The Visual Effects Society recently held its 2024 VES Awards ceremony at the Beverly Hilton, with Disney’s The Creator and Sony’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse leading the pack with seven nominations each. The evening saw both films scoop up several awards, with Spider-Man clinching the first prize for Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature, followed by The Creator winning the Photoreal Feature award for its floating village scene. The Creator also secured the Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project category, making it the night’s first double winner.
Among the impressive wins of the night was Oppenheimer taking home the Special Effects in a Photoreal Project award, while Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 emerged victorious in the category of Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a CG Project, beating out tough competition from The Creator and Spider-Verse. The Creator is also slated to compete for Best Visual Effects at the upcoming 96th Academy Awards, where it will face off against other notable contenders like Godzilla Minus One, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Napoleon. Additionally, both Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Napoleon are also vying for top honors in the VES film categories.
The Visual Effects Society Awards have not always aligned with the Oscars in the past, with only a handful of VES winners going on to win Academy Awards since 2013. Recent years have seen some agreement between the two bodies, with films like Avatar: The Way of Water and Dune receiving accolades from both organizations. Notable past winners like Blade Runner 2049, The Jungle Book, and Gravity have also managed to secure wins at both the VES Awards and the Oscars over the last decade.
Moving beyond the film categories, HBO’s The Last of Us made a significant impact at the VES Awards this year, earning recognition in several TV-related nominations, including wins for Outstanding Created Environment in an Episode and Compositing and Lighting in an Episode. The ceremony also saw VFX producer Joyce Cox receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award and William Shatner honored with the VES Award for Creative Excellence. The event was hosted by comedian and SNL alum Jay Pharoah, who quipped about the timing of the strikes ending just in time for awards season.
Among the standout winners of the night were projects like Coca-Cola: Masterpiece for Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in a Commercial, The Last of Us: Endure and Survive: Infected Horde Battle for Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in an Episode, and The Creator: Nomad for Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project. Additionally, student project Silhouette and The Flash: Volumetric Capture were recognized with awards for Outstanding Visual Effects and Emerging Technology, respectively.
Overall, the 2024 VES Awards showcased a diverse range of talent and innovation in the field of visual effects, with both established names and emerging artists making their mark on the prestigious event. As the industry continues to evolve and push the boundaries of what is possible in visual storytelling, events like the VES Awards play a crucial role in celebrating the achievements of those at the forefront of this dynamic and ever-changing field.
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