The Academy's choice: Acclaimed Cinematographer Justin Ivan Hong returns for 2025 Oscar winner video portraits
- By Meredith Roman
- Mar 3
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 2
2025 Oscar Winners Clockwise from Top Left: Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Kieran Culkin, Zoe Saldana
For the second consecutive year, celebrated Cinematographer Justin Ivan Hong lent his keen eye and masterful touch to the Academy Awards' official video portraits of the 2025 Oscar winners. Hong, known for his meticulous preparation and ability to craft compelling visual narratives, reprised his role from last year's highly praised series, a testament to his exceptional talent and collaborative spirit.
The annual video portraits, which captures the raw emotion and triumph of the newly minted Academy Award recipients, has become a cherished tradition, offering an intimate glimpse into their post-win moments. The decision to bring Hong back again was an easy one for the creative team behind the project, especially given the ambitious and technically demanding visual concept for 2025.
This year's portrait concept was a visually stunning mirrored heptagon set, designed to mimic an infinity room. The goal was to create a cohesive look that was perfectly aligned with the Academy Awards' overarching key concept art for 2025, which emphasized a sense of boundless possibility and reflection. However, translating this artistic vision into a practical shooting environment presented a significant and difficult technical challenge. Lighting a space made entirely of mirrors is a Cinematographer's nightmare, demanding a week of meticulous setup and extensive problem-solving from the entire crew to achieve the desired effect. The constant battle with reflections, light bounces, and ensuring crew visibility without compromising the shot required extraordinary skill. Despite these hurdles, the team was committed to delivering a flawless and visually stunning series of portraits.
Director Justin Chandra, who helms the annual portrait series, expressed his immense satisfaction with Hong's return.
"Working with Justin is truly a Director's dream, especially when facing such a formidable technical challenge," Chandra stated. "His understanding of light, composition, and how to evoke genuine emotion through the lens is unparalleled. Last year, he successfully interpreted the creative brief and delivered on the breathtaking and visual kaleidoscope of colors and we all knew he was the only one who could conquer this year's technical demands while still giving our Oscar winners the beautiful and glamorous look they deserved. There was no question in our minds that we wanted his expertise again to elevate these portraits even further in 2025."
Producer Ryan Velasquez echoed Chandra's sentiments, emphasizing the seamlessness of their collaboration even amidst the technical hurdles. "Justin's calm demeanor and collaborative nature make him an invaluable asset on set," Velasquez commented. "He anticipates needs, solves problems creatively, and always puts the storytelling first. His ability to work efficiently while maintaining such a high artistic standard is why we specifically sought him out again. He just gets it, and that continuity is crucial for a project of this significance."
The logistical and artistic demands of the mirrored set required an extraordinary level of preparation. For a full week leading up to the Academy Awards ceremony, Hong and his team were meticulously at work. This extensive setup period was critical, allowing for comprehensive testing of lighting schemes and camera placements within the highly reflective environment. Three cameras were strategically positioned to capture every angle and nuance of the winners' fleeting moments of triumph, ensuring comprehensive coverage without interfering with the illusion of the infinity room.
Hong himself led the extensive rehearsals, not just for the camera operators but for the entire lighting and grip crew. Every movement, every light adjustment was practiced and refined to perfection. This painstaking problem-solving was essential to minimize any visible reflections of equipment or crew members in the mirrored surfaces, a constant battle that Hong expertly navigated. His ingenuity in managing light within such a challenging space ensured that despite the technical complexities, the focus remained entirely on the Oscar winners, bathed in a perfect, celebratory glow.
The visual allure of the portraits was also heavily influenced by the production design, and Production Designer Kelly Fallon, who conceptualized the challenging mirrored set, was thrilled to be reunited with Hong.
"Designing the mirrored heptagon was an exciting artistic endeavor, but I knew the true test would come in its execution and lighting," Fallon shared.
"Justin and I have a fantastic working dynamic. He understood immediately how to approach the challenge of lighting an entirely mirrored environment while still ensuring the focus remained on the winners, giving them that iconic Oscar glow. His ability to manipulate light in such a reflective space to create depth and eliminate unwanted reflections was nothing short of brilliant. His choices always enhanced the design, making the spaces feel alive and resonant with the winners' momentous achievements without compromising their glamor. It's always a joy to collaborate with someone who truly sees and appreciates the full visual landscape of a project and embraces complex technical challenges head-on."
The big names among all the winners and celebrated figures Hong captured were:
Best Actor: Adrien Brody for The Brutalist
Best Actress: Mikey Madison for Anora
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain
Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña for Emilia Pérez
Justin Ivan Hong's return provided another year of captivating and visually stunning Oscar winner portraits. His mastery in navigating the complexities of the mirrored set, leading his camera and lighting team, and delivering the luminous and glamorous aesthetic expected for these iconic figures, further solidified his reputation as one of the industry's most sought-after Cinematographers.
