Kathleen Kennedy is set to be honored by the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) with the 2025 ASC Board of Governors Award, the organization announced on Wednesday.
The ceremony will take place on Feb. 23 at the 39th Annual ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards Gala at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. The ceremony will be streamed live worldwide.
In a statement, ASC President Shelly John said that “Kathleen Kennedy’s extraordinary career has left an enduring mark on the world of cinema. Her keen eye for storytelling is unparalleled. She consistently brings forth projects that elevate and confirm her trust in the director and cinematographer relationship. Recognizing it as the backbone of great filmmaking, her movies consistently showcase this belief. Her dedication to visual excellence has made her a true trailblazer in the film industry.”
Kennedy was previously a recipient of the 2018 Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, which was bestowed upon her by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. With a filmography of over 70 feature films as executive producer and producer, her films have received a total of 120 Academy Award nominations and 25 wins.
Kennedy’s filmography includes critically acclaimed and blockbuster hits such as Jurassic Park, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, The Sixth Sense, the Back to the Future trilogy, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Gremlins, The Goonies, Poltergeist, Lincoln, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Schindler’s List and The Adventures of Tintin.
Kennedy has been the President of Lucasfilm since 2012, succeeding Star Wars creator George Lucas, and has overseen the Disney era of the Star Wars franchise. She was a producer on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Solo: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens was the kickoff for Disney’s sequel trilogy. According to BoxOfficeMojo, the film grossed over $2 billion worldwide and is the highest grossing movie domestically with $936 million. The following films in the sequel trilogy, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, were each billion-dollar hits in their own right.
Emmy-winning The Mandalorian launched a long list of Disney-produced live action Star Wars TV shows, including The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Ahsoka, The Acolyte and the currently streaming Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. Kennedy is also a producer on 2023’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
ASC Awards Chairperson Chuck Minsky praised Kennedy’s “innovative leadership” and went on to say that her “dedication to storytelling has not only entertained millions but also inspired a new generation of filmmakers.” He added, “Her contributions to the industry, from her early work with Steven Spielberg to her current role as president of Lucasfilm, have been pivotal in shaping modern cinema as we know it today.”
Prior to becoming the current President of Lucasfilm, Kenny co-founded Amblin Entertainment with Frank Marshall and Steven Spielberg in 1980. Kennedy also went on to co-found The Kennedy/Marshall Company in 1992 with Marshall.
Throughout her illustrious career, Kennedy has worked with some of the most iconic names in cinema, including Spielberg, David Fincher, Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Robert Zemeckis, JJ Abrams, Julian Schnabel, Marjane Satrapi, M. Night Shyamalan, Frank Oz, Peter Bogdanovich and Richard Donner.
According to the organization, the ASC Board of Governors Award “recognizes individuals in the industry whose body of work has made significant and indelible contributions to cinema. It is reserved for filmmakers who are champions for directors of photography and the visual art form.”
Spike Lee, Viola Davis, Sofia Coppola, Jeff Bridges, Angelina Jolie, Denzel Washington, Ridley Scott, Barbra Streisand, Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, Christopher Nolan, Morgan Freeman, Francis Ford Coppola, Sally Field, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg are among those who have received the award in prior years.
