February 20, 2008--National Geographic’s Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure won the Visual Effects Society’s (VES) award for Special Venue Project at the sixth annual gala held at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre Grand Ballroom on February 10. Receiving the award were Sean Phillips, Jack Geist, Robin Aristorenas, and Mark Dubeau.

The sold-out event attracted more than a thousand visual effects and animation artists, dozens of nominees, and members of the film, television, commercial, and video game industries. During the evening, filmmaker Steven Spielberg received the VES Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contribution to the art and science of visual effects.

“The work we celebrated tonight is a testament to the crucial role the talent, knowledge and experience visual effects artists play in the storytelling process. Because visual effects “geeks' are at the cutting edge of technology, they are also at the cutting edge of entertainment as well,” says Eric Roth, VES Executive Director.

VES is a professional, honorary society, dedicated to advancing the arts, sciences, and applications of visual effects and to upholding the highest uniform standards and procedures for the visual effects profession. The VES is the entertainment industry's only official trade organization representing the extended community of visual effects practitioners including supervisors, artists, producers, technology developers, educators and studio executives. Its 1,600 global members contribute to all areas of entertainment from film, television and commercials to music videos, games and new media.