Hold onto your seats, because the 24th VES Awards just shook up the visual effects world! James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash dominated the night with four wins, but here’s where it gets controversial—it didn’t sweep every category it was nominated for. Despite leading with 10 nominations, the blockbuster lost the Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in a Feature award to Apple Original Films’ F1. And this is the part most people miss: Avatar was actually competing against itself in two categories! So, does this mean the competition was fiercer than we thought? Let’s dive in.
The ceremony, hosted by the Sklar Brothers and set to a classic rock soundtrack, kicked off with Zootopia 2 snagging the first award for Outstanding Environment in an Animated Feature. Fun fact: Zootopia 2 is now the highest-grossing Hollywood film in history, raking in over $1.47 billion worldwide. But here’s a thought-provoking question: Does box office success always translate to awards glory? Share your thoughts in the comments!
In a surprising twist, The Wizard of Oz at Sphere—a project tied to a film that’s nearly nine decades old—won Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project. Talk about timeless magic! Meanwhile, Disney+’s Andor led the TV field with two wins, proving that practical effects and stunning environments still captivate audiences. But here’s a bold statement: Are we seeing a shift back to practical effects in an era dominated by CGI? Let’s debate!
BMW also stole the spotlight with two wins for its commercial “Heart of Joy: Meet Okto the Octopus,” showcasing how visual effects are revolutionizing advertising. And let’s not forget the emotional In Memoriam segment, honoring VES legends like Roger Allers and Greg Cannom, whose contributions shaped the industry.
This year’s special honorees, Jerry Bruckheimer and Richard Taylor, received the VES Lifetime Achievement and Visionary Awards, respectively. But here’s a counterpoint: With only five VES winners since 2013 going on to win the FX Oscar, are these awards truly predictive of Academy success? Or is there a disconnect between the two? Weigh in below!
Here’s a quick rundown of the 2026 VES winners—but don’t just skim; some of these will surprise you:
Winners:
- Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in a Feature: F1: The Movie
- Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in a Commercial: BMW’s Heart of Joy
- Outstanding Compositing & Lighting in an Episode: The Last of Us (Episode: “Through the Valley”)
- Outstanding Special Effects in a Photoreal Project: Andor (Episode: “Who Are You?”)
- Outstanding Effects Simulations in a Photoreal Feature: Avatar: Fire and Ash (Simulating Pandora)
- Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project: Azimuth
- Emerging Technology Award: Avatar: Fire and Ash (Kora Fire Toolset)
- Outstanding CG Cinematography: Avatar: Fire and Ash
- Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project: The Wizard of Oz at Sphere
- Outstanding Visual Arts in a Real-Time Project: Ghost of Yōtei
- Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial: BMW’s Heart of Joy
- Outstanding Environment in a Photoreal Feature: Avatar: Fire and Ash (Bridgehead Industrial City)
- Outstanding Environment in an Animated Feature: Zootopia 2 (Marsh Market)
- Outstanding Environment in an Episodic, Commercial, Game Cinematic, or Real-Time Project: Andor (The Senate District)
So, what’s your take? Did the right projects win? Are there any snubs you’re still fuming about? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments—this is one awards season you won’t want to miss!
