Edward Lachman has claimed the prestigious American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) award for his work on "Maria," Pablo Larraín's biographical film about opera legend Maria Callas. The announcement came during the ceremony held on February 23, 2025.

Lachman's cinematography for the Callas biopic prevailed over strong competition from several acclaimed directors of photography: Jarin Blaschke ("Nosferatu"), Alice Brooks ("Wicked"), Lol Crawley ("The Brutalist"), Stéphane Fontaine ("Conclave"), Greig Fraser ("Dune: Part Two"), and Phedon Papamichael ("A Complete Unknown").

This recognition carries significant weight as ASC winners frequently go on to secure Academy Awards. In the past five years, four ASC recipients subsequently won Oscars in the cinematography category. The sole exception was Mandy Walker, who won the ASC award for "Elvis" in 2022 but lost the Oscar to James Friend for "All Quiet on the Western Front" – notably, Friend had not received an ASC nomination that year.

For the upcoming Oscar competition, Lachman will face four contenders: three fellow ASC nominees – Lol Crawley, Greig Fraser, and Jarin Blaschke – along with Paul Guilhaume, who did not receive an ASC nomination.

"Maria" portrays one of the world's most celebrated opera performers, offering a reimagined glimpse into the renowned soprano's final days in Paris.

The 2025 Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 2 at the Dolby Theater, where we'll discover if Lachman's ASC success translates to Oscar glory.