howe was nominated for 10 Oscars and won two, making him the most nominated Asian cinematographer.

Ellen Kuras, ASC is the first woman to be honored with the ASC Lifetime Achievement Award (2022).

Mandy Walker, ASC, ACS is the first woman to photograph a feature with a budget over $100 million (Australia) (2008). She is also the first woman of the Motion Picture Academy’s Cinematographers Branch to be elected to the Board of Governors (2017).

Donald A. Morgan, ASC is the first Black ASC member to be honored with the ASC Career Achievement in Television Award (2020). He has been nominated for 15 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning nine.

Brianne Murphy, ASC was the first woman invited to join the ASC (1980). She was also the first woman to serve as director of photography on a major studio film (Fatso) (1980) and the first woman to join the cinematographer’s guild (1973). She was the first woman to win a Daytime Emmy Award for Best Cinematography (Five Finger Discount) (1978) as well as the first woman to be nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series — One Hour (Breaking Away) (1981). Throughout her career, she was nominated for four Emmys and won an Academy Award for Scientific and Engineering Achievement (1982).

Bradford Young, ASC is the first Black ASC member to be nominated for the ASC Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases and the Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Arrival) (2016).

Rachel Morrison, ASC is the first woman to be nominated for the ASC Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases and the Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Mudbound) (2017).

Daryn Okada, ASC is the first person of color to serve as ASC president (2006).

Kira Kelly, ASC is the first Black woman invited to join the ASC (2020). She is the first Black woman cinematographer nominated for an Emmy Award (13th) (2017) and the first Black cinematographer nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography For a Single-Camera Series — Half-Hour (Insecure) (2020).

Sharon Calahan, ASC is the first cinematographer invited to join the ASC based solely on work in animation (2014).

Darius Khondji, ASC is the first cinematographer of Persian heritage to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Evita) (1996).

Patti Lee, ASC is the first Asian American woman invited to join the ASC (2018). She is also the first woman to be nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series (Superior Donuts) (2018).

John A. Alonzo, ASC was the first cinematographer of Mexican-American and Latino heritage invited to join the ASC (1972).

Santosh Sivan, ASC, ISC is the first cinematographer in the Asia-Pacific region invited to join the ASC (2012).

Natasha Braier, ASC, ADF is the first Latin American woman invited to join the ASC (2018).

Ernest Dickerson, ASC is the first Black cinematographer invited to join the ASC (1990).

Nancy Schreiber, ASC is the first woman to be honored with the ASC Presidents Award (2017).

Guillermo Navarro, ASC is the first Latin American cinematographer to win the Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Pan’s Labyrinth) (2006). 

Tami Reiker, ASC is the first woman to win an ASC Award (Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for a Movie, Miniseries, or Pilot for Television) as well as the first woman to be nominated (Carnivàle) (2004).

Emmanuel Lubezki, ASC, AMC is the first cinematographer to win the Academy Award for Best Cinematography three consecutive times (Gravity, Birdman, The Revenant). With eight Oscar nominations, he is the most nominated Latin American cinematographer.

Amelia Vincent, ASC was awarded the ASC Cinematography Mentor of the Year Award by the International Cinematographers Guild for mentoring and assisting many women in the entertainment industry (2018). 

John Simmons, ASC is the first Black member to serve as ASC vice president (2017). He also co-founded the ASC Vision Committee (2016).

Cynthia Pusheck, ASC is the first woman to serve as ASC vice president (2017). She also co-founded the ASC Vision Committee (2016).