Avengers: Infinity War won the top honor at the Visual Effects Society Awards on Tuesday (2/5) evening at the Beverly Hilton, earning distinction for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature. The Marvel film scored three more VES Awards–for effect simulations, compositing, and animated character (Thanos) in a photoreal feature.
Marvel was also a VES marvel on the animated front as its Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse took home four awards as well–for VFX in an animated feature, best animated character (Miles Morales) in an animated feature, top created environment (graphic NYC) in an animated feature, and effects simulations in an animated feature.
As for possible Academy Award implications, Avengers: Infinity War is up for this year’s Best Visual Effects Oscar as are Solo: A Star Wars Story, Ready Player One, Christopher Robin and First Man. Ready Player One took a pair of VES Awards: outstanding created environment (The Shining, Overlook Hotel) and virtual cinematography. First Man won the VES trophy for outstanding supporting VFX in a photoreal feature.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse–which swept the VES animated feature categories–is nominated for the Best Animated Feature Oscar, along with Isle of Dogs, Mirai, Ralph Breaks the Internet, and Incredibles 2. The latter did not win a VES Award even though it received five nominations, the most of any animated feature.
TV, commercials
On the TV score, Lost in Space (Netflix) was the big winner, also tallying four VES Awards–best VFX in a photoreal episode (“Danger Will Robinson”), best animated character (Humanoid) in an episode, best environment (the Impact Area in the “Pilot” episode), and outstanding compositing.
Winning the VES Awards for best VFX in a commercial was John Lewis’ “The Boy and the Piano.” Named outstanding animated character in a commercial was Bam in Volkswagen’s “Born Confident.” And best compositing in a photoreal commercial went to Apple Homepod’s “Welcome Home,” which a few days earlier won Spike Jonze of MJZ the DGA Award as best commercial director of 2018.
Special honors
Jimmy Kimmel presented the VES Award for Creative Excellence to award-winning creators-executive producers-writers-directors David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, best known for the seminal HBO series Game of Thrones.
Evan Rachel Wood presented the VES Visionary Award to acclaimed writer-director-producer Jonathan Nolan, co-creator of HBO’s Westworld.
And Steve Carell presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Oscar®-nominated producer Chris Meledandri, founder/CEO of Illumination.
Here’s a rundown of the evening’s VES Awards winners spanning 24 categories:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature
Avengers: Infinity War
Daniel DeLeeuw
Jen Underdahl
Kelly Port
Matt Aitken
Daniel Sudick
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature
First Man
Paul Lambert
Kevin Elam
Tristan Myles
Ian Hunter
JD Schwalm
Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Joshua Beveridge
Christian Hejnal
Danny Dimian
Bret St. Clair
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode
Lost in Space; Danger, Will Robinson
Jabbar Raisani
Terron Pratt
Niklas Jacobson
Joao Sita
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan; Pilot
Erik Henry
Matt Robken
Bobo Skipper
Deak Ferrand
Pau Costa
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Real-Time Project
Age of Sail
John Kahrs
Kevin Dart
Cassidy Curtis
Theresa Latzko
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial
John Lewis; The Boy and the Piano
Kamen Markov
Philip Whalley
Anthony Bloor
Andy Steele
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project
Childish Gambino’s Pharos
Keith Miller
Alejandro Crawford
Thelvin Cabezas
Jeremy Thompson
Outstanding Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature
Avengers: Infinity War; Thanos
Jan Philip Cramer
Darren Hendler
Paul Story
Sidney Kombo-Kintombo
Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse; Miles Morales
Marcos Kang
Chad Belteau
Humberto Rosa
Julie Bernier Gosselin
Outstanding Animated Character in an Episode or Real-Time Project
Lost in Space; Humanoid
Chad Shattuck
Paul Zeke
Julia Flanagan
Andrew McCartney
Outstanding Animated Character in a Commercial
Volkswagen; Born Confident; Bam
David Bryan
Chris Welsby
Fabian Frank
Chloe Dawe
Outstanding Created Environment in a Photoreal Feature
Ready Player One; The Shining, Overlook Hotel
Mert Yamak
Stanley Wong
Joana Garrido
Daniel-Ștefan Gagiu
Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature
Spider-Man; Into the Spider-Verse; Graphic New York City
Terry Park
Bret St. Clair
Kimberly Liptrap
Dave Morehead
Outstanding Created Environment in an Episode, Commercial, or Real-Time Project
Lost in Space; Pilot; Impact Area
Philip Engström
Kenny Vähäkari
Jason Martin
Martin Bergquist
Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Photoreal Project
Ready Player One; New York Race
Daniele Bigi
Edmund Kolloen
Mathieu Vig
Jean-Baptiste Noyau
Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project
Mortal Engines; London
Matthew Sandoval
James Ogle
Nick Keller
Sam Tack
Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal Feature
Avengers: Infinity War; Titan
Gerardo Aguilera
Ashraf Ghoniem
Vasilis Pazionis
Hartwell Durfor
Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Ian Farnsworth
Pav Grochola
Simon Corbaux
Brian D. Casper
Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Episode, Commercial, or Real-Time Project
Altered Carbon
Philipp Kratzer
Daniel Fernandez
Xavier Lestourneaud
Andrea Rosa
Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal Feature
Avengers: Infinity War; Titan
Sabine Laimer
Tim Walker
Tobias Wiesner
Massimo Pasquetti
Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal Episode
Lost in Space; Impact; Crash Site Rescue
David Wahlberg
Douglas Roshamn
Sofie Ljunggren
Fredrik Lönn
Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal Commercial
Apple; Welcome Home
Michael Ralla
Steve Drew
Alejandro Villabon
Peter Timberlake
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project
Terra Nova
Thomas Battistetti
Mélanie Geley
Mickael Le Mezo
Guillaume Hoarau
