The Society of Camera Operators (SOC) has announced the recipients of Camera Operator of the Year in Film and Television during the 2025 SOC Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Loews Hollywood Hotel.
The recipient of Camera Operator of the Year in Film is P. Scott Sakamoto, SOC – A Complete Unknown. Camera Operator of the Year in Television recipients are Scott Dropkin, SOC – Yellowstone, S5E14 “Life is a Promise” with Abby Linne, SOC, “B” Camera Operator, and Jed Seus, “C” Camera Operator.
P. Scott Sakamoto, SOC topped a talented group of nominees including Bianca Butti – Challengers, with Terrence Hayes, “B” Camera Operator and Patrick Quinn, “C” Camera Operator; Michael Fuchs, SOC – Wolfs, with Rebecca Rajadnya, “B” Camera Operator (NY), and Keith Dunkerley, “B” Camera Operator (LA); Karsten Bloch Jacobsen, DFF – Wicked, with Simon Finney, GBCT, ACO, “B” Camera Operator; and David J. Thompson, SOC – Civil War, with Hugh Braselton, “B” Camera Operator.
The Camera Operator of the Year in Television nominees also included remarkable talent: Sam Ellison, SOC – The Penguin, S1E4 “Cent’Anni” with Eli Aronoff, SOC, “B” Camera Operator; Michael Fuchs, SOC – Mr. & Mrs. Smith, S1E1 “First Date” with Rebecca Rajadnya, “B” Camera Operator; Chris Haarhoff, SOC – Fallout, S1E1 “The End” with Robert Campbell, “B” Camera Operator; and Gary Malouf – The Bear, S3E1 “Tomorrow” with Chris Dame, “B” Camera Operator.
Hundreds of guests, nominees, and decorated industry leaders attended the Awards. Following the recent devastation of the Los Angeles wildfire last month, this year’s SOC Lifetime Achievement Awards placed a special focus on honouring those who have made a significant impact during the events. The Governors’ Award was presented to the Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations Section, recognising their heroic efforts in containing wildfires through strategic water drops. The President’s Award honoured James Ramos, KTLA Senior Staff News Videographer, and John Schreiber, CBS Los Angeles Photojournalist, for their exceptional frontline coverage.
“On behalf of all of us at the SOC, congratulations to our Camera Operators of the Year and all of tonight’s honourees. Your artistry and dedication to the craft are truly inspiring,” said Matthew Moriarty, SOC President. “This year’s awards not only celebrate excellence in our field, but also recognise the courage of our first responders and the dedication of visual storytellers who document history as it unfolds.”
The two-day award weekend commenced with the Honouree & Nominee Reception on Friday, February 14, 2025, a casual yet prestigious gathering that brought together nominees, honourees, and industry peers to celebrate their collective contributions to the art of camera operation. The event was free for all members thanks to a generous donation from FUJIFILM.
The SOC’s second annual art exhibition, Capturing the Spirit: Evocative Moments on Screen, was open both nights of the awards weekend, offering attendees an exclusive opportunity to view and acquire one-of-a-kind works by renowned photographers and past SOC Lifetime Achievement Award Honourees: Phillip V. Caruso, Murray Close, Francois Duhamel, and Ralph Nelson. Made possible in part through the generous support of FUJIFILM, the collection featured iconic photographs capturing a broad spectrum of unforgettable moments on screen.
In addition to celebrating the achievements of exceptional filmmakers and crews, the SOC Awards also welcomed Dr. Jesse Berry from the Vision Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to the stage, recognising the SOC’s ongoing support of the hospital, including the production of fundraising videos that help drive vital contributions to pediatric vision care.
