Lights, camera, action!

Cinematographer known for giving wushu a new role on the silver screen honored with lifetime award in Hollywood, Rena Li reports in Los Angeles.

Andrzej Bartkowiak, a celebrated Hollywood cinematographer, director and producer, was honored with the American Society of Cinematographers 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award during its 39th annual awards ceremony on Feb 23 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.

Known for major Hollywood blockbusters like Speed and Lethal Weapon 4, Bartkowiak has worked across a range of genres and styles, and has collaborated with some of the most esteemed directors in Hollywood.

Adding to his achievements behind the camera, Bartkowiak has often sat in the director's chair himself and has left a lasting impact on action films, particularly through his use of Chinese martial arts. His directorial debut was 2000's Romeo Must Die, an action-thriller starring martial arts superstar Jet Li (Li Lianjie).