The ACO is delighted to announce that one of our members has been honoured with an invitation to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts.

Des Whelan ACO, ISC, Assoc BSC, is known personally to many of us, and by reputation to us all. He’s been an Operator since the mid-1980s, demonstrating that framing, lens choice, and the timing of camera movement are among the many crafts that make a film stand out from the crowd.

The list of films on his CV is too many to mention; however, "In the Name of the Father", "My Left Foot", and "The Banshees of Inisherin" have all either received or been nominated for Oscars. Additionally, Des won the Operators Award - Film category in 2018 for "Darkest Hour".

His dedication to Irish and British film, the camera department, and the industry as a whole is duly recognised by his invitation to join The Academy.

Congratulations Des.


Matt Poynter ACO, Assoc BSC.
President ACO.