At the 12th annual VES Awards, “Gravity” walked away with six awards, including Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture. And the film’s star, Sandra Bullock, made the evening even more special with a previously unannounced presentation to her “Gravity” director, Academy Award-nominee Alfonso Cuarón, recipient of the VES Visionary Award.
Another big winner were the teams from "Frozen," who netted four awards.
The Visual Effects Society (VES), the industry's global professional honorary society, held the prestigious yearly celebration that recognizes outstanding visual effects artistry and innovation in film, animation, television, commercials, video games, and special venues. Comedian Patton Oswalt served as host to the more than 1,000 guests gathered at the Beverly Hilton to celebrate VFX talent in 24 awards categories.
Actress Sandra Bullock, left, presents "Gravity" director Alfonso Cuaron with the Visionary Award during the 12th annual VES Awards. Photo by Danny Moloshok
In addition to the teams from "Gravity" and "Frozen," VFX practitioners from "Game of Thrones" and "PETA" led the wins in their respective categories. Those from "Gravity
" took home six awards,
while crews from
"Frozen
" grabbed four awards, and "Games of Thrones
" and "PETA
" each walked away with three.
Also honored along with Cuarón was Academy Award-winning visual effects pioneer John Dykstra, who was presented with the VES Lifetime Achievement Award by previous VES Méliès Award winner Doug Trumbull. Awards presenters included Grammy Award winner/Academy Award nominee Pharrell Williams and actors Johnny Knoxville, Bruce Boxleitner, Michael Ealy, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Jamie Kennedy, Sharon Lawrence, Richard Schiff and Alyssa Sutherland.
Winners of the 12th Annual VES Awards are as follows:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture
Gravity Tim Webber, Nikki Penny, Neil Corbould, Richard McBride
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Feature Motion Picture
The Lone Ranger Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Shari Hanson, Kevin Martel
Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
Frozen Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee, Peter Del Vecho, Lino Di Salvo
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program
Game of Thrones: Valar Dohaeris Steve Kullback, Joe Bauer, Jörn Großhans, Sven Martin
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program
Banshee: Pilot Armen Kevorkian, Mark Skowronski, Jeremy Jozwik, Ricardo Ramirez
Outstanding Real-Time Visuals in a Video Game
Call of Duty: Ghosts Mark Rubin, Richard Kriegler, David Johnson Alessandro Nardini
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial
PETA: 98% Human Angus Kneale, Vince Baertsoen, Colin Blaney, Kyle Cody
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project
Space Shuttle Atlantis Daren Ulmer, John Gross, Cedar Connor, Christian Bloch
Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: Smaug Eric Reynolds, David Clayton, Myriam Catrin, Guillaume Francois
Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
Frozen: Bringing the Snow Queen to Life Alexander Alvarado, Joy Johnson, Chad Stubblefield, Wayne Unten
Outstanding Animated Character in a Commercial or Broadcast Program
PETA: 98% Human Vince Baertsoen, Alex Allain, Henning Koczy
Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
Gravity: Exterior Paul Beilby, Kyle McCulloch, Stuart Penn, Ian Comley
Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
Frozen: Elsa's Ice Palace Virgilio John Aquino, Alessandro Jacomini, Lance Summers, David Womersley
Outstanding Created Environment in a Commercial or Broadcast Program
Game of Thrones: The Climb Patrick Zentis, Mayur Patel, Nitin Singh, Tim Alexander
Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
Gravity Tim Webber, Emmanuel Lubezki, Richard McBride, Dale Newton
Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Live Action Commercial or Broadcast Program
The Crew Dominique Boidin, Rémi Kozyra, Léon Bérelle, Maxime Luère
Outstanding Models in a Feature Motion Picture
Gravity: ISS Exterior Ben Lambert, Paul Beilby, Chris Lawrence, Andy Nicholson
Outstanding FX and Simulation Animation in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
Gravity: Parachute and ISS Destruction Alexis Wajsbrot, Sylvain Degrotte, Horacio Mendoza, Juan-Luis Sanchez
Outstanding FX and Simulation Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
Frozen: Elsa's Blizzard Eric W. Araujo, Marc Bryant, Dong Joo Byun, Tim Molinder
Outstanding FX and Simulation Animation in a Commercial or Broadcast Program
PETA: 98% Human Vince Baertsoen, Jimmy Gass, Dave Barosin
Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Motion Picture
Gravity Mark Bakowski, Anthony Smith, Theodor Groeneboom, Adrian Metzelaar
Outstanding Compositing in a Broadcast Program
Game of Thrones: The Climb Kirk Brillon, Steve Gordon, Geoff Sayer, Winston Lee
Outstanding Compositing in a Commercial
Call of Duty: Epic Night Out Chris Knight, Daniel Thuresson, Nick Tayler, Dag Ivarsory
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project
Rugbybugs Matthias Baeuerle, Carl Schroeter, Martin Lapp, Emanuel Fuchs