SOCIETY OF CAMERA OPERATORS ANNOUNCES CAMERA OPERATORS OF THE YEAR IN FILM AND TELEVISION

Los Angeles, CA (February 15, 2025) — 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.

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.

2025 SOC Awards

Photos by John Vincent Vogt and Paul “Sal” Salazar

Ballroom | Receptions | Behind the Scenes | Honorees, Nominees, Presenters | Red Carpet

SOC to Honor Heroes of Los Angeles Wildfires at the 2025 SOC Awards—Including LA County Fire Department’s Air Operations Section and Local TV News Photojournalists

The Society of Camera Operators (SOC) is proud to announce a transformative focus for this year’s SOC Awards, honoring both the courageous firefighters who battled tirelessly to protect Los Angeles and the dedicated local news videographers who risked their lives to capture and share the story of the LA fires.

This year, the Governors’ Award honoree is the Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations Section, whose water drops turned the tide in the effort to contain the fires. The President’s Award honorees are James Ramos, KTLA Senior Staff News Videographer and John Schreiber, CBS Los Angeles Photojournalist, for their exceptional coverage on the front lines. 

Recipients of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Awards

James Ramos and John Schreiber President’s Award

Los Angeles County Fire Department – Air Operations Section Govenors Award

Bonnie Blake, SOC Camera Operator, Film & Television

Larry Heider Camera Operator, Broadcast & Live

John Armstrong Camera Operator, unscripted

Jamie Felz Camera Technician

Tim Christie Mobile Camera Platform Operator

Zade Rosenthal Still Photographer

NODO Film Systems Technical Achievement Award

2025 Camera Operators of the Year

NOMINEES for FILM:

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

P. Scott Sakamoto, SOC – A Complete Unknown

David J. Thompson, SOC – Civil War, with Hugh Braselton, “B” Camera Operator

NOMINEES for TELEVISION:

Scott Dropkin, SOC – Yellowstone, S5E14 “Life is a Promise” with Abby Linne, SOC, “B” Camera Operator, and Jed Seus, “C” Camera Operator

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

Gary Malouf – The Bear, S3E1 “Tomorrow” with Chris Dame, “B” Camera Operator