Cynthia Pusheck, ASC, has been selected to receive the Presidents Award from the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), recognizing her extraordinary dedication and service to the organization and the cinematography community. The announcement comes ahead of the 40th Annual ASC Awards ceremony on March 8, 2026.
Pusheck’s journey to becoming a celebrated cinematographer began unexpectedly. Growing up in Rockford, Illinois, she didn’t consider a career in filmmaking until enrolling in a “Film 101” course at Columbia College Chicago in the mid-1980s. “I was immediately hooked and soon gravitated to the camera and cinematography courses,” she recalls. Early challenges in Chicago, where opportunities for female camera assistants were limited, prompted a move to Los Angeles in 1989.
Her early work included a stint on PeeWee’s Playhouse, which she described as “so fun!” and a role as a 2nd assistant on the film Field of Dreams, shot by John Lindley, ASC. It was on Field of Dreams that Pusheck experienced the physical demands of the work firsthand, impressing veteran cinematographer Robert Primes, ASC, with her strength and determination. Primes later brought her onto the crew of the made-for-television movie My Antonia, where she served as 1st B camera assistant.
Pusheck also honed her skills working with underwater cinematographer Pete Romano, ASC, on projects including the opening sequence for Saving Private Ryan and the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies. Romano described Pusheck as a “damn hard worker” with “film in her blood,” recalling a particularly challenging shoot where both he and Pusheck were hit by exploding squibs during filming.
After years as an assistant, Pusheck transitioned to operating, landing work on shows like CSI: Miami, where she worked with cinematographers Dermott Downs, Thomas Yatsko, ASC, and Eagle Egilsson, ASC. Egilsson later championed her to shoot episodes of Revenge, giving her the opportunity to establish the demonstrate’s visual style. She also served as a cinematographer on Good Girls Revolt, a series she described as “special” due to its subject matter and the creative freedom it afforded her.
Pusheck’s commitment to the ASC extends beyond her work as a cinematographer. She served as 2nd Vice President on the Society’s Board of Governors and is a founding co-chair of the ASC Vision Committee, alongside John Simmons, ASC. The Vision Committee was established in 2015 to promote inclusivity and create opportunities for underrepresented filmmakers. The committee has organized events including a Crane Day with CineMoves and Women in Media, and a master class at Sony, aimed at providing access to tools and techniques for emerging filmmakers.
“I think every time we’ve done an event, there’s been an incredible sense that we’ve touched people,” Pusheck said. She noted the historical challenges faced by women in the industry, recalling a time when female camera professionals felt isolated. “It takes time to build the numbers of underrepresented filmmakers, which has happened so much faster in the last decade than ever before!”
The ASC Awards ceremony, where Pusheck will be honored, is scheduled for March 8, 2026, at an as-yet-unspecified location. The event will also recognize Andrzej Bartkowiak, ASC, with the Lifetime Achievement Award, Michael Goi, ASC, ISC, with the Career Achievement in Television Award, and John Simmons, ASC, with the Presidents Award.
