Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design of the Year

Awarded to the film deemed by Cosmo voters to have the best cinematography, art direction, or set design for an eligible film from the awards year. Cinematography covers the actual filming of scene, including the choice of cameras and lenses, camera angles, lighting design and placement, and the like. Set Design, which falls under the purview of the Art Director, involves the creation of sets and the use of furnishings and props within the set. Taken together, Cosmo voters consider this category to be the visual appeal of the film separate from special effects and costuming.

Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design for a 2001 Film

Winner

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Additional Nominees

  • Gosford Park (2001)
  • Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
  • Monsters, Inc. (2001)
  • Moulin Rouge (2001)

Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design for a 2002 Film

Winner

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Additional Nominees

  • Chicago (2002)
  • Far From Heaven (2002)
  • Gangs of New York (2002)
  • The Rules of Attraction (2002)

Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design for a 2003 Film

Winner

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Additional Nominees

  • 28 Days Later (2003)
  • Big Fish (2003)
  • Finding Nemo (2003)
  • The Last Samurai (2003)
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design for a 2004 Film

Winner

  • Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)

Additional Nominees

  • The Aviator (2004)
  • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
  • Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)
  • Troy (2004)

Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design for a 2005 Film

Winner

  • Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Additional Nominees

  • Batman Begins (2005)
  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
  • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)
  • Serenity (2005)

Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design for a 2006 Film

Winner

  • Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Additional Nominees

  • Apocalypto (2006)
  • Babel (2006)
  • The Departed (2006)
  • Poseidon (2006)

Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design for a 2010 Film

Winner

  • Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Additional Nominees

  • Black Swan (2010)
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
  • Inception (2010)
  • The King’s Speech (2010)
  • The Social Network (2010)

Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design for a 2012 Film

Winner

  • Life of Pi (2012)

Additional Nominees

  • Anna Karenina (2012)
  • Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
  • Les Miserables (2012)
  • Lincoln (2012)

Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design for a 2013 Film

Winner

  • The Great Gatsby (2013)

Additional Nominees

  • American Hustle (2013)
  • Gravity (2013)
  • The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
  • Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)
  • Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design for a 2014 Film

Winner

  • Birdman (2014)

Additional Nominees

  • The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
  • Interstellar (2014)
  • Into the Woods (2014)
  • Maleficent (2014)
  • Snowpiercer (2014)

Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design for a 2015 Film

Winner

  • Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Additional Nominees

  • Brooklyn (2015)
  • Carol (2015)
  • Crimson Peak (2015)
  • The Revenant (2015)
  • Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)

Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design for a 2016 Film

Winner

  • Doctor Strange (2016)

Additional Nominees

  • Arrival (2016)
  • Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
  • La La Land (2016)
  • Lion (2016)
  • Moonlight (2016)

Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design for a 2017 Film

Winner

  • Wonder Woman (2017)

Additional Nominees

  • Beauty and the Beast (2017)
  • Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
  • Dunkirk (2017)
  • Loving Vincent (2017)
  • The Shape of Water (2017)

Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design for a 2018 Film

Winner

  • Roma (2018)

Additional Nominees

  • Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
  • The Favourite (2018)
  • First Man (2018)
  • Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
  • A Star is Born (2018)

Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design for a 2019 Film

Winner

  • The Lighthouse

Additional Nominees

  • 1917
  • The Aeronauts
  • Joker
  • The King
  • Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood

Best Cinematography, Art Direction or Set Design for a 2020 Film

Winner

  • Tenet

Additional Nominees

  • Judas and the Black Messiah
  • Mank
  • News of the World
  • Nomadland
  • Promising Young Woman

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