(left) Photo from One Battle After Another courtesy of Warner Brothers Studio. (right) Camera Operator Mark Goellnicht, SOC, ACO working onset for The Studio. Photo courtesy of Apple
Los Angeles, CA (March 7, 2026) — The Society of Camera Operators (SOC) proudly announced the recipients of the 2026 Camera Operator of the Year Awards in Film and Television during its annual SOC Awards celebration on Saturday, March 7, 2026. This year’s ceremony was presented via live stream, with in-person Watch Parties hosted simultaneously in Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta, bringing together camera professionals across the country to celebrate the craft of camera operation.
The recipient of Camera Operator of the Year in Film is Colin Anderson, SOC – One Battle After Another. Camera Operator of the Year in Television is Mark Goellnicht, SOC, ACO – The Studio, S1E2 “The Oner”.
“Camera operators are the connective tissue between vision and audience,” said Mathew Moriarty, President of the Society of Camera Operators. “The past several years have presented extraordinary challenges for our industry, yet our work has remained bold, inventive, and deeply human. This year’s recipients and nominees represent the highest standard of our craft and the enduring strength and resilience of the camera community.”
Camera Operator of the Year in Film recipient Colin Anderson, SOC, was honored for One Battle After Another, topping a highly competitive field of nominees including Colin Anderson, SOC, for Marty Supreme, with Brian Osmond, SOC, as “B” Camera Operator; Lukasz Bielan for F1, with Natasha Mullan as “B” Camera Operator; Gilles Corbeil, SOC, for Frankenstein, with James Frater, SOC, as “B” Camera Operator/Steadicam; and Michael Fuchs, SOC, for Weapons, with Kate Roberson as “B” Camera Operator and Connor O’Brien, SOC, as “C” Camera Operator.
Camera Operator of the Year in Television recipient Mark Goellnicht, SOC, ACO, was honored for The Studio, Season 1, Episode 2, “The Oner,” rising from an exceptional slate of nominees including Erdem Ertal, SOC, for The Pitt, Season 1, Episode 12, “6:00 P.M.,” with Aymae Sulick, SOC, as “B” Camera Operator; Scott Maguire for Severance, Season 2, Episode 7, “Chikhai Bardo,” with Mark Schmidt, SOC, as “B” Camera Operator; Jim McConkey, SOC, for Étoile, Season 1, Episode 1, “The Swap,” with Fanny Coustenoble and Niknaz Tavakolian as “B” Camera Operators; and Nick Müller, SOC with Nick Medrud, “B” Camera Operator for Stranger Things, Season 5, Episode 4, “Chapter Four: Sorcerer.”
The SOC’s President’s Award was presented to Nick Phillips, inventor and founder of Libra Head, whose groundbreaking stabilization technology has become one of the most relied-upon tools in modern image-making. Phillips accepted the honor via live stream from Cape Town, South Africa, joining the global camera community in celebration.
The SOC also presented its Technical Achievement Award, honoring SONY’s Rialto Mini (VENICE Extension System Mini) for innovation that advances the art and craft of camera operation.