New ‘VES Emerging Technology Award’ Announced

The Visual Effects Society (VES) has announced the creation of the VES Emerging Technology Award – a new honor to be bestowed at the annual VES Awards, starting at the upcoming ceremony in February 2023. This award honors the inventors of a novel and uniquely innovative tool, device, software, or methodology of outstanding value to the art and science of Visual Effects, Games, or Animation.

The honorary society notes that importantly, this award celebrates individuals, such as the product developers, R&D technical directors, software engineers, and creators of the technology behind the visuals. The nominees are the primary, individual contributors to the technology – not artists that use the technology, not the company within which the technology was developed, nor the managers who supported it – unless they are also contributors. This award recognizes the developers who work at the studios and facilities, together with the artists to solve technical problems for specific content.

“The images that we produce are the fruit of the work of the artists, but also of the immense creativity that goes into making the innovative tools and technologies that enable them,” said Lisa Cooke, Board Chair of the VES. “The relevance and speed of technological innovation in VFX is extremely high and this award puts a spotlight on the importance of the collaboration between art and science in our industry. We are so proud to introduce this new award to honor the technologists behind the captivating images.”

“This award has been long in the planning, and we are extremely pleased to finally recognize and honor the first Emerging Technology Awardees at the next VES Awards ceremony,” added Chair of the VES Technology Committee Sebastian Sylwan.

The defining criteria for the Emerging Technology Award – in its simplest form – is a new technology (software, hardware, workflow) developed over a period of time which could be several years. The technology is eligible for submission in the same year it sees its first substantial and impactful use for relevant project work (visual effects, animation, games).

The submission process for the 21st VES Awards is now open, and entries will be accepted through Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at 11:59 pm PST. For more details on the Emerging Technology Award and all awards categories, and the full rundown on VES Awards rules and procedures, click here.

Source: Visual Effects Society

Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.