The American Society of Cinematographers will honor Oscar-nominated producer and Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy with its 2025 Board of Governors Award at the ASC‘s Feb. 23 awards gala in Beverly Hills.
“Kathleen Kennedy’s extraordinary career has left an enduring mark on the world of cinema,” said ASC President Shelly Johnson. “Her keen eye for storytelling is unparalleled. She consistently brings forth projects that elevate and confirm her trust in the director and cinematographer relationship. Recognizing it as the backbone of great filmmaking, her movies consistently showcase this belief. Her dedication to visual excellence has made her a true trailblazer in the film industry.”
The ASC Board of Governors Award recognizes individuals in the industry whose body of work has made significant and indelible contributions to cinema. It is reserved for filmmakers who are champions for directors of photography and the visual art form.
Kennedy is an eight-time Oscar nominee and the recipient of the Academy’s 2018 Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. She has produced or executive produced more than 70 feature films, which collectively earned 120 Academy Award nominations and 25 wins. Among her credits are: Jurassic Park, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, The Sixth Sense, the Back to the Future trilogy, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Gremlins, The Goonies, Poltergeist, Empire of the Sun, Lincoln, War Horse, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Schindler’s List, The Color Purple and The Adventures of Tintin.
Kennedy was the producer of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), the highest-grossing domestic feature of all time, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the number one-grossing movie in 2016. She went on to produce Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), the highest-grossing movie worldwide in 2017, as well as Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Kennedy also is the executive producer of Emmy-winning series The Mandalorian on Disney+. She is a producer on all of Lucasfilm’s live action titles, including Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Ahsoka and more.
“Kathleen’s innovative leadership and dedication to storytelling has not only entertained millions but also inspired a new generation of filmmakers,” adds ASC Awards Chairperson Chuck Minsky. “Her contributions to the industry, from her early work with Steven Spielberg to her current role as president of Lucasfilm, have been pivotal in shaping modern cinema as we know it today.”
Previous recipients of the ASC Board of Governors include 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, among others.