The Visual Effects Society (VES) has announced the first round of honorees for a special event in October, where industry legends and innovators will be celebrated for their remarkable contributions to the field of visual effects.
Brooke Breton, co-producer of Avatar and former Senior Vice President of Production at James Cameron’s Digital Domain, has been named the recipient of the 2024 VES Founders Award. Breton’s distinguished career includes work on iconic projects such as Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, and Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow. She has also played a pivotal role in producing the Despicable Me theme park attraction, Minion Mayhem, and is a long-serving leader within the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
In addition to Breton, Reid Paul and Ronald B. Moore have been recognized as Lifetime VES Members. Paul, with over 40 years of experience in the industry, has made significant contributions to the world of visual effects through his roles at major studios and his leadership within the VES. Moore, a five-time Emmy Award-winning Visual Effects Producer, is renowned for his work on Star Trek series and the Michael Jackson music video “Black or White.”
The VES will also posthumously induct Tim McGovern, Thad Beier, Maya Deren, and Dorothy Davenport into the VES Hall of Fame. McGovern, an Oscar-winning VFX Supervisor and founding member of Sony Pictures ImageWorks, was a pioneer in digital visual effects. Beier was known for his technical leadership in films like U-571 and Deep Blue Sea, while Deren and Davenport made lasting impacts in experimental filmmaking and social-conscience cinema, respectively.
“These honorees represent a group of exemplary and pioneering artists and innovators who have had a profound impact on the field of visual effects,” said VES Board Chair Kim Davidson. “We are proud to recognize those who helped shape our shared legacy and continue to inspire future generations of VFX practitioners.”
The 23rd annual VES Awards ceremony is set for Tuesday, February 11, with nominees to be announced on January 14.
