James Friend BSC ASC has won the esteemed statuette for Best Cinematography award at this year’s Academy Awards for Netflix’s All Quiet On The Western Front.
This marks Friend’s first Oscar nomination and Oscar win, although this year he has already scooped awards from both The BSC and BAFTA.
Among his thanks, Friend attributed his success to his parents for believing in him when he wanted to “join the circus of the film industry.”
“Well it’s not my birthday, but it feels like it is,” said Friend in his acceptance speech. “What an honour.”

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, Director: Edward Berger, Prague 2021
Friend lensed the Netflix film which won plaudits for its unflinching portrayal of the horrors of the first World War, beating fellow cinematographers Darius Khondji AFC ASC for Bardo, False Chronicle Of A Handful of Truths, Mandy Walker AM ACS ASC for Elvis, Sir Roger Deakins CBE BSC ASC for Empire Of Light and Florian Hoffmeister BSC for Tár.