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April 14
2026

ISSUE

Spring 2026

THE 24TH ANNUAL VES AWARDS

More than 1,200 visual effects artists, filmmakers and luminaries gathered in Los Angeles on February 25, 2026, as the industry celebrated the artistry, innovation and magic that brought the year’s most unforgettable images to life.

Captions list all members of each Award-winning team, even if some were not present or out of frame. For more Show photos and the complete list of nominees and winners of the 24th Annual VES Awards, visit www.vesglobal.org.

All photos by Moloshok Photography.

Visual Effects Society Executive Director Nancy Ward welcomes attendees to the evening’s celebration, setting the stage for a night honoring the industry’s visionary creators and groundbreaking achievements in visual effects.
VES Board Chair Kim Davidson, President and CEO of SideFX, took the stage to present the first awards of the evening.

On February 25th, the Visual Effects Society held the 24th Annual VES Awards, the prestigious celebration that recognizes outstanding visual effects artistry and innovation in film, animation, television, commercials, real-time projects and special venues.

Industry guests gathered at The Beverly Hilton hotel to celebrate the accomplishments of the talented VFX artists across 25 categories. Avatar: Fire and Ash received the top Photoreal Feature award and six others. KPop Demon Hunters was named best Animated Film, winning three total awards. Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age – The Big Freeze won best VFX in a Photoreal Episode.

The Sklar Brothers (Randy and Jason Sklar) returned to bring their razor-sharp wit and irresistible twin-powered chemistry back to the 24th Annual VES Awards for the second consecutive year.

Comedy duo, The Sklar Brothers, returned to host the VES Awards for the second year. Director of F1: The Movie, Joseph Kosinski, presented the VES Lifetime Achievement Award to iconic film and television producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Sir Richard Taylor, Co-Founder of the Wētā companies and Co-Owner of Wētā Workshop, received the VES Visionary Award, presented by Adam Savage.

“The VES is honored to recognize brilliant artistry and technological innovation across a wide range of disciplines,” said VES Board Chair Kim Davidson. “The craft of visual effects is constantly evolving to push the limits of our imaginations, and tonight’s inspiring winners and nominees represent best-in-class work from around the world. Congratulations to all!”

The team behind Avatar: Fire and Ash, Richard Baneham, Peter Litvack, Eric Saindon, Nicky Muir and Steve Ingram, accepted the Award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature.
Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age – The Big Freeze won the Award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode. Team members comprised Russell Dodgson, Tracey Gibbons, François Dumoulin and Gavin McKenzie.
The VFX crew of The Residence – The Fall of the House of Usher, including Seth Hill, Tesa Kubicek, John Nelson and Gabriel Vargas, were recognized with the Award for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode.
Zootopia 2 – Marsh Market earned the Award for Outstanding Environment in an Animated Feature. The team included Limei Z. Hshieh, Alexander Nicholas Whang, Joshua Fry and Ryan DeYoung.
Haley Joel Osment took the stage to present awards that honor the artists whose work makes audiences see things they never thought possible.
The artists behind Avatar: Fire and Ash – Bridgehead Industrial City captured the Award for Outstanding Environment in a Photoreal Feature. Team members included Gianluca Pizzaia, Steve Bevins, Dziga Kaiser and Zsolt Máté.
The Wizard of Oz at Sphere spirited away the Award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project. The winners included Ben Grossmann, Tamara Watts Kent, Dr. Irfan Essa, Matt Dougan and Glenn Derry.
The VFX artists behind Avatar: Fire and Ash, Steve Deane, A.J. Briones, Zachary Brake and Andrew Moffett, with team member Maggie Boudreaux, secured the Award for Outstanding CG Cinematography.
Attendees toasted to a wonderful evening at the pre-show Cocktail Hour.
Avatar: Fire and Ash – The Windtraders’ Gondola received the VES Award for Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project. The VFX ensemble included Michael Smale, Sam Sharplin, Joe W. Churchill and Jacqi Dillon.
The VFX trailblazers behind The Last of Us: Through the Valley – A Storm of Ice, Fire and Flesh received the Award for Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in an Episode. This VFX force included Tobias Wiesner, Mark Julien, Owen Longstaff and Brendan Naylor.
Alex Kulikov, Jack Harris, Adam Chabane and Nicola Borsari received the Award for Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in a Commercial for BMW Heart of Joy – Meet Okto the Octopus.
VES Board Chair Kim Davidson shares a moment backstage with members of YouTube filmmaking team, Corridor Crew: Niko Pueringer, Sam Gorski and Wren Weichman.
Attendees snap a quick selfie during a break in the action. Colleagues from around the  world reunited to celebrate the art and craft of visual effects.
KPop Demon Hunters took home the Award for Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature. The VFX unit included Filippo Maccari, Nikolaos Finizio, Daniel La Chapelle and Srdjan Milosevic.
Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and Sinners collaborator Raphael Saadiq graced the 24th Annual VES Awards stage as a presenter with the same soulful intensity he brings to everything he touches.
Philip Harris-Genois, Pierric Danjou, Chloé Ostiguy and Jonathan Bourdua captured the Award for Outstanding Character in an Episodic, Commercial, Game Cinematic or Real-Time Project for IT: Welcome to Derry – The Thing in the Dark – The Pickle Monster.
The visionaries behind KPop Demon Hunters – Rumi claimed the Award for Outstanding Character in an Animated Feature. The VFX unit included Sophia (Seung Hee) Lee, Andrea Matamoros, Marc Souliere and Joshua Beveridge.
VES Award winners cheered as they were called to the stage to accept their statuettes.
Lil Rel Howery presented the final awards of the evening. The effortlessly charming Howery brought genuine joy to the evening, making the whole room feel like a party.
Jerry Bruckheimer, VES Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, with VES Board Chair Kim Davidson (left), director Joseph Kosinski and VES Executive Director Nancy Ward.
Special effects whiz Adam Savage backstage with VES Awards founder and consulting executive producer Jeffrey A. Okun, VES.
The VFX trailblazers behind Sinners triumphed with the Award for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature. VFX Artists included Michael Ralla, James Alexander, Nick Marshall, Espen Nordahl and Donnie Dean.
KPop Demon Hunters came up golden with the Award for Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature. Team members included Joshua Beveridge, Jacky Priddle, Benjamin Hendricks and Clara Chan.
The innovators behind Andor, Welcome to the Rebellion – The Senate District secured the Award for Outstanding Environment in an Episodic, Commercial, Game Cinematic or Real-Time Project. The team included John O’Connell, Falk Boje, Hasan Ilhan and Kevin George.
Sir Richard Taylor, Co-founder of the Wētā companies, received the VES Visionary Award. Recognized for his transformative impact on the film industry, his creative vision and technical innovation have redefined what’s possible in visual effects and practical design.
The creators of BMW Heart of Joy – Meet Okto the Octopus snagged the Award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial. The VFX team included Tom Raynor, Helen Tang, Jack Harris and Alex Kulikov.
Ghost of Yōtei received the Award for Outstanding Visual Arts in a Real-Time Project. VFX team members included Jason Connell, Matt Vainio, Joanna Wang and Jasmin Patry.
Awards presenter Jazz Raycole, star of The Lincoln Lawyer, brought her undeniable charisma to the 24th Annual VES Awards stage.
The visionaries behind Avatar: Fire and Ash – Kora Fire Toolset, Alexey Dmitrievich Stomakhin, John Edholm, Murali Ramachari and Aleksandr Isakov, accepted the Emerging Technology Award.
Autodesk’s Jocelyn Moffatt (far left) presented the creators of Azimuth with the Award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project. This VFX alliance included Thomas Teisseire, Cassandre Cinier, Martin Bluy and Mathis Giraudeau. Autodesk is proud to support the future innovators of VFX.
The VFX group behind Andor – Who Are You? took home the Award for Outstanding Special (Practical) Effects in a Photoreal Project. Team members included Luke Murphy, Dean Ford, Jody Eltham and Darrell Guyon.
From the gripping world of Paradise, actress Enuka Okuma brought elegance, presence and star power to the 24th Annual VES Awards stage.
The VFX magicians behind F1: The Movie – Modern Race and POV Footage accepted the Award for Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in a Feature. The team included Hugo Gauvreau, Chris Davies, Raushan Raj and Amaury Rospars.
Jerry Bruckheimer received the Visual Effects Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring a career that has pushed the boundaries of cinematic spectacle. His films have consistently been at the forefront of visual innovation, helping define the modern blockbuster and inspiring generations of VFX artists.
The team behind Prehistoric Plant: Ice Age – The Big Freeze, Edward Ferrysienanda,  Kevin Christensen, Guy Schuleman and Kevin Tarpinian, accepted the Award for Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Episode, Commercial, Game Cinematic or Real-Time Project.
The groundbreaking team behind Avatar: Fire and Ash: Simulating Pandora, Nicholas
James Illingworth, Sarah C. Farmer, James Robinson and Ryan Bowden, accepted the Award for Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal Feature.
A highlight of the event, the VFX team behind Avatar: Fire and Ash – Varang: Leader of the Ash Clan, Stephen Clee, Stuart Adcock, Keven Norris and Joseph Kim, received the Award for Outstanding Character in a Photoreal Feature, and brought to the stage Oona Chaplin, whose embodiment of Varang brought her fiercely to life.
Jim Morris, VES, President of Pixar Animation Studios and VES Founding Board Chair, brought the full weight of an extraordinary career to the 24th Annual VES Awards stage as a presenter.
Omar Benson Miller took the stage as a presenter, fresh from his powerful turn in Sinners.
The VES Awards Committee celebrated the culmination of a year’s preparation to honor all the deserving award winners. On to next year!

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