Oscar Shortlist for Cinematography: Noteworthy Picks Include ‘Frankenstein’, ‘Bugonia’, and ‘Marty Supreme’, While ‘Sinners’, ‘Train Dreams’, and More Introduce New Talent
Every year, Academy members cast their votes to create a shortlist of eligible films across various categories, with crafts representing a significant portion of the 12 categories. This year’s shortlist features new additions, including categories for cinematography and casting.
Sixteen films advanced in the cinematography category, showcasing familiar names returning for another shot at a nomination. It’s common for directors to collaborate with the same cinematographer on multiple projects, leading to the reappearance of several noteworthy talents.
Dan Laustsen, previously nominated in 2017 for Shape of Water and again in 2021 for Nightmare Alley, earned a spot on this year’s shortlist for yet another Guillermo del Toro film, Frankenstein. Similarly, Robbie Ryan, recognized for his work with Yorgos Lanthimos, previously received nominations in 2019 for The Favourite and in 2024 for Poor Things. He is now shortlisted for Bugonia.
Watch on Deadline
Darius Khondji, another recent nominee with accolades from 2022 for Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths and 1996 for Evita, secured his place on this year’s shortlist for Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme. Unlike his counterparts, Khondji’s previous nominations were not associated with the same director, leaving the outcome of this collaboration uncertain.
Among the shortlisted cinematographers, only two have previously won Oscars. James Friend, who won in 2022 for Edward Berger’s All Quiet on the Western Front, is recognized this year for another Berger project, Ballad of a Small Player. Claudio Miranda, who took home an Oscar in 2012 for Ang Lee’s Life of Pi, is also shortlisted for Joseph Kosinski’s F1.
Within the shortlist, several cinematographers who have been nominated in the past are still waiting for their first win. Although Jon M. Chu’s Wicked did not secure a nod for cinematographer Alice Brooks last year, she has been shortlisted this year for Wicked: For Good.
The competition this year presents intriguing possibilities. Will Autumn Durald’s musically-inspired approach to Ryan Coogler’s Sinners earn her a first nomination? Or will the nuanced storytelling captured by Adolpho Veloso in Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams take precedence? The category remains highly competitive.
The following list outlines the shortlisted cinematographers and their respective films:
Ballad of a Small Player, James Friend
Bugonia, Robbie Ryan
Die My Love, Seamus McGarvey
F1, Claudio Miranda
Frankenstein, Dan Laustsen
Hamnet, Łukasz Żal
Marty Supreme, Darius Khondji
Nouvelle Vague, David Chambille
One Battle After Another, Michael Bauman
Sentimental Value, Kasper Tuxen
Sinners, Autumn Durald
Sirât, Mauro Herce
Song Sung Blue, Amy Vincent
Sound of Falling, Fabian Gamper
Train Dreams, Adolpho Veloso
Wicked: For Good – Alice Brooks
