ASC to Honor Guillermo del Toro with Board of Governors Award – Film News in Brief
Guillermo del Toro will be celebrated by the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) with its prestigious Board of Governors Award at the 40th Annual ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards Gala on March 8 at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills.
“Guillermo del Toro has reshaped modern cinema by treating the screen as a living canvas, painting worlds where beauty and terror share the same heartbeat,” said ASC President Mandy Walker. “A truly independent and original visionary, Guillermo continually enchants audiences with his style and the visceral experiences he creates in the cinema.”
The ASC Board of Governors Award honors collaborators who champion cinematographers and elevate the visual artistry at the heart of filmmaking. Del Toro’s career, spanning more than three decades, has been defined by imaginative storytelling and bold visual design. His debut feature, “Cronos (1993),” premiered at Cannes and earned the Critics’ Prize. He went on to direct acclaimed films including “The Devil’s Backbone (2001),” “Pan’s Labyrinth (2006),” “Mimic (1997),” “Hellboy (2004),” “Pacific Rim (2013)” and “Crimson Peak (2015).”
In 2017, del Toro wrote and directed “The Shape of Water,” which received 13 Academy Award nominations and won four, including Best Picture and Best Director. His first stop-motion feature, “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022),” co-directed with Mark Gustafson, won multiple awards including the Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Producers Guild of America Award for Best Animated Film.
Del Toro’s latest project, Netflix’s “Frankenstein (2025),” starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth, continues his bold visual reinterpretations of classic stories.
“It is a privilege to recognize Guillermo del Toro with this award,” said ASC Award Chairperson Chuck Minsky. “His contributions to filmmaking—both narratively and visually—have elevated the medium in profound ways.”
Past recipients of the ASC Board of Governors Award include Kathleen Kennedy, Spike Lee, Viola Davis, Sofia Coppola, Jeff Bridges, Angelina Jolie, Denzel Washington, Ridley Scott, Barbra Streisand, Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, Christopher Nolan, Morgan Freeman, Francis Ford Coppola, Sally Field, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.
Noah Wyle Named ICG Publicists’ TV Showperson of the Year
Noah Wyle has been named the International Cinematographers Guild Publicists’ 2026 Television Showperson of the Year.
The honor will be presented at the 63rd annual ICG Publicists Awards luncheon on March 13 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. The award recognizes professional impact, artistic excellence and showmanship, qualities the guild cited in Wyle’s recent work on Warner Bros. Television and HBO Max’s medical drama “The Pitt,” where he serves as executive producer, co-writer, director and star.
Wyle was honored as both actor and producer after “The Pitt” swept top prizes for lead male actor and drama series at the 2025 Primetime Emmys, as well as the 2026 Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards. He also earned two Actors Awards nominations for individual performance and ensemble work.
The actor first rose to prominence as Dr. John Carter on NBC’s “ER,” appearing in 254 episodes and earning multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Past recipients of the Television Showperson of the Year honor include Kathy Bates, Norman Lear, Quinta Brunson and Shonda Rhimes.
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival Unveils World, North American and U.S. Premieres
The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival has announced its full 2026 lineup, including both feature and short films, like the Oscar-nominated animated short film “Butterfly.” The festival will screen at venues across metro Atlanta from Feb. 18 to March 15, with select titles also available via AJFF’s Virtual Cinema.
Dedicated to showcasing diverse stories and strengthening the understanding between Jewish communities and global audiences, the festival’s lineup includes 49 feature films and 16 short films from 20 countries. “My Friend Sam” and “Nuremberg 45” will make their world premiere and “Proud Jewish Boy” will make its U.S. premiere at the festival. Films making their North American premiere include “Abortion in the Holy Land,” “Stay Forte” and “Surviving Malka Leifer.”
A slate of acclaimed short films will also make their World, North American and U.S. premieres, including “The Niggun,” “It Might Even Be Real,” “Dear Mom” and “Not My Weekend.”
“Each year, AJFF continues to evolve as a destination for filmmakers and audiences seeking cinema that engages both the present moment and history,” said Kenny Blank, executive and artistic director of ATL Jewish Film, in a statement. “Our 26th edition reflects the urgency of today’s global conversations and the enduring power of film to foster understanding.”
In addition to screenings, the festival will also feature major guest appearances, post-screening conversations and films engaging urgent themes of culture, global affairs, identity, memory and community.
Wacom Honored With Ub Iwerks Award for Longstanding Contribution to Animation at Annie Awards
Wacom has been honored with the Ub Iwerks Award at the 53rd Annie Awards, recognizing its longstanding contribution to the animation industry through digital pen and ink technologies and its enduring role within the global animation community.
Wacom’s digital pen and ink technologies and creative tools have supported artists in bringing hand-drawn expression into digital workflows, helping bridge traditional techniques with evolving production methods.
Presented by ASIFA-Hollywood, the Ub Iwerks Award celebrates technical advancements that have had a significant and lasting impact on the art and industry of animation. The award recognizes innovations that have helped shape animation production practices and expand creative possibilities over time. Named after animation pioneer Ub Iwerks—whose groundbreaking work helped shape some of the medium’s earliest iconic characters—the award honors those who continue to push the medium forward.
“Guillermo del Toro has reshaped modern cinema by treating the screen as a living canvas, painting worlds where beauty and terror share the same heartbeat,” said ASC President Mandy Walker. “A truly independent and original visionary, Guillermo continually enchants audiences with his style and the visceral experiences he creates in the cinema.”
The ASC Board of Governors Award honors collaborators who champion cinematographers and elevate the visual artistry at the heart of filmmaking. Del Toro’s career, spanning more than three decades, has been defined by imaginative storytelling and bold visual design. His debut feature, “Cronos (1993),” premiered at Cannes and earned the Critics’ Prize. He went on to direct acclaimed films including “The Devil’s Backbone (2001),” “Pan’s Labyrinth (2006),” “Mimic (1997),” “Hellboy (2004),” “Pacific Rim (2013)” and “Crimson Peak (2015).”
In 2017, del Toro wrote and directed “The Shape of Water,” which received 13 Academy Award nominations and won four, including Best Picture and Best Director. His first stop-motion feature, “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022),” co-directed with Mark Gustafson, won multiple awards including the Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Producers Guild of America Award for Best Animated Film.
Del Toro’s latest project, Netflix’s “Frankenstein (2025),” starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth, continues his bold visual reinterpretations of classic stories.
“It is a privilege to recognize Guillermo del Toro with this award,” said ASC Award Chairperson Chuck Minsky. “His contributions to filmmaking—both narratively and visually—have elevated the medium in profound ways.”
Past recipients of the ASC Board of Governors Award include Kathleen Kennedy, Spike Lee, Viola Davis, Sofia Coppola, Jeff Bridges, Angelina Jolie, Denzel Washington, Ridley Scott, Barbra Streisand, Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, Christopher Nolan, Morgan Freeman, Francis Ford Coppola, Sally Field, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.
Noah Wyle Named ICG Publicists’ TV Showperson of the Year
Noah Wyle has been named the International Cinematographers Guild Publicists’ 2026 Television Showperson of the Year.
The honor will be presented at the 63rd annual ICG Publicists Awards luncheon on March 13 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. The award recognizes professional impact, artistic excellence and showmanship, qualities the guild cited in Wyle’s recent work on Warner Bros. Television and HBO Max’s medical drama “The Pitt,” where he serves as executive producer, co-writer, director and star.
Wyle was honored as both actor and producer after “The Pitt” swept top prizes for lead male actor and drama series at the 2025 Primetime Emmys, as well as the 2026 Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards. He also earned two Actors Awards nominations for individual performance and ensemble work.
The actor first rose to prominence as Dr. John Carter on NBC’s “ER,” appearing in 254 episodes and earning multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Past recipients of the Television Showperson of the Year honor include Kathy Bates, Norman Lear, Quinta Brunson and Shonda Rhimes.
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival Unveils World, North American and U.S. Premieres
The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival has announced its full 2026 lineup, including both feature and short films, like the Oscar-nominated animated short film “Butterfly.” The festival will screen at venues across metro Atlanta from Feb. 18 to March 15, with select titles also available via AJFF’s Virtual Cinema.
Dedicated to showcasing diverse stories and strengthening the understanding between Jewish communities and global audiences, the festival’s lineup includes 49 feature films and 16 short films from 20 countries. “My Friend Sam” and “Nuremberg 45” will make their world premiere and “Proud Jewish Boy” will make its U.S. premiere at the festival. Films making their North American premiere include “Abortion in the Holy Land,” “Stay Forte” and “Surviving Malka Leifer.”
A slate of acclaimed short films will also make their World, North American and U.S. premieres, including “The Niggun,” “It Might Even Be Real,” “Dear Mom” and “Not My Weekend.”
“Each year, AJFF continues to evolve as a destination for filmmakers and audiences seeking cinema that engages both the present moment and history,” said Kenny Blank, executive and artistic director of ATL Jewish Film, in a statement. “Our 26th edition reflects the urgency of today’s global conversations and the enduring power of film to foster understanding.”
In addition to screenings, the festival will also feature major guest appearances, post-screening conversations and films engaging urgent themes of culture, global affairs, identity, memory and community.
Wacom Honored With Ub Iwerks Award for Longstanding Contribution to Animation at Annie Awards
Wacom has been honored with the Ub Iwerks Award at the 53rd Annie Awards, recognizing its longstanding contribution to the animation industry through digital pen and ink technologies and its enduring role within the global animation community.
Wacom’s digital pen and ink technologies and creative tools have supported artists in bringing hand-drawn expression into digital workflows, helping bridge traditional techniques with evolving production methods.
Presented by ASIFA-Hollywood, the Ub Iwerks Award celebrates technical advancements that have had a significant and lasting impact on the art and industry of animation. The award recognizes innovations that have helped shape animation production practices and expand creative possibilities over time. Named after animation pioneer Ub Iwerks—whose groundbreaking work helped shape some of the medium’s earliest iconic characters—the award honors those who continue to push the medium forward.