Mandy Walker has been elected the 48th president of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), making her first woman to hold the prestigious position.
The cinematographer notably made history with Elvis in 2023 when she became the society’s first woman to receive an ASC Award for feature film cinematography. Baz Luhrmann’s Austin Butler-led film about the King of Rock and Roll, too, earned Walker an Oscar nomination for best achievement in cinematography.
“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,” Walker said. “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.”
Aside from her Academy Award-nominated work, Walker has lent her talents to features including Snow White, Mulan, The Mountain Between Us, Hidden Figures, Truth, Jane Got a Gun, Tracks, Shattered Glass, and Lantana, among others. She’s been a member of the ASC since 2011.
The ASC announced the news Saturday, while also revealing new vice presidents Eric Steelberg, John Simmons and Patrick Cady; treasurer Charles Minksy; secretary Dejan Georgevich; and sergeant-at-arms Charlie Lieberman. Walker succeeds Shelly Johnson, who passes along the presidency with “a warm heart.”
“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,” she added. “We will continue to lead efforts in raising awareness about the importance of representation behind the camera.”
The members of the ASC Board, elected by active members, 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 members include Chris Chomyn, Ernest Dickerson, Polly Morgan and Wally Pfister