‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Dominates 24th VES Awards with 7 Wins

James Cameron’s ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ dominated the 24th Annual VES Awards with seven wins.

James Cameron’s epic “Avatar: Fire and Ash” dominated the 24th Annual Visual Effects Society Awards, taking home seven trophies including the top prize of Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature. The ceremony, held February 25 at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, honored excellence across 25 categories spanning film, television, gaming, and emerging technology.

The “Avatar” sequel’s victories included Outstanding Character in a Photoreal Feature for Varang (played by Oona Chaplin), Outstanding CG Cinematography, and Outstanding Model for The Windtraders’ Gondola and Outstanding Environment for Bridgehead Industrial City, Outstanding Effects Simulations, and the Emerging Technology Award for the Kora Fire Toolset. The film had entered the evening with 10 nominations.

In the animation categories, Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation’s “KPop Demon Hunters” led with three wins, including Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature and Outstanding Character in an Animated Feature for Rumi. The film also won Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Animated Feature.

Additional major winners included “Sinners” for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature, and “Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age” for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode. The video game “Ghost of Yōtei” won Outstanding Visual Arts in a Real-Time Project, while “Andor” received recognition for practical effects.

Film producer Jerry Bruckheimer received the VES Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by “F1: The Movie” director Joseph Kosinski. Wētā Workshop co-founder Sir Richard Taylor was honored with the VES Visionary Award, presented by Adam Savage. Comedy duo the Sklar Brothers hosted the ceremony for the second consecutive year.