American Society of Cinematographers Elects Mandy Walker as President
The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Board of Governors has elected Mandy Walker, ASC, ACS, AM as president, making her the first woman to lead the organization. The Board also voted in Vice Presidents Eric Steelberg, John Simmons, and Patrick Cady; Treasurer Charles Minsky; Secretary Dejan Georgevich; and Sergeant-at-Arms Charlie Lieberman.
The members of the ASC Board, elected by the organization’s active membership, also include Natasha Braier, Alice Brooks, Russell Carpenter, Richard Crudo, Karl-Walter Lindenlaub, Tommy Maddox-Upshaw, Erik Messerschmidt, M. David Mullen, Cynthia Pusheck and Amy Vincent. Alternate Board Membersinclude Chris Chomyn, Ernest Dickerson, Polly Morgan and Wally Pfister.
Outgoing ASC President Shelly Johnson, who completed his final term, noted that he passes along the office to Walker with “a warm heart.”
“It is a great honor to be the president of the ASC, and an even bigger privilege to be the first woman to hold the position,” said Walker. “I am so humbled to take on the responsibility of representing a society that has carved out an inspiring, inclusive space to meet and support other cinematographers. I am proud of our century-old legacy to advance the art and science of cinematography, and I’m excited for the future of our organization.”
Walker is known for her work on acclaimed films such as “Australia” (2008), “Hidden Figures” (2016) and “Elvis”(2022), which earned her Academy Award and BAFTA nominations for Best Cinematography. She made history with “Elvis,” becoming the first woman to receive an ASC Award for feature film cinematography and an Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Award.
Walker, who earned ASC membership in 2011, has a diverse range of credits including “Snow White” (2025), “Mulan” (2020), “The Mountain Between Us” (2017), “Truth” (2015), “Jane Got a Gun” (2015), “Tracks” (2013), “Shattered Glass” (2003), “Lantana” (2001), “The Well” (1997), and “Parklands” (1996).
Beyond feature films, Walker has worked on high-profile commercial projects, including the iconic Chanel No. 5 campaign directed by Baz Luhrmann and featuring Nicole Kidman and Gisele Bündchen. She is an accredited member of the Australian Cinematographer Society (ACS) and has served as a governor for AMPAS. Walker has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Cinematographer of the Year Milli Award from the ACS, multiple Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards, and the Order of Australia Medal.
“I am intent on making sure our members have the space to grow, the opportunities to educate and learn from one another, and the support of their fellow filmmakers to carve out the best career they can,” added Walker. “We will continue to lead efforts in raising awareness about the importance of representation behind the camera.”
The mission of ASC is to inspire the next generation of cinematographers and to advance the art of filmmaking through many industry events and initiatives. The Society has over 20 committees leading the organization’s various initiatives, including the award-winning Motion Imaging Technology Council (MITC), formed in 2003 to understand technology’s ongoing impact on the imaging chain in a way that best serves the creative interests of filmmakers; the Vision Committee, which encourages and supports the advancement of underrepresented cinematographers, their crews and other filmmakers; regional and international Master Classes taught by members; Clubhouse Conversations with filmmakers; and the Education & Outreach Committee which engages with film schools.
ASC was founded in 1919. There are 471 members today who have national roots in some 20 countries. There are also 316 associate members from ancillary segments of the industry.
For additional information about the ASC, visit www.theasc.com.
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