Awards

50 Years | 500+ Film and TV credits | 135+ Awards

SINCE 1975

The Television Academy today announced the recipients of the 74th Engineering, Science & Technology Emmy® Awards honoring an individual, company, or organization for developments in broadcast technology. Industrial Light & Magic is proud to be the recipient of an Emmy Award for its StageCraft™ virtual production tool suite. StageCraft has been used on such series as The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, How I met your Father, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and The Old Man.

“Innovation is a vital part of television production; and the talented engineers, scientists and technologists we have recognized are essential to the growth of our industry,” said Frank Scherma, chairman and CEO of the Television Academy. “These pioneering companies and visionaries have leveraged the power of technology to elevate television and storytelling in fundamental ways.”

ILM StageCraft is an end-to-end virtual production tool suite that bridges the gap between practical physical production methodologies and traditional digital post-production visual effects by providing the ability to design, scout and light environments in advance of the shoot and then capture that vision in camera during principal photography. StageCraft brings together a real-time engine, a real-time renderer, high-quality color management, physical camera equipment, LED displays, motion-capture technologies, synchronization methodologies and tailored on-set user interfaces to digitally create the illusion of 3D backgrounds for live-action sets.


“Earlier this year the Academy formed the Science & Technology Peer Group representing members who are involved in the strategy and development of technologies that enable or advance the storytelling process for the television industry,” said Committee Chair John Leverence. “Under the leadership of the new peer group’s governors and co-chairs Wendy Aylsworth and Barry Zegel, this year’s newly constituted Engineering Emmy Awards Committee honors a wide range of innovative solutions to once seemingly intractable technical problems.”

The Hollywood Professional Association announced the nominees for its annual HPA Awards for post-production, an honor that promotes outstanding creative artistry, and recognizes the achievement of talent, innovation, and engineering excellence. ILM is thrilled to have contributed to three shows nominated in the Outstanding Visual Effects category this year. Nominees include Richard Bluff, Hal Hickel, Jeff Capogreco, Abbigail Keller, and Joe Bauer for The Mandalorian – “Chapter 9: The Marshal”, David Seager, Alexandra Greene, George Kuruvilla, Dan Mayer, and Dan DeLeeuw for Loki – “Journey Into Mystery”, and Chad Wiebe for his work on Jungle Cruise.

“It is an absolute honour to have been nominated for our work,” said Alexandra Greene, Visual Effects Producer at ILM. “It’s hard to put into words the gratitude I have for all the ILM artists and production crews who poured their heart and souls into bringing the “Void” to life on Loki, along with all of the larger-than-life creatures that reside there. Every day I find myself amazed by both the innovation and creativity that comes from our teams here at ILM, including the work by our fellow ILM nominees for The Mandalorian, and Jungle Cruise. Congratulations are in order!”

Janet Lewin, ILM’s General Manager and Senior Vice President notes, “I could not be more proud of the nominees and their teams that worked on these incredible shows,” adding, “I’m continually in awe of our team’s technical ingenuity, imagination, and relentless spirit, and I’m so pleased to see their hard work recognized by the HPA.”

The annual HPA Awards are returning as an in-person event this year, presented at a live gala on Thursday, November 18th at the historic Hollywood Legion Theater. Tickets are on sale now.

In a new video released by ILM on our YouTube channel, join Visual Effects Supervisor, Richard Bluff, as he shares a peek behind the curtain of the effects of The Mandalorian: Season 2, winner of 7 Emmy® Awards including Special Visual Effects, Sound Mixing, Cinematography, Prosthetic Makeup, Stunt Coordination, Stunt Performance, and Music Composition.

For its sophomore outing, Lucasfilm’s hit Disney+ series built upon the groundbreaking technical and artistic achievements accomplished during season one, combining traditional methodologies, with ever-advancing new technologies. The team also increased the physical size of the ILM StageCraft™ LED Volume which would again be used for over half of all scenes. This season also marked the debut of ILM’s state-of-the-art real-time cinema render engine called, Helios. The high-resolution, high-fidelity engine was used for all final pixel rendering displayed on the LED screens and offers unmatched performance for the types of complex scenes prevalent in today’s episodic and feature film production.

Practical creature effects have been a vital part of the aesthetic and charm of the Star Wars universe since 1977, and for season two, the effects team realized over 100 puppeteered creatures, droids, and animatronic masks, which included the beloved Tatooine Bantha, realized as a ten-foot-high puppeteered rideable creature. 

Practical miniatures and motion control photography were used once again for scale model ships, as well as miniature set extensions built for use in ILM’s StageCraft LED volume. Stop-motion animation was also utilized for the Scrap Walker at the Karthon Chop Fields. The greater Krayt dragon on Tatooine was realized as a six-hundred-foot computer-generated creature that would swim shark-like through the sand environment by way of a liquefaction effect, wherein the sand would behave like water. 

We would like to acknowledge the care and dedication that the team here at ILM put into the show, along with our partners at Legacy Effects, Hybride, Image Engine, Important Looking Pirates, Ghost VFX, Lola, Stereo D, Tippett Studios, Base FX, Raynault, Virtuous, and Yannix. 

We hope you enjoy this look inside The Mandalorian: Season 2.

The Television Academy announced its winners for the 73rd Annual Primetime Creative Arts Emmy® Awards over the weekend, celebrating a diverse group of talent from across television. ILM’s creative teams were honored with an award for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or a Movie for The Mandalorian, alongside nominations for their contributions on The Boys, WandaVision, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.  This is the second year in a row that the hit Lucasfilm series has received the Emmy Award for Special Visual Effects, a testament to the groundbreaking work that the show is known for.

Animation Supervisor Hal Hickel, VFX Producer Abbigail Keller, VFX Supervisor Joseph Kasparian (Hybride), and Environments Supervisor Enrico Damm in attendance at the 73rd Annual Primetime Creative Arts Emmy® Awards.

The visual effects team representing this win, included: Joe Bauer, Richard Bluff, Abbigail Keller, Hal Hickel, Roy K. Cancino, John Knoll, Enrico Damm, John Rosengrant, and Joseph Kasparian. Special recognition is also in order for ILM Producer Stacy Bissell, ILM Animation Supervisor Paul Kavanagh, and the entire StageCraft team for their incredible contributions.

Richard Bluff, Visual Effects Supervisor on The Mandalorian, added, “I want to take this opportunity on behalf of the visual effects team to congratulate all the artists, production, and the technical support staff who contributed to the Visual and Special Effects on season two of The Mandalorian. We continue to be in awe of the spectacular work and the effortless partnerships we enjoy with all of our vendor partners. The time and effort invested in the visuals by ILM, Hybride, Image Engine, Important Looking Pirates, Ghost VFX, Lola, Stereo D, Tippett Studios, Base FX, Raynault, Virtuous, and Yannix has been exceptional and this recognition is fully deserved. Everyone associated with the show couldn’t be happier or more grateful for what we all achieved together.”

In addition, The Mandalorian was also recognized with Emmys in the following categories: Sound Mixing, Cinematography, Prosthetic Makeup, Stunt Coordination, Stunt Performance, and Music Composition.

The 73rd Emmy Awards will be hosted by Cedric the Entertainer at  L.A. Live in Downtown Los Angeles, California. Executive Producers Reginald Hudlin and Ian Stewart and Director Hamish Hamilton have been selected to helm the show for production companies Done+Dusted and Hudlin Entertainment. Highlights from the 73rd Annual Creative Arts Emmy Awards will be broadcast on Saturday, Sept. 18 (8:00 PM ET/PT) on FXX. The 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards will be broadcast live on Sunday, Sept. 19 (5:00-8:00 PM, PST) on the CBS Television Network, and as well as streaming live and on-demand on Paramount+.

The Television Academy announced its nominations for the 73rd annual Emmy® Awards today recognizing a wealth of innovative storytelling, exceptional new programs, and a robust and diverse group of talent nominees. ILM is honored to have contributed to 4 of the 5 nominated shows in the Special Visual Effects category and is named on the nominations of 3 of them. ILM’s creative teams were recognized on the nominations for The Boys, The Mandalorian, and WandaVision. Additionally, the studio contributed work to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Richard Bluff, Visual Effects Supervisor for The Mandalorian noted, “despite the unprecedented global pandemic Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni knew it was important to bring Season 2 of The Mandalorian to Disney+ on time to help give a lift to our expectant and loyal Star Wars fans,” adding, “to achieve this and ultimately be rewarded with a Visual Effects Emmy Nomination is a testament to the talent and leadership at Industrial Light & Magic and our vendor partners worldwide who continue to astound us with their exceptional artistry and dedication. We want to congratulate all those visual effects companies and every individual artist, production member, and support staff who stayed with us on this journey and delivered a remarkable series.”

Rob Bredow, ILM SVP, Chief Creative Officer noted, “I’d like to recognize the entire crews of The Mandalorian, The Boys, WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Their hard work, creativity, and flawless execution did not go unnoticed and it’s truly rewarding to see the Academy recognize these projects.”

ILM was awarded the 2020 Emmy Award for Special Visual Effects for its groundbreaking effects and virtual production work on the first season of the hit Lucasfilm series, The Mandalorian.

 The 73rd Emmy Awards will be hosted by Cedric the Entertainer. Executive Producers Reginald Hudlin and Ian Stewart and Director Hamish Hamilton have been selected to helm the show for production companies Done+Dusted and Hudlin Entertainment. The Emmys will be broadcast on Sunday, Sept. 19 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/5:00-8:00 PM, live PT) on the CBS Television Network and will be available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+. The 2021 Creative Arts Awards will be broadcast on Saturday, Sept. 18 (8:00 PM ET/PT) on FXX.

The Clio Awards announced nominations for 2021 and we are thrilled to report “Avengers Assemble“, a commercial we created in collaboration with Square Enix, Crystal Dynamics, and Marvel Entertainment through RSA films, Los Angeles, and agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty was named to the shortlist in the Film Craft / Visual Effects category. Teaming up once again with director Jordan Vogt-Roberts, the ILM team led by visual effects supervisor Jeff White, animation supervisor Scott Benza, visual effects producer Katherine Farrar Bluff, and executive visual effects producer Jeanie King.

The project was completed in record time and features Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, and a cast of hundreds in an action-packed spot. At just over a minute in running time, three-quarters of the spot is fully CG. ILM had last teamed with Vogt-Roberts on the feature Kong: Skull Island for which the ILM team received an Academy Award nomination for visual effects.

Clio’s mission is to celebrate bold work that propels the advertising industry forward, inspire a competitive marketplace of ideas and foster meaningful connections within the creative community.

About Clio
The Clio Awards is the esteemed international awards competition for the creative business. Founded in 1959 to celebrate high achievement in advertising, the Clios annually and throughout the year recognize the work, the agencies and the talent — across advertising, sports, fashion, music, entertainment, and health that push boundaries and establish new precedent.

Clio’s year-round celebration of creativity includes a daily editorial content platform, Muse by Clio, that highlights the best in creativity from the advertising world and beyond with original stories and guest essays from the industry’s top talent, and Ads of The World, an international database cataloging the work of an ever-evolving industry.

Season 2 of Lucasfilm’s hit Disney+ series, The Mandalorian, garnered a record 13 Visual Effects Society nominations leading the broadcast field. Nominees in 25 categories were selected by VES members via 32 virtual nomination events conducted across the globe.

The Mandalorian received nominations in the following categories Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode, Outstanding Animated Character in an Episode or Real-Time Project, Outstanding Created Environment in an Episode, Commercial or Real-Time Project, Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a CG Project, Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project, Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Episodic, Commercial, or Real-time Project, and Outstanding Compositing in an Episode.

ILM also received an Outstanding Created Environment in an Episode, Commercial, or Real-Time Project nomination for its work on NBCUniversal/Peacock’s Brave New World.

Given the state of the pandemic and the VES’ commitment to health and safety, this year, the VES Awards are being produced virtually. The program will stream worldwide on April 6 or 7, depending on the time zone.

The Visual Effects Society is a professional global honorary society dedicated to advancing the arts, sciences and applications of visual effects and to upholding the highest standards and procedures for the visual effects profession. It is the entertainment industry’s only official organization representing the extended global community of visual effects practitioners, including supervisors, artists, producers, technology developers, educators and studio executives.  VES’ more than 4,000 members in over 40 countries worldwide contribute to all areas of entertainment – film, television, commercials, animation, music videos, games, new media and special venues.

Concept Artists Christian Alzmann, Brett Northcutt, and Stephen Todd were among the artists to receive a 2020 Concept Art Award on Saturday, September 12th. Additionally, Alzmann was honored with the LBX Concept Art Luminary Award, recognizing the impact of his work on The Child for The Mandalorian.
Check out the winning artwork alongside each honoree’s reaction.

2020 LBX CONCEPT ART LUMINARY AWARD: CHARACTER, LIVE-ACTION SERIES 
The Child by Christian Alzmann 
Star Wars: The Mandalorian

“It’s very humbling to be recognized in an industry that is producing so much amazing artwork. I did not anticipate that The Child would be loved by so many and I’m so happy that he has been a bright spot for fans over the last year. I look forward to seeing more art and artists honored at The Concept Art Awards in years to come.” – Christian Alzmann

ENVIRONMENT, LIVE ACTION FILM AWARD
Death Star Wreckage Duel by Brett Northcutt 
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

“I am humbled to have won the Live-Action Film Environment award from the Concept Art Association. I have dedicated more than half of my life to imagining environments for movies and to receive an award directly from some of the top concept artists in the industry is truly an honor.” – Brett Northcutt


VR KEYFRAME AWARD
Windfall Crash by Stephen Todd 
Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series

“Whoa! What an honor to even have my work voted on by my peers and judges whom I hold in high regard, let alone to receive the award. Thank you to the Concept Art Association and everyone who voted! Thank you to the ILM team who made this possible. I would not be here without all the help of my peers in the Art Department. Congrats to all the other winners!” – Stephen Todd 

Congratulations to all the 2020 Concept Art Award finalists!