by FilmInk Staff
The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) has named AFTRS alumni Devamanikandan Kannaya Somu and Jake Frazer as finalists in the ASC Student Heritage Awards’ Henner Hofmann International Award category.
Devamanikandan and Jake are two of just six students recognised globally, alongside peers from FAMU in Prague, London Film School, Shanghai Theatre Academy and Mexico’s CCC.
The awards – announced this Sunday (October 4) – recognise cinematographers in the formative stages of their careers. They are judged by a select group of ASC members, who identify distinguished skills in light and composition, celebrating exceptional cinematographic talent and artistic vision.
Devamanikandan (Master of Arts Screen: Cinematography, 2024) has been recognised for his work on the Master of Arts Screen film Interview with a Hero, directed by Celeste Diep and produced by Catherine van der Rijt.
“Interview With a Hero gave me the freedom to explore something deeply personal: how culture can become part of a film’s visual language,” Devamanikandan said. “Drawing from Cambodian culture, its colours and shadow puppetry, we shaped the imagery not to tell the audience what to feel, but to express how the story made us feel. Having a film created with that intention recognised by the American Society of Cinematographers on an international stage is an incredible honour, and something I am deeply grateful for.”
His cinematography on Interview with a Hero was previously recognised by the Australian Cinematographers Society (NSW) in 2025, receiving a Silver Award for Outstanding Cinematography (Short Film). The film follows a Cambodian-Australian shadow puppeteer who is given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform on national television.
Since premiering at the Sydney Film Festival, Interview with a Hero took director Celeste Diep to MIFF’s Accelerator Lab, earned Best Director at the St Kilda Film Festival, Best Short Film at the Reel Good Film Festival, and Best Australian Short Film at the Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival. It also received recognition at the APDG Awards, where production designer Nathan Evans was named AFTRS Emerging Designer for a Screen Production.
The film has screened at festivals and cultural institutions including the Art Gallery of NSW’s Cinémathèque, the Cambodia International Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, and most recently, the Nashville Film Festival.
Since graduating from AFTRS, Devamanikandan has also lensed the short film Crescendo, directed by fellow Master of Arts Screen graduate Lianne MacKessy, which claimed first place at Tropfest.
Prior to his studies at AFTRS, Devamanikandan was selected for the prestigious Asian Film Academy Program in Busan, where he received the Certificate of Excellence (New York Film Academy Scholarship) for outstanding contribution among the international cohort in 2018. His cinematography for Jillendru Oru Kalavaram received Best Cinematography at the Oniros Film Awards in New York, while the television pilot Amartyan won Best Cinematography (Scripted) at Singapore’s Pradhana Vizha Awards.
Simon Smith, AFTRS Discipline Lead MA (Cinematography), said: “While he was at AFTRS, Devamanikandan’s work was characterised by bold colour choices in lighting, and a strong visual sense. Every one of his frames in this film is nuanced, and serves the story. Dev and Jake are two of only six students from International Film Schools around the world to be nominated in this special new category. We are incredibly proud at AFTRS to see two of our talented alum recognised at this level so early in their careers.”
Jake Frazer (Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, 2025) was recognised for his cinematography on the historical film The Native Police, shot on Arrernte Country in Alice Springs. The film was directed by fellow AFTRS student Charles Perkins and produced by Judah Jackson.
“The Native Police was a short film made with very few resources but enormous ambition,” Jake said. “It was really beautiful to be a part of a team of filmmakers who all intensely cared so much about telling the story in the right way. I’ve followed the ASC Heritage Awards for a few years, so it’s very special to be nominated for our work.”
Set in 1884, The Native Police follows an Aboriginal Native Police officer escorting an Arrernte girl across desert Country, as violence forces a reckoning with identity and survival.
Jake’s work on The Native Police has earned significant industry recognition, including a Gold Award at the ACS NSW Student Awards and the prestigious Student Cinematography Gold Plaque at the 56th ACS National Awards.
The film premiered in competition for the First Nations Award at the Sydney Film Festival and was later selected for competition for the Uncle Jack Charles Award at the Melbourne International Film Festival. Most recently, it was nominated for the AACTA Awards in the Best Short Film category.
Jake has also been recognised with a Silver Award for Student Cinematography at the ASC NSW & ACT Awards for the AFTRS documentary Not a Documentary About Jorts.
Simeon Bryan, AFTRS Discipline Lead BA (Cinematography) said: “Jake graduated from the BA: Screen Production program in a very strong cohort of fellow cinematographers. They all worked together and supported one another but pushed each other too. Jake has always had an eye for composition and lighting but now his practice has really matured, deeply collaborating with directors and other crew and with an uncanny awareness of spatial and temporal elements of story. This is a very worthy nomination.”
