The Publicists of the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG), IATSE Local 600, revealed and honored the winners of the 63rd Annual ICG Publicists Awards during a luncheon ceremony on Friday (3/13) at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.
The Maxwell Weinberg Awards for Motion Picture Publicity Campaign and Television Publicity Campaign were awarded to the teams behind the publicity campaigns for “Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures) and “The Pitt” (Warner Bros. Television/HBO), respectively.
Chrissy Quesada (Sony Pictures) took home the Les Mason Award for Career Achievement in Publicity. Michelle Alt (Paramount Pictures) won the Publicist of the Year Award.
John Lindley, ASC (ICG Local 600 National president) presented Jimmy Kimmel with the President’s Award, an honor that is bestowed only on occasion of extraordinary circumstances, this year honoring Kimmel’s steadfast resilience in face of censorship.
Kimmel also received a pre-recorded video introduction from Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, in which Affleck said he could think of “no more fitting American, statesman, genius, and comedian” to win the award, while Damon’s remarks consisted primarily of vitriolic expletives.
In his acceptance speech, Kimmel thanked his long-time publicist Lewis Kay, with whom he has worked since 1998, joking, “I’ve never caused him any problems at all.”
He also highlighted all the Publicists of the ICG: “The reason I’m here is to thank you for 23 years of partnership and support. I would like to dedicate this to those of you who work so hard to shine a light on everyone other than yourselves.”
Filmmaker and actor Kate Hudson accepted the Motion Picture Showperson of the Year Award, honoring her award-winning career and recent Academy Award® nominated work in “Song Sung Blue.”
“Making movies is an extraordinary process, it doesn’t end when we wrap. We are also tasked with bringing that magic to audiences, and publicity is a huge part of that,” said Hudson in her remarks about the meaning of “showpersonship” to the audience of publicists. “I’m the showperson and you’re the ‘ship.’”
John Wells, producer and writer (“The Pitt”), presented the Television Showperson of the Year Award to Noah Wyle, honoring his work as producer and actor on the series “The Pitt,” as well as his recent activism on behalf of the medical community.
“I am so proud to have brought a television show with John [Wells] back to this city that I love. A 15-episode show that employs hundreds and hundreds of artisans and artists, and showcases their talents to the world,” said Wyle. “This town has weathered great changes before, and in fact that is what brought these guilds and unions into existence, the belief in the power of collective, the strength in our solidarity, and primacy of our creativity.”
Atsushi Nishijima won for Excellence in Unit Still Photography-Motion Picture, and Jake Giles Netter was honored for Excellence in Unit Still Photography-Television.
Kevin McCarthy from “On Film . . . With Kevin McCarthy” took home the Press Award, and Ali Plumb from “BBC Radio” (United Kingdom) won the International Media Award.
“Marketing campaigns are storytelling. I think of them as extensions of the films themselves,” said McCarthy in his acceptance speech.
Publicist Cynthia Swartz earned the Bob Yeager Award for Community Service, while Pamela Golum graciously accepted the Henri Bollinger Award for Special Merit.
During the ceremony, Sheryl Main and Tim Menke received a special recognition, presented by Sandy Bollinger, celebrating their final year as chairs of the ICG Publicists Awards committee and honoring their 8 and 21 years serving as chairs, respectfully.
Proceeds from event sponsorships go to the Preservation and Scholarship Fund, which provides educational sponsorships for ICG Local 600 members, as well as their descendants.
Here’s a full rundown of winners:
63rd Annual ICG Publicists Awards Winners
MAXWELL WEINBERG AWARD FOR MOTION PICTURE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN
The union publicists who worked on publicity campaigns on behalf of:
“Sinners” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
MAXWELL WEINBERG AWARD FOR TELEVISION PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN
The union publicists who worked on publicity campaigns on behalf of:
“The Pitt” (Warner Bros. Television/HBO)
PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Jimmy Kimmel
MOTION PICTURE SHOWPERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD
Kate Hudson
TELEVISION SHOWPERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD
Noah Wyle
LES MASON AWARD FOR CAREER ACHIEVEMENT IN PUBLICITY
Chrissy Quesada, Sony Pictures
PUBLICIST OF THE YEAR AWARD
Michelle Alt, Paramount Pictures
EXCELLENCE IN UNIT STILL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD – MOTION PICTURE
Atsushi Nishijima
EXCELLENCE IN UNIT STILL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD – TELEVISION
Jake Giles Netter
PRESS AWARD
Kevin McCarthy, “On Film . . . With Kevin McCarthy”
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA AWARD
Ali Plumb, “BBC Radio” (United Kingdom)
BOB YEAGER AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
Cynthia Swartz
HENRI BOLLINGER AWARD FOR SPECIAL MERIT
Pamela Golum
