Entertainment Central

The 9th Annual VES Awards will honor the most outstanding in visual effects industry for the year 2010 on February 1, 2011 at 10:00PM ET/PT live from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

The nominees were chosen on January 8th by the numerous blue ribbon panels of VES members who viewed submissions at the FotoKem screening facilities in Burbank and San Francisco as well as at other facilities in London, Sydney and Vancouver. The official nomination list was announced on January 10th.

Christopher Nolan will be honoured with the inaugural VES Visionary Award, while legendary stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

2011 VES Awards Nominees

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual-Effects Driven Feature Motion Picture

• Inception - Paul Franklin (Visual Effects Supervisor), Chris Corbould (Special Effects Supervisor), Mike Chambers (Visual Effects Producer), Matthew Plummer (Visual Effects Producer)
• Iron Man 2 - Ben Snow (VFX Supervisor), Ged Wright (VFX Supervisor), Janek Sirrs (VFX Supervisor), Susan Pickett (VFX Producer)
• TRON: Legacy - Eric Barba (Visual Effects Supervisor), Lisa Beroud (Visual Effects Producer), Steve Gaub (Visual Effects Producer), Steve Preeg (Animation Director)
• Alice In Wonderland - Ken Ralston (Senior Visual Effects Supervisor), Tom Peitzman (Visual Effects Producer), David Schaub (Animation Supervisor), Carey Villegas (Visual Effects Supervisor)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 - Tim Burke (Senior VFX Supervisor), Emma Norton (Visual Effects Producer), John Richardson (Special Effects Supervisor)

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Feature Motion Picture

• Green Zone - Peter Chiang (Visual Effects Supervisor), Charlie Noble (Visual Effects Supervisor), Joss Williams (Special Effects Supervisor), Matthew Plummer (Visual Effects Producer)
• Salt - Robert Grasmere (Visual Effects Supervisor), Camille Cellucci (Visual Effects Producer), Mark Breakspear (Visual Effects Supervisor), Ivan Moran (Visual Effects Supervisor)
• Hereafter - Michael Owens (VFX Supervisor), Joel Mendias (Executive Producer), Bryan Grill (VFX Supervisor), Danielle Plantec (CG Supervisor)
• Black Swan - Dan Schrecker (Visual Effects Supervisor), Colleen Bachman (Visual Effects Producer), Michael Capton (3D Supervisor), Brad Kalinoski (Compositing Supervisor)
• Robin Hood - Richard Stammers (Overall VFX Supervisor), Allen Maris (VFX Producer), Jessica Norman (Digital Effects Supervisor), Max Wood (CG Supervisor)

Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture

• Tangled - Clay Kaytis (Supervising Animator), John Kahrs (Supervising Animator), Glen Keane (Supervising Animator), Roy Conli (Producer)
• How to Train Your Dragon - Simon Otto (Head of Character Animation), Craig Ring (Visual Effects Supervisor), Bonnie Arnold (Producer)
• Toy Story 3 - Lee Unkrich (Director), Darla K. Anderson (Producer), Guido Quaroni (Supervising Technical Director), Michael Fong (Simulation & Effects Supervisor)
• Shrek Forever After - Jason Reisig (Head of Character Animation), Doug Cooper (VFX Supervisor), Gina Shay (Producer), Teresa Cheng (Producer)
• Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole - Zareh Naibandian (Producer), Simon Whiteley (Production Designer), Eric Leighton (Animation Director), Alex Weight (Animation Supervisor)

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Miniseries, Movie or a Special

• Last Day of the Dinosaurs - Arnaud Brisebois (Artistic Director), Louis Desrochers (VFX Artist), Alain Lachance (Visual Effects Supervisor), Marc-Antoine Rousseau (Visual Effects Producer)
• Inside The Perfect Predator - Philip Dobree (VFX Supervisor/VFX Producer), Richard Costin (Lead Animator), Sam Meisels (Lead Compositor)
• The Pacific - John Sullivan (Senior Visual Effects Supervisor), David Taritero (VFX Producer), William Mesa (Visual Effects Supervisor), Marco Requay (Digital Visual Effects Supervisor)
• Prep and Landing: Operation Secret Santa - Dorothy McKim (Producer), Kyle Odermatt (VFX Supervisor), Andy Harkness (Art Director), Adolph Lusinsky (Look and Lighting Director)
• America - Story of US - Philip Dobree (VFX Creative Director), Sophie Orde (VFX Producer), Eloi Brunelle (VFX Supervisor), Hasraf Dulull (VFX Supervisor)

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Series

• Caprica - Michael Gibson (VFX Producer), Gary Hutzel (VFX Supervisor), Davey Morton (VFX Artist), Jesse Toves (CGI Artist)
• No Ordinary Family - Andrew Orloff (VFX Supervisor), Curt Miller (VFX Supervisor), Paul Linden (VFX Supervisor), Scott Tinter (VFX Producer)
• V - Andrew Orloff (VFX Supervisor), Nathan Overstrom (2D Supervisor), Karen Czukerberg (VFX Producer), Roberto Biagi (VFX Supervisor)
• The Event - Victor Scalise (Visual Effects Supervisor), Jason Spratt (Visual Effects Producer), Diego Galtieri (Compositor), Mike Enriquez (Lead 3D Artist)
• Stargate: Universe - Mark Savela (VFX Supervisor), James Rorick (VFX Producer), Craig Vanden Biggelaar (Digital Effects Supervisor), Adam de Bosch Kemper (Lead Animator)

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program

• The Walking Dead - Sam Nicholson (Visual Effects Supervisor), Jason Sperling (Visual Effects Supervisor), Kent Johnson (Visual Effects Producer), Chris Martin (Compositing Supervisor)
• Human Target - Andrew Orloff (VFX Supervisor), Nathan Overstrom (2D Supervisor), Raoul Yorke Bolognini (VFX Producer), Charlene Eberle (VFX Supervisor)
• Undercovers - Jay Worth (VFX Producer / Supervisor), Andrew Waisler (VFX Supervisor), Ron Thornton (VFX Supervisor), Andrew Kramer (Digital Artist)
• Boardwalk Empire - Robert Stromberg (VFX Supervisor), Dave Taritero (VFX Producer), Richard Friedlander (VFX Producer), Paul Graff (VFX Supervisor)
• Lost - Adam Avitabile (Visual Effects Supervisor), Melinka Thompson-Godoy (Visual Effects Producer), Michael Capton (3D Supervisor), Brad Kalinoski (Compositing Supervisor)

Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Short

• Looney Tunes - Coyote Falls - Bryan Engram (Animation Supervisor), Greg Lyons (Producer), Josh Carey (Rigging Supervisor), Harry Michalakeas (Technical Supervisor)
• Day & Night - Teddy Newton (Director), Kevin Reher (Producer), Michael Fu (Supervising Technical Director), Tom Gately (Supervising Animator)
• Paths of Hate - Tomasz Baginski (Animation Producer), Jaroslaw Sawko (Animation Producer), Damian Nenow (VFX Supervisor), Marta Staniszewska (Production Manager)
• Tick Tock Tale - Dorothy McKim (Producer), John Murrah (VFX Supervisor), Adolph Lusinsky (Look and Lighting Director), Wayne Unten (Animator)
• Cat Shit One - The Animated Series - Kazuya Sasahara (Director), Junya Okabe (Producer), Tomohisa Ishikawa (Art Director), Yoshiyuki Okada (Concept Artist)

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Live Action Commercial

• Wrigley's 5 Gum - React - Robert Sethi (VFX Supervisor), Chris Knight (VFX Supervisor), Arielle Davis (VFX Producer), Gawain Liddiard (3D Lead Artist)
• DirecTV "Ice Cream" - Franck Lambertz (VFX Supervisor), Andrew Bell (VFX Producer/Head of Production), Mike Wynd (VFX Supervisor), Ross Denner (3D Animator)
• Barclaycard Rollercoaster - Angus Kneale (Executive Creative Director/Shoot Supervisor), Ben Smith (Creative Director/Shoot Supervisor), Dan Williams (Lead Flame Artist), Ruben Vanderbroek (CG Artist)
• Halo: Reach - Dan Glass (Senior VFX Supervisor), Dan Seddon (CG Supervisor), Matt Dessero (DFX Supervisor), Stephanie Gilgar (VFX Producer)
• Verizon - Towers - Robert Sethi (VFX Supervisor), Arielle Davis (VFX Producer), Chris Knight (Shoot Supervisor/2D Lead Artist), Andre De Souza (Lead 3D Artist)

Outstanding Animated Commercial

• World of Warcraft - Marc Messenger (VFX Supervisor), Phillip Hillenbrand, Jr. (VFX Producer), Michael Kelleher (FX Supervisor), Brian LaFrance (Matte Painting Supervisor)
• Dante's Inferno: Hell Awaits - Tim Miller (Director), Kevin Margo (CG Supervisor), Lindsey Zamplas (Producer), Kirby Miller (VFX Supervisor)
• Target "A Better Bullseye" - Chris Riehl (Animation Director), Javier Jimenez (Executive Producer), Daniel Zobrist (CG/Animation Supervisor), Charles Paek (CG/Lighting Supervisor)
• Andrex - Abby Orchard (VFX Producer), Antoine Moulineau (CGI Supervisor), Mike Mellor (Animation Supervisor), Russell Dodgson (VFX Supervisor)
• Cadbury's Spots V Stripes - Jake Mengers (Creative VFX Director), Julie Evans (VFX Producer), Jorge Montiel Meurer (Lead Animator), Michael Gregory (2D Supervisor)

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project

• City of Ruins - Marcin Kobylecki (VFX Producer), Piotr Sliwowski (VFX Producer), Michal Gryn (VFX Supervisor), Damian Nenow (VFX Supervisor)
• King Kong 360 3D - Matt Aitken (VFX Supervisor), Kevin Sherwood (VFX Producer), Eric Reynolds (Animation Supervisor), R. Christopher White (Digital Effects Supervisor)
• Flight of the Dragon - Brent Young (Overall VFX Supervisor), Dina Benadon (Overall VFX Producer), Charlotte Huggins (Overall Project Producer), Michael "Oz" Smith (Technical Director)
• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey - Richard Ivan Mann (VFX Producer), Adam Howard (Visual Effects Supervisor), Matt Hendershot (CG Supervisor), James Strauss (Animation Supervisor)

Outstanding Real-Time Visual Effects in a Video Game

• StarCraft II - Scott Goffman (VFX Supervisor), Phillip Hillenbrand, Jr. (VFX Producer), Nick Carpenter (Executive Art Director), James McCoy (Animation Director)
• Need for Speed - Henry LaBounta (Senior Art Director), Fiona Sperry (VP, GM), Johannes Soderqvist (Art Director), Alex Fry (Software Engineer)
• Halo: Reach - Marcus Lehto (Creative Director), Joseph Tung (Executive Producer), Stephen Scott (Senior FX Lead), CJ Cowan (Cinematics Director)
• Kinectimals - Jorg Neumann (Executive Producer), Brian Moore (Art Director), John Laws (Art Director), Jonny Watts (Game Design Director)

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Video Game Trailer

• World of Warcraft - Marc Messenger (VFX Supervisor), Phillip Hillenbrand, Jr. (VFX Producer)
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Dave Wilson (Director), Corey Butler (CG Supervisor), Keith Luczywo (Producer), Seung Jae Lee (VFX Supervisor)
• Star Wars: The Old Republic 2 - Tim Miller (Director), Dave Wilson (Director), Lindsey Zamplas (Producer), Brandon Riza (VFX Supervisor)
• Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Kody Sabourin (Producer/Director), Ikumori Kazuyuki (VFX Producer/Director), Fukai Mitsuharu (VFX Supervisor), Jonathan Jacques-Belletete (Art Director)

Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture

• Chronicles Of Narnia: Voyage Of The Dawn Treader - Reepicheep - Gabriele Zucchelli (Animation Supervisor), Catherine Mullan (Lead Animator), Benoit Dubuc (Lead Animator), Peta Bayley (Lead Animator)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 - Dobby - Mathieu Vig (Animator), Ben Lambert (Modeler), Laurie Brugger (Senior Rigger), Marine Poirson (Look Development TD)
• Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore - Kitty Galore - William Groebe (Animation Supervisor), Brian Mendenhall (Animation Lead), Aharon Bourland (Computer Graphics Supervisor), Steve Reding (Lighting Supervisor)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 - Kreacher - Laurent Laban (Animator), Will Brand (Modeler), Matthieu Goutte (Lead Rigger), Jason Baker (Look Development TD)

Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture

• Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole - Digger - Josh Murtack (Rigging Supervisor), James Cunliffe (Lead Animator), Jessica Groom (Character Surfacer), Andrew Hunt (Lead Animator)
• How to Train Your Dragon - Toothless - Gabe Hordos (Supervising Animator), Cassidy Curtis (Supervising Animator), Mariette Marinus (Character Technical Director), Brent Watkins (Character Technical Director)
• Tangled - Rapunzel - Tony Smeed (Animator), Amy Smeed (Animator), Becky Bresee (Animator), Kira Lehtomaki (Animator)
• Megamind - Minion - David Cross (Minion), Rani Naamani (Animator), Dick Walsh (Character Technical Director), Adrian Tsang (Character Technical Director)

Outstanding Animated Character in a Broadcast Program or Commercial

• Citron C3 The Spacebox - Citro - Michael Nauzin (CG Supervisor), Anne Chatelain (CG Animator), Gregory Mougne (CG Animator), Cedric Nicolas (CG Animator)
• Cadbury - Freida Steer - Raphael Pimentel (Animation Supervisor), Thana Siripopungul (Rigging Supervisor)
• Prep and Landing: Operation Secret Santa - Lanny - Tony Smeed (Animator), Chad Sellers (Animator), Patrick Osborne (Animator), John Wong (Animator)
• Logitech - Robot - Rob Ramsdell (Lead Artist/Puppeteer), Darnell Isom (Lead Art Designer/Puppeteer), James Springham (Lead Model Maker), Shelly Dutcher (Lead Flame Artist)

Outstanding Animated Character in a Video Game

• Halo: Reach - Kat - Lee R. Wilson (Story and Cinematic Lead), Jason Robertson (Senior Animator), David Hunt (Senior Technical Artist), Joe Spataro (Technical Designer in Animation)
• Kinectimals - Cub - Joel Mongeon (Senior Artist), Kenneth Lammers (Technical Art Director), Felix Ilsley (Lead Animator), Andrew Matthews (Lead Character Artist)
• StarCraft II - Sarah Kerrigan - Fausto De Martini (Modeling Supervisor/Artist), Xin Wang (Lead Character Modeler), Glenn Ramos (Lead Animator), Scott Lange (Character Rigger)

Outstanding Effects Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture

• Shrek Forever After - Jeff Budsberg (Effects Lead), Andrew Kim (Effects Lead), Yancy Lindquist (Effects Animator), Can Yuksel (Effects Animator)
• How to Train Your Dragon - Andy Hayes (Effects Animator), Laurent Kermel (Effects Animator), Jason Mayer (Effects Animator), Brett Miller (Effects Animator)
• Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole - Sébastien Quessy (FX Lead), Kevin Blom (FX Artist), Jerome Escobar (FX Artist)
• Toy Story 3 - Jason Johnston (Effects Artist), Eric Froemling (Effects Artist), David Ryu (Effects Artist), JD Northrup (Effects Artist)

Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture

• Iron Man 2 - Stark Expo - Giles Hancock (Digimatte Supervisor), Richard Bluff (Digimatte Artist), Todd Vaziri (Digital Artist), Aaron McBride (VFX Art Director)
• TRON: Legacy - Disc Game - Jonathan Litt (Lighting Supervisor), Juan S. Gomez (Lighting Lead), Kevin Sears (Environment Lead), Sonja Burchard (Compositing Supervisor)
• Inception - Paris Dreamscape - Bruno Baron (Lighting Supervisor), Dan Neal (CG Supervisor), Graham Page (Compositing Sequence Supervisor), Per Mork-Jensen (Compositor)
• Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - Sand Room - Alex Rothwell (Lead Effects Artist), Chris Zeh (Compositing Supervisor), Laurent Hugueniot (CG Supervisor), Kevin Jenkins (Visual Effects Art Director)

Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Broadcast Program

• Boardwalk Empire - Boardwalk - Robert Stromberg (VFX Supervisor), Paul Graff (VFX Supervisor), Brian Sales (Lead Compositor), Brian Pace (Digital Modeler)
• The Event - To Keep Us Safe - Michael Cook (Lead 3D Artist), Jon Rosenthal (Lead 3D Artist), Ragui Hanna (2D Artist), Ryan Wieber (2D Artist)
• The Pacific - The Battle of Iwo Jima - Marco Recuay (VFX Supervisor/Lead Artist), Morgan McDermott (CG Supervisor), NIck Lund-Ulrich (Compositing Supervisor)
• Boardwalk Empire - Family Limitation - J. John Corbett (Compositing Supervisor), Matthew Conner (Digital Artist & Compositor), Brendan Fitzgerald (Senior 3D Artist), Jun Zhang (Lead Compositor)

Outstanding Models & Miniatures in a Feature Motion Picture

• Shutter Island - Ward-C Int./Ext. Lighthouse Int./Ext. - Matthew Gratzner (VFX Supervisor), Scott Schneider (Model Crew Chief), Adam Gelbart (Model Maker), Richard A.F. Ewan (Model Painter)
• Iron Man 2 - Hammer Military Drones - Bruce Holcomb (Digital Model Supervisor), Ron Woodall (View Paint Supervisor), John Goodson (Modeler), John Walker (CG Supervisor)
• The Expendables - The Palace Explodes - Gene Warren Jr. (Owner), Christopher Lee Warren (Director of Photography), Gene Warren III (Visual Effects Supervisor)
• Inception - Hospital Fortress Destruction - Ian Hunter (VFX Supervisor), Scott Beverly (Mechanical FX Supervisor), Forest Fischer (Model Crew Chief), Robert Spurlock (Special FX Supervisor)

Outstanding Models & Miniatures in a Broadcast Program or Commercial

• Family Guy - Brian Griffin's House of Payne - Andrew Karr (3D Artist), Alec McClymont (CG Supervisor), Daniel Osaki (Lead 3D Modeler), Paul Hegg (CG Artist)
• Boardwalk Empire - The Ivory Tower - J. John Corbett (Compositing Supervisor), Matthew Conner (Digital Artist & Compositor), Brendan Fitzgerald (Senior 3D Artist)

Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Motion Picture

• TRON: Legacy - Paul Lambert (Compositing Supervisor), Sonja Burchard (Compositing Supervisor), Kym Olsen (Look Development Compositing Lead), Sarahjane Javelo Chase (Rotoscope & Paint Lead)
• Alice In Wonderland - Stolen Tarts - Lisa Deaner (Precompositing Lead), Orde Stevanoski (Lighting/Compositing), Aaron Kupferman (Compositing Lead), Ruben Flores (Sequence Lead)
• Inception - Astrid Busser-Casas (Compositing Sequence Supervisor), Scott Pritchard (Compositing Sequence Supervisor), Jan Maroske (Compositing Sequence Supervisor), George Zwier (Compositing Sequence Supervisor)
• Hereafter - Tsunami Sequence - Joseph Farrell (Compositing Supervisor), Nick Crew (Lead Visual Effects Artist), Jamie Hallett (Compositor), Christine Lo (Compositor)

Outstanding Compositing in a Broadcast Program or Commercial

• Drench Cubehead - Matthew Unwin (VFX Supervisor/2D Lead), Lisa Ryan (Compositor), Michael Gregory (Compositor)
• Boardwalk Empire - Episode 1 - Paul Graff (VFX Supervisor), Brian Sales (Lead Compositor), Jesse Siglow (Compositor), Merysa Nichols (Compositor)
• Travelers "Watering Hole" - Franck Lambertz (VFX Supervisor/Compositing Lead), Ryan Knowles (2D Artist)
• The Pacific - Peleliu landing - Jeremy Nelson (Lead Compositor), John P. Mesa (VFX Supervisor/Compositor), Dan Novy (Animator/Compositor), Tyler Cote (Compositor)

Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project

• LOOM - Regina Welker (Student)
• Time For Change - Rupert Ashton (3D Artist), Priyan Jayamaha (3D Artist), Jun Ying Xu (3D Artist), Kirsten Dale Pretorious (Key Nuke Compositor)
• Das Tub - Rupert Ashton (3D Artist), Priyan Jayamaha (3D Artist), Jun Ying Xu (3D Artist), Kirsten Dale Pretorious (Key Nuke Compositor)
• Nuisible(s) - Erick Hupin (VFX Artist), Baptiste Ode (VFX Artist), Philippe Puech (VFX Artist), Pierre Nahoum (VFX Artist)
• Christopher Nolan will be honoured with the inaugural VES Visionary Award, while legendary stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.