James Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” swept the 21st annual Ves Awards Wednesday night in an unprecedented wave of dominance in every category, winning nine of its record-breaking 14 nominations, including the top photoreal feature, and the newest category, The Emerging Technology Award, for its innovative water toolset.
Although the prestigious visual effects honorary society has not been a reliable Oscar bellwether in recent years — picking the VFX winner only twice in the last six years — this now looks like a lock for the “Avatar” sequel.
Hosted by Patton Oswalt at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” (from Netflix) — the favorite to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar — won the top animation trophy and took home three awards; Amazon’s “Thirteen Lives” snagged the supporting prize, and Amazon Prime Video’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” grabbed the episodic prize and also took home three awards.
Although the prestigious visual effects honorary society has not been a reliable Oscar bellwether in recent years — picking the VFX winner only twice in the last six years — this now looks like a lock for the “Avatar” sequel.
Hosted by Patton Oswalt at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” (from Netflix) — the favorite to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar — won the top animation trophy and took home three awards; Amazon’s “Thirteen Lives” snagged the supporting prize, and Amazon Prime Video’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” grabbed the episodic prize and also took home three awards.
- 2/16/2023
- by Mark Peikert
- Indiewire
“Avatar: The Way of Water” topped the 21st Annual Ves Awards with nine wins, including for photoreal feature.
Meanwhile, Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio” was named best animated feature and took home three awards total. On the TV side, Amazon’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” won three awards and was named best photoreal episode.
Rian Johnson, Domee Shi, Tig Notaro, Jay Pharoah, Tyler Posey and Randall Park were among the presenters for the night. James Cameron presented the Ves Lifetime Achievement award to acclaimed producer Gale Anne Hurd.
Former Ves executive director Eric Roth received the Board of Directors Award from the current board, which includes Lisa Cooke, current Ves Chair; Jim Morris, Ves, president of Pixar Animation and founding Ves Chair; and former Chairs Jeffrey A. Okun, Ves; Mike Chambers, Ves; Carl Rosendahl, Ves; and Jeff Barnes.
“As we celebrate the 21st Annual Ves Awards,...
Meanwhile, Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio” was named best animated feature and took home three awards total. On the TV side, Amazon’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” won three awards and was named best photoreal episode.
Rian Johnson, Domee Shi, Tig Notaro, Jay Pharoah, Tyler Posey and Randall Park were among the presenters for the night. James Cameron presented the Ves Lifetime Achievement award to acclaimed producer Gale Anne Hurd.
Former Ves executive director Eric Roth received the Board of Directors Award from the current board, which includes Lisa Cooke, current Ves Chair; Jim Morris, Ves, president of Pixar Animation and founding Ves Chair; and former Chairs Jeffrey A. Okun, Ves; Mike Chambers, Ves; Carl Rosendahl, Ves; and Jeff Barnes.
“As we celebrate the 21st Annual Ves Awards,...
- 2/16/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
“Avatar: The Way of Water” came out on top at the Visual Effects Society’s 2023 Ves Awards, held Wednesday evening at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
The James Cameron epic set a Ves record this year with 14 nominations in nine different categories, and it set a record for wins by coming out on top in every category in which it was nominated. By contrast, the original 2009 “Avatar” received 10 nominations and won five awards. The previous record for wins by a film was set by “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” at the first Ves Awards in 2003, when it won eight awards. (The show had fewer awards then than it does now.)
The nine awards for “Avatar: The Way of Water” included Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature, the Ves category that aligns most closely with the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Competing with “Avatar...
The James Cameron epic set a Ves record this year with 14 nominations in nine different categories, and it set a record for wins by coming out on top in every category in which it was nominated. By contrast, the original 2009 “Avatar” received 10 nominations and won five awards. The previous record for wins by a film was set by “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” at the first Ves Awards in 2003, when it won eight awards. (The show had fewer awards then than it does now.)
The nine awards for “Avatar: The Way of Water” included Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature, the Ves category that aligns most closely with the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Competing with “Avatar...
- 2/16/2023
- by Libby Hill
- The Wrap
The Visual Effects Society has revealed nominations for the 17th annual Ves Awards, which will recognize the best VFX artistry and innovation in film, animation, TV, commercials and video games.
Disney/Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity Wars and Netflix’s Lost In Space lead the film and TV categories this year with six nominations, respectively. Disney/Pixar’s Incredibles 2 tops the animation field with five noms.
Winners will be announced during a ceremony February 5 at the Beverly Hilton hosted by Patton Oswalt. Also at the gala, the annual Ves Visionary Award will be presented to Westworld‘s Jonathan Nolan, while the Ves Award for Creative Excellence will be presented to Game of Thrones masterminds David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.
Here are the nominees announced Tuesday in 24 categories:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature
Avengers: Infinity War
Daniel DeLeeuw
Jen Underdahl
Kelly Port
Matt Aitken
Daniel Sudick
Christopher Robin
Chris Lawrence...
Disney/Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity Wars and Netflix’s Lost In Space lead the film and TV categories this year with six nominations, respectively. Disney/Pixar’s Incredibles 2 tops the animation field with five noms.
Winners will be announced during a ceremony February 5 at the Beverly Hilton hosted by Patton Oswalt. Also at the gala, the annual Ves Visionary Award will be presented to Westworld‘s Jonathan Nolan, while the Ves Award for Creative Excellence will be presented to Game of Thrones masterminds David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.
Here are the nominees announced Tuesday in 24 categories:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature
Avengers: Infinity War
Daniel DeLeeuw
Jen Underdahl
Kelly Port
Matt Aitken
Daniel Sudick
Christopher Robin
Chris Lawrence...
- 1/15/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
No surprise there. It goes without saying that James Cameron's sci-fi spectacle Avatar has the potential to clean house at the 8th Annual Ves Awards for its breath taking visuals by the acclaimed Weta Digital. Cameron will also be picking up a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award. In the outstanding animated feature category, the nominees include Up, 9, Coraline, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.
The official press release is as followed:
3-D Films Dominate With Most Noms as Avatar grabs 11, Coraline 4, and Visual Effects Company Weta Digital Snags Most Company Noms with 9
Los Angeles, January 19, 2010 - The Visual Effects Society (Ves) today announced the nominees for the 8th Annual Ves Awards ceremony recognizing outstanding visual effects artistry in over twenty categories of film, animation, television, commercials and video games. Nominees were chosen Saturday, January 16, 2010, by numerous blue ribbon panels of Ves members who...
The official press release is as followed:
3-D Films Dominate With Most Noms as Avatar grabs 11, Coraline 4, and Visual Effects Company Weta Digital Snags Most Company Noms with 9
Los Angeles, January 19, 2010 - The Visual Effects Society (Ves) today announced the nominees for the 8th Annual Ves Awards ceremony recognizing outstanding visual effects artistry in over twenty categories of film, animation, television, commercials and video games. Nominees were chosen Saturday, January 16, 2010, by numerous blue ribbon panels of Ves members who...
- 1/22/2010
- Screen Anarchy
James Cameron's "Avatar" led the list of nominations announced Monday by the Visual Effects Society, scooping up 11.
The animated "Coraline," another movie released in 3D, followed with four nominations.
New Zealand-based Weta Digital, which worked on "Avatar," led the company noms with nine.
For visual effects in an effects-driven motion picture feature, the nominees are "2012," "Avatar," "District 9," "Star Trek" and "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."
Noms for supporting visual effects in a movie went to "Angels & Demons," "The Box," "Invictus," "The Road" and "Sherlock Holmes."
"9," "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," "Coraline," "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" and "Up" were nominated for outstanding animation in an animated feature.
Ves noms in 20 categories, covering film, animation, TV, commercials and video games were chosen Saturday by blue-ribbon panels of Ves members, meeting in Burbank, San Francisco and London.
The eighth annual Ves Awards will be handed out on Feb.
The animated "Coraline," another movie released in 3D, followed with four nominations.
New Zealand-based Weta Digital, which worked on "Avatar," led the company noms with nine.
For visual effects in an effects-driven motion picture feature, the nominees are "2012," "Avatar," "District 9," "Star Trek" and "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."
Noms for supporting visual effects in a movie went to "Angels & Demons," "The Box," "Invictus," "The Road" and "Sherlock Holmes."
"9," "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," "Coraline," "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" and "Up" were nominated for outstanding animation in an animated feature.
Ves noms in 20 categories, covering film, animation, TV, commercials and video games were chosen Saturday by blue-ribbon panels of Ves members, meeting in Burbank, San Francisco and London.
The eighth annual Ves Awards will be handed out on Feb.
- 1/18/2010
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
She's bad -- a curly haired blond with a thing for athletes -- and it would take a guy dumber than a baseball bat not to see she's trouble. Well, the male lead in Fox's dumber-than-a-foul-pole "Swimfan" is obligingly slow on the uptake. Unfortunately, the project's filmmakers forgot to include anything even halfway scary as they poorly rejigger "Fatal Attraction" into a high school setting.
For years, early September has become a drop zone for duds like this, and Fox's accounting department won't strain itself counting the nickels and dimes it brings in. For the young actors hoping for a career boost, "Swimfan" has bad-movie cult potential, if it even gets that much attention.
What's truly unforgivable about director John Polson's film, his second feature after "Siam Sunset", is the outright ennui it induces for its first hour. We know the second we set eyes on her that new-girl-in-school Madison Bell (Erika Christensen) is bad news for substance abuser-turned-star swimmer Ben Cronin (Jesse Bradford).
Obviously, it's just a matter of time before he helps cause grief for his girlfriend and much worse for friends and cops.
What's a guy in Speedos supposed to do when vampish Madison strips to undies and gets in the pool with you? Easily cornered into doing stupid things and losing just about everything, including swim career, best friend, girlfriend and parental love, Ben finally gets the message when Madison -- who seems like she's zapped by little jolts of electricity when he tries to run her off -- gets him fired from his part-time job (distributing drugs to patients!) at a hospital.
It's too late, however, to stop the rampaging, cello-playing Madison, who has a former boyfriend on life support handily available as a mute character witness. Suddenly backed into a corner and accused of all the dastardly stuff she's been up to -- she even doctors and/or exchanges his urine sample to indicate he's taken steroids -- our hero comes up with a plan that seemingly puts an end to the fetching stalker and restores his rep. But movies like this never know when to quit.
Neither do Christensen (much better in "Traffic" and the upcoming "The Banger Sisters") and Bradford ("Clockstoppers") who become unintentionally comical once the proverbial gloves come off. Part of the problem is that both actors are so clean-cut, it's hard to believe they're born bellowers when they get riled.
Christensen particularly is left to drift with an underwritten, cliched character. The title refers to Madison's e-moniker, but the marketing promises a computer angle that never goes anywhere. OK, Madison spams him. So scary. She also makes nice and then swings away at Ben's chief rival on the swim team (Clayne Crawford). She tries to flatten with her SUV the lead's hapless sweetheart (Shiri Appleby). When that doesn't work, Madison visits the hospital, and so on.
Filmed in New Jersey and suburbs of New York City, "Swimfan" dog-paddles to the finish, while the borderline too-dark cinematography of Giles Nuttgens ("The Deep End") does a flip turn into the "bleach bypass" process. But the movie by then has become far funnier than any thriller can afford to be.
SWIMFAN
20th Century Fox
Greenestreet Films/Cobalt Media Group/Furthur Films production
Credits:
Director: John Polson
Screenwriters: Charles Bohl, Phillip Schneider
Producers: John Penotti, Allison Lyon Segan, Joe Caracciolo Jr
Executive producers: Fisher Stevens, Tim Williams
Director of photography: Giles Nuttgens
Production designer: Kalina Ivanov
Editor: Sarah Flack
Costume designer: Arjun Bhasin
Music: Louis Febre
Casting: Mandy Marin, Amanda Harding
Cast:
Ben: Jesse Bradford
Madison: Erika Christensen
Amy: Shiri Appleby
Carla: Kate Burton
Josh: Clayne Crawford
Randy: Jason Ritter
Rene: Kia Joy Goodwin
Running time -- 85 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
For years, early September has become a drop zone for duds like this, and Fox's accounting department won't strain itself counting the nickels and dimes it brings in. For the young actors hoping for a career boost, "Swimfan" has bad-movie cult potential, if it even gets that much attention.
What's truly unforgivable about director John Polson's film, his second feature after "Siam Sunset", is the outright ennui it induces for its first hour. We know the second we set eyes on her that new-girl-in-school Madison Bell (Erika Christensen) is bad news for substance abuser-turned-star swimmer Ben Cronin (Jesse Bradford).
Obviously, it's just a matter of time before he helps cause grief for his girlfriend and much worse for friends and cops.
What's a guy in Speedos supposed to do when vampish Madison strips to undies and gets in the pool with you? Easily cornered into doing stupid things and losing just about everything, including swim career, best friend, girlfriend and parental love, Ben finally gets the message when Madison -- who seems like she's zapped by little jolts of electricity when he tries to run her off -- gets him fired from his part-time job (distributing drugs to patients!) at a hospital.
It's too late, however, to stop the rampaging, cello-playing Madison, who has a former boyfriend on life support handily available as a mute character witness. Suddenly backed into a corner and accused of all the dastardly stuff she's been up to -- she even doctors and/or exchanges his urine sample to indicate he's taken steroids -- our hero comes up with a plan that seemingly puts an end to the fetching stalker and restores his rep. But movies like this never know when to quit.
Neither do Christensen (much better in "Traffic" and the upcoming "The Banger Sisters") and Bradford ("Clockstoppers") who become unintentionally comical once the proverbial gloves come off. Part of the problem is that both actors are so clean-cut, it's hard to believe they're born bellowers when they get riled.
Christensen particularly is left to drift with an underwritten, cliched character. The title refers to Madison's e-moniker, but the marketing promises a computer angle that never goes anywhere. OK, Madison spams him. So scary. She also makes nice and then swings away at Ben's chief rival on the swim team (Clayne Crawford). She tries to flatten with her SUV the lead's hapless sweetheart (Shiri Appleby). When that doesn't work, Madison visits the hospital, and so on.
Filmed in New Jersey and suburbs of New York City, "Swimfan" dog-paddles to the finish, while the borderline too-dark cinematography of Giles Nuttgens ("The Deep End") does a flip turn into the "bleach bypass" process. But the movie by then has become far funnier than any thriller can afford to be.
SWIMFAN
20th Century Fox
Greenestreet Films/Cobalt Media Group/Furthur Films production
Credits:
Director: John Polson
Screenwriters: Charles Bohl, Phillip Schneider
Producers: John Penotti, Allison Lyon Segan, Joe Caracciolo Jr
Executive producers: Fisher Stevens, Tim Williams
Director of photography: Giles Nuttgens
Production designer: Kalina Ivanov
Editor: Sarah Flack
Costume designer: Arjun Bhasin
Music: Louis Febre
Casting: Mandy Marin, Amanda Harding
Cast:
Ben: Jesse Bradford
Madison: Erika Christensen
Amy: Shiri Appleby
Carla: Kate Burton
Josh: Clayne Crawford
Randy: Jason Ritter
Rene: Kia Joy Goodwin
Running time -- 85 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
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