Final Oscars Predictions – Best Cinematography

It’s been a topsy-turvy season in the race for Best Cinematography. Nosferatu cleaned up with the critics groups plus a win at the Critics Choice Awards, but that’s where its run of wins halted. Conclave scored nominations from BAFTA, Critics Choice, and the American and British Society of Cinematographers, yet still inexplicably missed with the Academy. And then, ASC threw a massive curveball and awarded its prize to Maria.

With wins at BAFTA and BSC, The Brutalist appears to have its nose out in front as we head into Oscar night. It’s hardly the greatest precursor success, especially given both its wins come from British groups, but it’s all we’ve really got to go on. Could it still go to something like Nosferatu or Maria? Certainly, but those films are lacking major nominations elsewhere, so it’s likely voters aren’t paying them all that much attention.

Ever since the release of The Brutalist, there has been a huge amount of press surrounding its stunning cinematography and Lol Crawley’s choice to resurrect the VistaVision process and cameras involving shooting horizontally on 35mm film stock; something Paul Thomas Anderson will replicate for his 2025 film, One Battle After Another. Despite its sketchy precursor season run, it feels The Brutalist takes this one.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY PREDICTIONS:
1. The Brutalist – Lol Crawley (A24) – ASC, BAFTA, BSC, CCA
2. Nosferatu – Jarin Blaschke (Focus Features) – ASC, BAFTA, BSC, CCA
3. Maria – Edward Lachman (Netflix) – ASC
4. Dune: Part Two – Greig Fraser (Warner Bros.) – ASC, BAFTA, BSC, CCA
5. Emilia Pérez – Paul Guillaume (Netflix) – BAFTA, BSC

Will win: The Brutalist
Should win: Nosferatu
Possible shocker: Dune: Part Two