The American Society of Cinematographers has nominated the cinematographers of “Son of Saul,” “Beasts of No Nation” and “Macbeth” for the ASC’s 2016 Spotlight Award, which goes to films that screened at film festivals or in limited release.
Mátyás Erdély received the Spotlight Award nomination for “Son of Saul,” Adam Akapaw for “Macbeth” and Cary Joji Fukunaga for “Beasts of No Nation,” which Fukunaga also directed.
ASC members submit films for consideration for the Spotlight Award, and a blue-ribbon panel chooses the nominees.
The Spotlight Award was first handed out by the ASC in 2014. The first year, it was won by Lucasz Zal and Ryszard Lenczewski for “Ida,” the Polish film for which the two men later received Oscar nominations. Last year, it was won by Peter Flickenberg won for “Concrete Night,” a stark drama that was Finland’s Oscar entry.
After back-to-back wins by stylish black-and-white films, this will be the first time that the Spotlight Award has gone to a film in color.
Last week, the ASC announced its feature-film nominees: Emmanuel Lubezki for “The Revenant,” Roger Deakins for “Sicario,” John Seale for “Mad Max: Fury Road,” Janusz Kaminski for “Bridge of Spies” and Ed Lachman for “Carol.”
The ASC Awards will take place on Feb. 14 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles.