The Society of Camera Operators has opened submissions for the 2026 Camera Operator of the Year awards.
The awards are given to feature film and television full-time camera operators who have operated on “distinguished projects of considerable quality” during the previous year.
Anyone in the film and TV community may nominate a camera operator for the prize, including but not limited to SOC members, directors, producers, production crew members, studios and production companies. Camera operators may also submit themselves.
Submissions for Camera Operator of the Year opened on Tuesday 28 October and will close on Wednesday 31 December.
Once submissions close, the list will be sent to the voting members of the SOC to select five in each category using the web-based ballots.
Then submissions will be vetted for their qualifications by the Awards Committee and a distinguished jury of committee members will select nominees in each category.
The list of the final nominees in each category will be sent to all voting members of the SOC in good standing for a vote by web-based ballots.
For these awards, there will be no consideration of any director of photography who also operated the camera on the same project.
The recipients will be announced at the Awards Celebration on Saturday 7 March 2026, and will be kept private until that time.
Full submission guidelines are available on the SOC website.
The SOC has also opened submissions for the Technical Achievement Award, which celebrates technology that is used by the camera operator and camera crew during production.
Details are also available on the SOC website.
