13th Annual VES Awards

Below is the complete list of Winners and Nominees for the 13th Annual VES Awards. A sortable list for ALL years of VES Award winners / nominees can be found on the Previous VES Awards page. All archival viewing materials are cleared for viewing by logged-in VES members behind the VES website firewall. For more information, please review the VES Awards Rules & Procedures, Section 14: Ownership & Clearances here.

View the category of the nominees and winners below.

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal/Live Action Broadcast Program

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the invisible, or near-invisible visual effects within a photoreal (i.e., live action) broadcast program wherein the visual effects, when taken as a whole, are not necessarily essential to the story aspect or an active participant in the story. Supporting visual effects are an incidental and generally invisible part of the visuals and, among other things, may be used to help create the setting, environment, or mood of the program by way of set and or environment extensions / removals / alterations, lighting and lighting effects, or subtle alterations to actors. Additionally they may be the kind of visual effect that is used for safety reasons in a dangerous visual sequence. They do not consist of any significant CG characters, science fiction or fantasy elements, and other highly visible effects that one would expect to see in a visual effects-driven TV program. Supporting visual effects are generally the type of work that, when viewed by the general public, are not recognized by the untrained eye.

Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal/Live Action Broadcast Program

This award is to honor outstanding achievement in compositing multiple elements into a final visual effect shot or group of shots in a single live action episode of a photoreal (i.e., live action) broadcast program. This category is for a body of work created for a single broadcast episode by an individual artist or team of artists.

Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature Motion Picture

This award is to honor the achievement of visual effects created through simulation in an animated feature motion picture. The award is for a body of work, and all simulated effects in the project will be considered. Simulated effects are dynamic effects that generally include particle, dynamic, fluid, cloth, hair, and crowd simulations. The effects may interact with, or be elements that make up, the characters, set elements and environments with which they coexist. The Before & Afters must demonstrate the simulation processes used to create the effects presented for consideration.

Outstanding Models in any Motion Media Project

This award honors an outstanding single model in any photoreal (i.e., live action) or animated motion media project. Features, Broadcast Programs, Commercials, Special Venue Projects, and Video Games are all eligible in this category. The model may have been created virtually, physically, or any combination thereof, and may be of any scale. The model’s artistry and overall quality are to be considered. However, scenic lighting and compositing should be disregarded. An entry may include multiples of the same model with minor variations, such as scale and features, but must have been created by the same team.

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the invisible or near-invisible visual effects within a photoreal (i.e., live action) feature motion picture wherein the visual effects, when taken as a whole, are not necessarily essential to the story aspect or an active participant in the story. Supporting visual effects are an incidental and generally invisible part of the visuals and, among other things, may be used to help create the setting, environment, or mood of the film by way of set and/or environment extensions / removals / alterations, lighting and lighting effects, or subtle alterations to actors. Additionally they may be the kind of visual effects that are used for safety in a dangerous visual sequence. They do not consist of any significant CG characters, science fiction or fantasy elements, and other highly visible effects that one would expect to see in a visual effects-driven or “tent pole” film. Supporting visual effects are generally the type of work that, when viewed by the general public, are not recognized by the untrained eye.

Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture

This award is to honor the achievement of visual effects created through simulation in a photoreal (i.e., live action) feature motion picture. The award is for a body of work, and all simulated effects in the project will be considered. Simulated effects are dynamic effects that generally include particle, dynamic, fluid, cloth, hair, and crowd simulations. The effects may interact with, or be elements that make up, the characters, set elements and environments with which they coexist. The Before & Afters must demonstrate the simulation processes used to create the effects presented for consideration.

Outstanding Created Environment in a Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture

This award is to honor the overall achievement of a single created environment in a photoreal (i.e., live action) motion picture that best creates an illusion of setting for the story being told. Created environments are defined as either completely artificial environments, or the enhancement of an existing practical set or location through the addition of elements not present during photography. The environment may occur more than once in the project and under different conditions, but must be the same environment, created by the exact same team.

Outstanding Created Environment in a Commercial, Broadcast Program, or Video Game

This award is to honor the overall achievement of a single created environment in a photoreal (i.e., live action) or animated Broadcast Program, Commercial, or Video Game project that best creates an illusion of setting for the story being told. Created environments are defined as either completely artificial environments, or the enhancement of an existing practical set or location through the addition of elements not present during photography. The environment may occur more than once in the project and under different conditions, but must be the same environment, created by the exact same team.

This category judges not only the techniques for creating the environment, but also their integration with any practical plate photography. Before & Afters must show the integration of the multiple elements used to create the environment. If the project is animated, then the environment should clearly match the style and complexity of the rest of the elements.

For practical purposes, an environment is a single setting within the story, and not, for example, multiple locations within an entire city or open environment in a video game.

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Photoreal/Live Action Broadcast Program

This award is to honor the achievement of the visual effects within a single episode of a photoreal (i.e., live action) episodic broadcast series, a mini-series or Special where the visual effects are a visible, essential, and integral part of the story and play a principal and active role in the show. A rule of thumb for defining whether a series would be considered effects-driven would be to ask if the story could be told without the active participation of the VFX (including Special Effects).

Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Commercial, Broadcast Program, or Video Game

This award is to honor the achievement of visual effects created through simulation in a photoreal (i.e., live action) or animated commercial, broadcast program, or video game. The award is for a body of work, and all simulated effects in the project will be considered. Simulated effects are dynamic effects that generally include particle, dynamic, fluid, cloth, hair, and crowd simulations. The effects may interact with, or be elements that make up, the characters, set elements and environments with which they coexist. The Before & Afters must demonstrate the simulation processes used to create the effects presented for consideration.

Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Photoreal/Live Action Motion Media Project

This award is to honor the outstanding use of the totality of cinematographic techniques of camera and lighting in mostly or fully CG shots within a photoreal (i.e., live action) motion media project. The award recognizes the collaboration among traditional cinematographers and visual effects artists. The cinematographer is to be included on the submission if they contributed significantly to the final picture. In addition, this may include vfx, previs, lighting, and layout artists. The project may be computer-generated or photographed, but the shots being submitted must be mostly or fully CG and appear photographic, and any non-CG elements must have been re-lit or similarly altered. The Before & Afters must show the development of the cinematography of the shots and may include previs, mocap, layout and lighting. Modeling, particle effects, and texturing are not to be considered except as how they affect the cinematography. This category is open to any motion media that meets the minimum length and distribution standards defined in the Glossary for Motion Media Project.

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the visual effects within a photoreal (i.e., live action) motion picture where the visual effects are a visible, essential, and integral part of the story and play a principal and active role in the motion picture. A rule of thumb for defining whether a motion picture would be considered effects-driven would be to ask if the story could be told without the active participation of the VFX (including Special Effects). On the whole, the VFX in an effects-driven film would be easily identifiable by the viewing public and professionals working in the VFX field.

Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture

This award is to honor outstanding achievement in compositing multiple elements into a final visual effect shot or group of shots in a photoreal (i.e., live action) feature motion picture. This category is for a body of work created for a single motion picture by an individual artist or team of artists.

Outstanding Performance of an Animated Character in a Photoreal/Live Action Feature Motion Picture

This award is to honor the overall performance and technical execution of a single animated character in a photoreal (i.e., live action) motion picture. The character may have been created by any technique or combination of techniques that meets the criteria for Animated Character stated in the Glossary of these Rules & Procedures.

Outstanding Compositing in a in a Photoreal/Live Action Commercial

This award is to honor outstanding achievement in compositing multiple elements into a final visual effect shot or group of shots in a photoreal (i.e., live action) commercial. This category is for a body of work created for a single commercial by an individual artist or team of artists.

Outstanding Performance of an Animated Character in a Commercial, Broadcast Program, or Video Game

This award is to honor the overall performance and technical execution of a single animated character in a photoreal (i.e., live action) or animated broadcast program, commercial, or video game. The character may have been created by any technique or combination of techniques that meet the definitions of Animated Character stated in the Glossary of these Rules & Procedures.

Outstanding Performance of an Animated Character in a Commercial, Broadcast Program, or Video Game

This award is to honor the overall performance and technical execution of a single animated character in a photoreal (i.e., live action) or animated broadcast program, commercial, or video game. The character may have been created by any technique or combination of techniques that meet the definitions of Animated Character stated in the Glossary of these Rules & Procedures.

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project

The award is to honor the overall achievement of the visual effects within an entire Special Venue project. Special Venues are defined as installations specifically set up to project large-format films (e.g. IMAX or OMNIMAX theaters), theme park theaters that may include a motion-based ride, museums, World Fairs, and similar venues.

To be eligible, a Special Venue project must have been exhibited publicly:

• In a commercial venue for a paid admission, which may include the general admission to a theme park or special venue theater;
• For a minimum period of one week on a regular daily schedule; and
• Premiered in the current awards year in a Special Venue theater as defined above.

The following are not eligible in this category, regardless of the material’s original capture format:

• Special purpose events such as trade shows and conventions;
• Video material generally referred to as “pre-show” material;
• Repurposed films, i.e. projects initially intended for the theatrical market but which have been blown up for exhibition in large-format Special Venue theaters;
• Projects that were created as conventional 2D theatrical presentations but have been repurposed to stereographic 3D;
• Any 2D or stereographic 3D feature motion picture that either premiered first, or simultaneously, in any regular movie theater or in any broadcast medium;
• Any project that runs for an equal or greater amount of time in any regular movie theater or in any broadcast medium; and
• Movies intended for simultaneous distribution in both Special Venue and normal movie theaters. The intent of this category is to honor those projects made specifically for the Special Venue market.

Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the animation within an entire animated motion picture. The animation may be created by traditional cel animation, computer animation, and/or stop motion, as long as it meets the definitions of Animation and Animated Project as stated in the Appendix of this Rules & Procedures. The vocal performance of characters may be taken into consideration along with the visual qualities in evaluating the overall effectiveness of the animation.Title sequences are not eligible in this category.

Outstanding Real Time Visuals in a Video Game

Outstanding Performance by an Animated Character in an Animated Motion Picture

Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature Motion Picture

This award is to honor the overall achievement of a single created environment in an animated motion picture that best creates an illusion of setting for the story being told. The environment may occur more than once in the project and under different conditions, but must be the same environment, created by the exact same team.

Before & Afters must show the integration of the multiple elements used to create the environment.

Stereo extractions of environments that do not contain any other significant enhancements are not eligible in this category. For practical purposes, the environment should be a single setting within the story, and not, for example, all locations within an entire city.

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project