The American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Motion Picture, Limited Series, or Pilot Made for Television is an annual award given by the American Society of Cinematographers to cinematographers working in the field of television film, limited series or television pilots (or the first episode of a series). It has been awarded, in some capacity, since 1986. From 2009 to 2013, pilot episodes were moved in competition with regular series, but returned in 2014, where it has since remained.
Winners and nominees 1980s Year Program Episode Nominees Network 1987 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Mini-Series or Specials Christmas Snow Philip H. Lathrop NBCKojak: The Price of Justice Victor J. KemperCBSPromise Gayne Rescher Rage of Angels: The Story Continues "Part II" Jack PriestleyNBCWhen the Bough Breaks James Crabe 1988War and Remembrance Dietrich Lohmann ABCHemingway Wolfgang Treu CBSLincoln William WagesNBCNoble House Gábor Pogány Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Movie of the Week or PilotLittle Girl Lost Philip H. Lathrop ABCThe Caine Mutiny Court-Martial Jacek Laskus CBSDavy Crockett: Rainbow in the Thunder Isidore Mankofsky ABCLena: My Hundred Children Eric Van Haren NomanNBCShooter Gayne Rescher 1989Single Women Married Men Gayne Rescher CBSA Cry for Help: The Tracey Thurman Story Eric Van Haren Noman NBCEverybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure Shelly JohnsonABCMy Name Is Bill W. Neil Roach The Young Riders "The Kid" John Toll
1990s Year Program Episode Nominees Network 1990 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Miniseries Lucky Chances "Part I" Gayne Rescher NBC The Great Los Angeles Earthquake "Part II" Dennis Lewiston NBC Voices Within: The Story of Truddi Chase "Part II" William Wages ABC Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Movie of the Week or PilotMurder in Mississippi Donald M. Morgan ABCCaroline? William Wages CBSThe Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson Don Burgess TNT Gabriel's Fire "Pilot" Thomas Alger OlgeirsonABC Twin Peaks "Pilot" Ronald Víctor García 1991 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in MiniseriesLove, Lies and Murder Isidore Mankofsky NBCFalse Arrest Robert Draper ABCIn a Child's Name Daryn Okada CBS Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Movie of the Week or PilotDillinger Donald M. Morgan ABC Civil Wars "Pilot" Brian J. Reynolds ABC I’ll Fly Away "Pilot" William WagesNBC Reasonable Doubts "Pilot" Robert PrimesReason for Living: The Jill Ireland Story Jon Kranhouse 1992 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in MiniseriesDrug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel Roy H. Wagner NBCThe Burden of Proof Kees Van Oostrum ABCIntruders Tom Priestley Jr. CBSMGM: When the Lion Roars Michael Lonzo TNTSinatra Reynaldo Villalobos CBS Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Movie of the Week or PilotStalin Vilmos Zsigmond HBOAffairs of the Heart Chuck Vincent HBOAn American Story Johnny E. Jensen CBSCitizen Cohn Paul Elliot HBOWhen No One Would Listen Richard L. Rawlings CBS 1993 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in MiniseriesReturn to Lonesome Dove Kees Van Oostrum CBSA Matter of Justice Robert Draper NBC Murder in the Heartland "Part 1" Ronald Víctor GarcíaABC Trade Winds "Part 3" Isidore Mankofsky Wild Palms "The Floating World" Phedon Papamichael Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Movie of the Week or PilotGeronimo Donald M. Morgan TNT NYPD Blue "Pilot" Bing Sokolsky ABC seaQuest DSV "To Be or Not to Be" Kenneth Zunder NBCTo Dance with the White Dog Neil Roach CBS The X-Files "Pilot" Thomas Del Ruth Fox 1994 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Miniseries Family Album "Part 1" Michael Watkins NBCMillion Dollar Babies David Franco CBS North & South: Book III- Heaven and Hell "Spring 1866 - Spring/Summer 1866" Don E. FauntLeRoy ABC Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All "Part 2" Edward J. PeiCBS Scarlett "Episode 1" Tony Imi Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Movie of the Week or Pilot ER "24 Hours" Thomas Del Ruth NBCAmelia Earhart: The Final Flight Lauro Escorel TNTAnd the Band Played On Paul Elliot HBO Chicago Hope "Pilot" Tim Suhrstedt CBS Earth 2 "First Contact" Félix Enríquez Alcalá NBC 1995 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in MiniseriesStreets of Laredo Edward J. Pei CBSThe Invaders Alar Kivilo Fox Picture Windows "Soir Bleu" Paul Sarossy ShowtimeZoya Laszlo George NBC Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Movie of the Week or PilotTruman Paul Elliot HBODivas Ronald Víctor García FoxFalling for You David Franco CBSKingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long Alexander Gruszynski TNTWhite Dwarf Phedon Papamichael Fox 1996 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in MiniseriesThe Siege at Ruby Ridge Donald M. Morgan CBSIn Cold Blood Peter Woeste CBSPandora's Clock Steven Shaw NBC Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Movie of the Week or PilotRiders of the Purple Sage William Wages TNTGotti Alar Kivilo HBOHidden in Silence Michael D. Margulies Lifetime Millennium "Pilot" Peter Wunstorf FoxRasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny Elemér Ragályi HBOWhat Love Sees Robert Draper CBS 1997 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in MiniseriesGeorge Wallace Alan Caso TNTIntensity David Franco FoxMedusa’s Child Kees Van Oostrum ABC Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in a Movie of the Week or PilotBuffalo Soldiers William Wages TNTThe Garden of Redemption Jacek Laskus ShowtimeThe Inheritance Shelly Johnson CBSOliver Twist Bing Sokolsky ABCSnow White: A Tale of Terror Mike Southon Showtime 1998 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week, Pilots or MiniseriesWinchell Robbie Greenberg HBOThe Day Lincoln Was Shot Ronald Víctor García CBSThe Fixer Michael Goi ShowtimeThe Rat Pack Shane HurlbutHBOWhen Trumpets Fade Thomas Burstyn 1999Introducing Dorothy Dandridge Robbie Greenberg HBOJoan of Arc Pierre Gill CBSMind Prey Bing Sokolsky ABCStrange Justice Jonathan Freeman Showtime The West Wing "Pilot" Thomas Del Ruth NBC
2000s Year Program Episode Nominees Network 2000 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week, Mini-Series or Pilot (Cable)The Crossing Rene Ohashi A&EDune Vittorio Storaro Sci-Fi ChannelFor Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story Donald M. Morgan HBOHigh Noon Robert McLachlan TBSWitchblade Anghel Decca TNT Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week, Mini-Series or Pilot (Network)Cora Unashamed Ernest Holzmann PBSJason and the Argonauts Sergei Kozlov CBSKing of the World Eric Van Haren Noman NBCThe Moving of Sophia Myles William WagesCBSPapa's Angels Brian J. Reynolds 2001 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week, Mini-Series or Pilot (Cable)Attila Steven Fierberg USABoss of Bosses Brian J. Reynolds TNTJust Ask My Children Lowell Peterson LifetimePrancer Returns Bruce Worrall USAWhat Girls Learn Malcolm Cross Showtime Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week, Mini-Series or Pilot (Network)Uprising Denis Lenoir NBC 24 "12:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m." Peter Levy Fox Citizen Baines "Pilot" Ernest Holzmann CBSDon Giovanni Unmasked Rene Ohashi PBS Smallville "Pilot" Peter Wunstorf The WB 2002 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week, Mini-Series or Pilot (Cable)Last Call Jeffrey Jur ShowtimeThe Case of the Whitechapel Vampire Serge Ladouceur Hallmark ChannelMiss Lettie and Me William Wages TNTPoint of Origin Anthony Nakonechnyj USA Taken "John" Jonathan Freeman Sci Fi Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week, Mini-Series or Pilot (Network) CSI: Crime Scene Investigation/CSI: Miami "Cross Jurisdictions" Michael Barrett CBS American Dreams "Pilot" Brian J. Reynolds NBC Birds of Prey "Pilot" Clark Mathis The WBCarrie Victor Goss NBC Haunted "Pilot" Peter Wunstorf UPN 2003 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week, Mini-Series or Pilot (Cable) Carnivàle "Milfay" Tami Reiker HBOAngels in America Stephen Goldblatt HBOOut of the Ashes Donald M. Morgan ShowtimeThe Pentagon Paper Michael Mayers FXThe Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone Ashley Rowe Showtime Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week, Mini-Series or Pilot (Network)Hitler: The Rise of Evil Pierre Gill CBSBrush with Fate Eric Noman Van Haren CBS Las Vegas "Pilot" Bill RoeNBC The Lyon's Den "Pilot" Michael Mayers Miracles "The Ferguson Syndrome" Ernest Holzmann ABC 2004 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week, Mini-Series or Pilot (Cable)Iron Jawed Angels Robbie Greenberg HBO Frankenstein "Episode 1" Alan Caso Hallmark ChannelThe Life and Death of Peter Sellers Peter Levy HBOSalem’s Lot Ben Nott TNTSpartacus Kees Van Oostrum USA Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week, Mini-Series or Pilot (Network)Homeland Security Jonathan Freeman NBCThe Five People You Meet In Heaven Kramer MorgenthauABCJudas Michael Goi Lost "Pilot" Larry Fong Medical Investigation "You're Not Alone" Clark Mathis NBC 2005 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Television Movies, Miniseries or PilotsWarm Springs Robbie Greenberg HBOCode Breakers Thomas Del Ruth ESPNFaith of My Fathers Bill Roe A&E Into the West "Wheel to the Stars" Shane Hurlbut TNTReefer Madness: The Movie Musical Jan Kiesser Showtime 2006 Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King "Umney's Last Case" John Stokes TNT Day Break "Pilot" Bill Roe ABC Heroes "Genesis" Adam Kane NBC The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines Walt Lloyd TNT Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip "Pilot" Thomas Del Ruth NBC 2007 The Company "Episode 1" Ben Nott TNTBury My Heart at Wounded Knee David Franco HBOJesse Stone: Sea Change Rene Ohashi CBS Pushing Daisies "Pie-lette" Michael Weaver ABC Raines "Pilot" Oliver Bokelberg NBC 2008 Eleventh Hour "Resurrection" David Stockton CBS The Andromeda Strain "Part 1" Jon Joffin A&E Fringe "Pilot" Michael Bonvillain Fox Life on Mars "Out Here in the Fields" Kramer Morgenthau ABC My Own Worst Enemy "Breakdown" Oliver Bokelberg NBC 2009 Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Television Movies or MiniseriesTaking Chance Alar Kivilo HBOThe Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler Jerzy ZielińskiCBSJesse Stone: Thin Ice Rene Ohashi
2010s