Dune: Australian Greig Fraser wins Oscar for best cinematography

Australian Greig Fraser has continued Dune’s early run of wins at the 2022 Academy Awards, collecting the Oscar for best cinematography.

Fraser beat fellow Australian cinematographer Ari Wegner, who was tipped to make Oscars history by becoming the first woman to win the category in the Academy Awards’ 94-years, for The Power of the Dog.

Prior to Dune, the Los Angeles-based Fraser is best known for the 2016 films Lion and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and the 2018 political satire Vice.

In 2020, he won an Emmy award for the television series The Mandalorian.

With nominations in 12 categories, The Power of the Dog started out as the 2022 Academy Awards’ frontrunner, before the craft categories – which kicked off an hour ahead of the main show – were dominated by Dune.

The Jane Campion-directed western epic has thrust a number of Australians into the spotlight, including South Australian actor Kodi Smit-McPhee, who is nominated in the best actor in a supporting role category.

Australians Robert Mackenzie and Tara Webb have already lost out to Dune in the sound category, as has Peter Sciberras, editor of The Power of the Dog.

New Zealand/Australian director Campion is the only woman to have been nominated in the best director category twice, after The Piano in 1994. Campion is also a nominee in the adapted screenplay category this year.

Nicole Kidman is nominated for best actress for her portrayal of Lucille Ball in the biopic Being the Ricardos.

The Oscars is broadcast in Australia on Seven.