FSU student filmmakers earn national recognition from American Society of Cinematographers

Three Florida State University student filmmakers are earning national recognition for their work, with each named a finalist for a 2026 Student Heritage Award from the American Society of Cinematographers.

Juan Martinez, Saron Bahre and Leandro Rutigliano, students in FSU’s College of Motion Picture Arts, are among a select group of emerging cinematographers nominated for the annual awards. Of the 10 nominees in the U.S. undergraduate narrative and documentary categories, three are from FSU.

“To have three of our undergraduate cinematographers nominated for ASC Student Heritage Awards in the same year is really remarkable,” said Keith Slade, FSU filmmaker in residence in cinematography. “The American Society of Cinematographers represents the highest level of our profession, and its membership includes many of the cinematographers whose work has defined the art and craft of filmmaking. For our students to have their work recognized by that community, at this stage in their careers, is incredibly meaningful.”

The nominations also highlight the resources and opportunities FSU provides student filmmakers. The College of Motion Picture Arts is the only motion picture college in the country that pays the production costs of every student’s film, providing students equal access to industry-standard equipment and facilities. FSU also covers entry fees and expenses for finished student work shown at film festivals.

Slade said he has seen firsthand how the students have developed through their time at FSU.

“I’ve watched these students grow as cinematographers and push themselves and their craft, and I couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve accomplished,” he said.

“The constant endorsement from our school and professors mean the world to us. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities and support this program has given to me and my peers’ brave ideas.”

– FSU Leandro Rutigliano, student filmmaker

Martinez is one of six finalists for the George Spiro Dibie, ASC Undergraduate Award for his cinematography on “Tesoro.” The film follows an immigrant boy who spends the Fourth of July at a beach motel while his mother works. When his restlessness leads him to cause trouble, mother and son are forced to confront fears about their future.

“Being nominated for the ASC Heritage Awards is a tremendous honor,” Martinez said. “This recognition is a reflection of the hard work of every crew member who helped bring this project to life from start to finish.”

For Martinez, who is Colombian, the recognition also carries personal significance.

“As a Colombian cinematographer being recognized by the ASC for a Hispanic film, this nomination means the world to me,” he said. “I hope it not only highlights the visual storytelling of the film but also draws attention to the very real social issues it explores. I am incredibly grateful to be part of a project that has the opportunity to spark conversation and represent our community on this stage.”

Bahre and Rutigliano are both finalists for the Haskell Wexler, ASC Documentary Award. Together, the FSU filmmakers account for half of the four finalists in the documentary category.

Bahre was recognized for “Lake of Fire,” which retells through the eyes of the perpetrator the vandalism of an art exhibition celebrating diversity, kindness and inclusion.

For Bahre, an Ethiopian, first-generation filmmaker, the subject had a personal resonance.

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“Through my cinematography, I hope audiences are able to reflect on the importance of not silencing art, artists and diverse voices,” Bahre said.“I am incredibly grateful to be part of a project that has the opportunity to honor the artist and encourage meaningful conversations about the importance of allowing different voices and perspectives to exist freely.”

Bahre also credited the College of Motion Picture Arts with providing the resources and collaborative environment that helped make the film possible.

“Having access to the equipment and resources we needed, as well as the opportunity to collaborate with incredible filmmakers I am lucky to call my friends, made this experience incredibly meaningful,” she said. “I am deeply grateful for the community, support and opportunities this program has given me to grow as a filmmaker.”

Rutigliano was nominated for “House of Light,” which explores a Greek Orthodox monastery in the hills of Texas that provides a place of peace for the monks who live there and those who seek it.

Rutigliano said the monks and their stories helped shape his visual approach to the film.

“Hearing the perspectives of these monks inspired many elements of the cinematography, hoping to encapsulate the pure feeling of home, peace, and light they provided us with,” he said. “Through the many dark times that the outside world can undergo, it is places like this that prove to us there’s always some sort of lighthouse calling us in to land ashore.”

Rutigliano also pointed to the resources, faculty support and collaboration he found at FSU.

“Thanks to the support of FSU’s College of Motion Picture Arts, our crew was granted access to the knowledge and equipment that made it possible to bring this idea to life,” he said. “The constant endorsement from our school and professors mean the world to us. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities and support this program has given to me and my peers’ brave ideas.”

The three nominations continue a history of FSU filmmakers earning recognition from the American Society of Cinematographers. In 2019, FSU student Jazleana Jones won the Haskell Wexler Student Documentary Award for “King, Charles.” In 2025, FSU graduate Max Losson was a finalist for the George Spiro Dibie, ASC Undergraduate Award for his cinematography on the FSU capstone film “Photo Play XX.”

The American Society of Cinematographers created the Student Heritage Awards to recognize emerging cinematographers and support them as they begin their careers. Colleges and universities may submit up to three qualified students per category, and winners are selected by a jury of ASC members.

Now in their 27th year, the awards honor ASC members whose contributions helped shape the art of cinematography. This year’s nominees represent film programs including FSU, the University of Southern California, UCLA, the American Film Institute, Chapman University, Pratt Institute and the School of Visual Arts.

Winners of the 2026 ASC Student Heritage Awards will be announced Oct. 4.