2020-2022 Awards

The Giant Screen Cinema Association presented Film Awards the evening of Wednesday, September 28, at the GSCA 2022 International Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee, during a ceremony held at the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX Theater. As the first in-person GSCA International Conference since September 2019, awards were presented for films released in 2022 as well as for each year the conference was not held during the pandemic. Eligible films are submitted by GSCA member distributors and voted on by GSCA member organizations. IMAX Corporation, sponsor of the awards gala, presented the IMAX Hall of Fame Award, which goes to a giant screen film that is at least 10 years old and is selected by vote of the IMAX theater network.

All photos by Doug Strickland. © GSCA 2022.

2020 GSCA Awards

Ancient Caves

Best Film-Short Subject (tie)
Best Film for Lifelong Learning
Best Cinematography

Pictured here are Shaun MacGillivray (MacGillivray Freeman Films), Dave Duszynski (Cincinnati Museum Center), Bruce Zimmerman (Sound Productions Music), Jonathan Bird (Oceanic Research Group), Zach Peterson (MacGillivray Freeman Films), and Noah Ramirez (Oceanic Research Group_. Ancient Caves is produced by Oceanic Research Group, directed by Jonathan Bird, and distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films. Cinematography by Jonathan Bird, Tim Geers, Zach Peterson, Brad Ohlund, and Rob Walker.

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Apollo 11: Quarantine

Best Sound Design

Sound designer Brian Eimer (ImagesInSound). Apollo 11: Quarantine sound design by Eric Milano and Brian Eimer, directed by Todd Douglas Miller, produced by Statement Pictures, distributed by Neon. 

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Dinosaurs of Antarctica

Best Film-Short Subject (tie)
Best Visual Effects

Brian Eimer (ImagesInSound), Don Kempf (Giant Screen Films), Mark Katz (Giant Screen Films), Rob Grzymala (Giant Screen Films), Derek Threinen (Giant Screen Films), Rick Gordon (RPG Productions). Dinosaurs of Antarctica is directed by David Clark, produced and distributed by Giant Screen Films. Visual effects by BUF. 

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Into America's Wild

Best Original Score

Meghan, Shaun, and Greg MacGillivray (MacGillivray Freeman Films). Score composed by H. Scott Salinas. Into America's Wild is produced and distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films. 

2021 GSCA Awards

Antarctica

Best Film-Short Subject
Best Film for Lifelong Learning
Best Cinematography
Best Sound Design
Best Original Score
Best Visual Effects

Tony Maher (Onsight), Myles Connolly (360-Media), Amber Hawtin (SK Films), Wendy MacKeigan (SK Films), Jonathan Williams (BBC Earth), Tyler Mifflin (SK Films), Alex Mifflin (SK Films), Simon Craddock (Onsight). Antarctica is directed by Fredi Deva, produced by BBC Studios Natural History Unit, and distributed by SK Films. Cinematography by Alexander Vail, Hugh Miller, John Aitchison, Rolf Steinmann, Mark MacEwen, John Brown, Bertie Gregory, Pete McCowen, Ted Giffords, Dan Beecham, Espen Rekdal, and Justin Hoffman. Sound design by Tim Owens, Kate Hopkins, and Jonny Crew. Score composed by Hans Zimmer and Jacob Shea. VFX by Onsight LTD. 

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Tenet: The IMAX Experience

Best Film-Feature Length

 David and Patricia Keighley, Gina Glen (IMAX Corporation). Tenet is directed by Christopher Nolan, produced by Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas, distributed by Warner Bros.

2022 GSCA Awards

Wings Over Water

Best Film-Short Subject (tie)
Best Film for Lifelong Learning
Best Cinematography
Best Sound Design
Best Visual Effects

Amber Hawtin (SK Films), Susan Todd (Archipelago Films), Brian Eimer (ImagesInSound), Wendy MacKeigan (SK Films), Tyler Mifflin (SK Films), Alex Mifflin (SK Films). Wings Over Water is directed by Andrew Young, produced by Dorsey Pictures, and distributed by SK Films. Cinematography by Andrew Young, Michael Male, and Neil Rettig. Sound design by Brian Eimer. Visual effects by Switch VFX, Machineyes, Mechanism Digital Inc., Post Café, and VFX Study.

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Serengeti

Best Film-Short Subject (tie)

Michael Daut (K2 Studios), Mark Kresser (K2 Studios), David Gross (Definition Films), Paul Phelan (Definition Films), Cam Batten (Definition Films), Alan Williams (Silverscreen Music). Serengeti is directed by Michael Dalton, produced by David Gross, distributed by K2 Studios. 

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The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness

Best Film-Short Subject (tie)

 

John Wickstrom (Cosmic Picture), Antonietta Monteleone (Cosmic Picture), Myles Connolly (360-Media), Aileen Robertson (Cosmic Picture). The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness is directed by Myles Connolly and Florian Schulz, produced by Terra Mater Factual Studios, distributed by Cosmic Picture. 

 

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Ireland

Best Original Score

Meghan, Shaun, and Greg MacGillivray. Score composed by Brian Byrne. Ireland is produced and distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films. 

 

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Top Gun: Maverick: The IMAX Experience

Best Film-Feature Length

David and Patricia Keighley (IMAX). Top Gun: Maverick: The IMAX Experience is directed by Joseph Kosinski; produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, David Ellison, Christopher McQuarrie; distributed by Paramount Pictures.

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Big Shoe Award

Michael Daut

The Big Shoe recipient is selected by GSCA staff to recognize exemplary volunteers. Pictured here is Michael Daut with GSCA staff Tammy Barrett and Kelly Germain.

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IMAX Hall of Fame Award

Born To Be Wild

David Keighley, Colin Smyth, Gina Glen, Jason Swanson, and Patricia Keighley of IMAX Corporation. During the GSCA awards ceremony, IMAX Corporation also presented the Hall of Fame Award, which is voted by the IMAX theater networking and honors a giant screen film that is at least 10 years old. This year’s winner was Born To Be Wild, directed by David Lickley, produced by IMAX Filmed Entertainment, and distributed by IMAX Corporation and Warner Bros.

2020 Awards

Best Cinematography 2020

• Ancient Caves (Jonathan Bird, Tim Geers, Zach Peterson, Brad Ohlund, Rob Walker)
• Apollo 11: Quarantine (Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Urs Furrer, Jeri Sopanen, Theo Kamecke, James Allen, Adam Holender)
• Asteroid Hunters (Sean MacLeod Phillips, ASC)
• Back From the Brink: Saved From Extinction (Sean Casey)
• Dinosaurs of Antarctica (Reed Smoot)
• Expedition Chesapeake: A Journey of Discovery (James Neihouse)
• Into America's Wild (Brad Ohlund, Robert Walker, Justin Ostensen, Jason Sturgis, Mike Brown, Jamey Warner)
• Mountain Adventure: Out of Bounds (Nick Robinson, Cam Batten, Caspar Mazzotti)
• Sea Lions: Life By a Whisker (Jon Shaw ACS, Cam Batten, Tim Nagle)
• Secrets of the Universe (Tristan Breeuwer)

• Ancient Caves (Jonathan Bird, Brian Eimer, Zach Peterson, Josh Pichardo, Robynne Trueman)
• Apollo 11: Quarantine (Eric Milano And Brian Eimer)
• Asteroid Hunters (William Files, Phil Barrie)
• Back From the Brink: Saved From Extinction (Brian Eimer)
• Dinosaurs of Antarctica (Brian Eimer)
• Into America's Wild (Michael Payne M.P.S.E., Bruce Tanis, Andrew DeCristofaro)
• Mountain Adventure: Out of Bounds (Peter Purcell, Pow Wow Film Studios)
• Sea Lions: Life By a Whisker (Peter Purcell)
• Secrets of the Universe (Ed Douglas)

Best Original Score 2020

• Ancient Caves (Bruce Zimmerman)
• Apollo 11: Quarantine (Matt Morton)
• Asteroid Hunters (John Debney)
• Back From the Brink: Saved From Extinction (Halli Cauthery & Henry Jackman)
• Dinosaurs of Antarctica (Cody Westheimer)
• Into America's Wild (H. Scott Salinas)
• Mountain Adventure: Out of Bounds (Michael Lira)
• Sea Lions: Life By a Whisker (Michael Lira)

Best Visual Effects 2020

• Ancient Caves (Troy Whitmer)
• Apollo 11: Quarantine
• Asteroid Hunters (Antoine Durr, Jini Durr, Bert Poole, Neishaw Ali)
• Back From the Brink: Saved From Extinction ( Legend VFX - Matthew Kemper, Vivek Shelke, Balaji Sreedharan, Mangesh Palkrit, Kaya Herman)
• Dinosaurs of Antarctica (BUF)
• Into America's Wild (Alan G. Markowitz)
• Mountain Adventure: Out of Bounds (House of Nerds)
• Sea Lions: Life By a Whisker (Definition Studios Australia, Hammer Productions, House of Nerds)
• Secrets of the Universe (Mario Rachiele)

Best Film for Lifelong Learning 2020

• Ancient Caves (directed by Jonathan Bird, produced by Oceanic Research Group, distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films)
• Apollo 11: Quarantine (directed by Todd Douglas Miller, produced by Statement Pictures, distributed by Neon)
• Asteroid Hunters (directed by W.D. Hogan, produced by Phil Groves and Jini Durr, distributed by IMAX Entertainment)
• Back From the Brink: Saved From Extinction (directed by Sean Casey, produced by ROAM/AGBO, distributed by Cosmic Picture)
• Dinosaurs of Antarctica (directed by David Clark, produced and distributed by Giant Screen Films)
• Expedition Chesapeake: A Journey of Discovery (directed by Greg Matkosky, produced by Whitaker Center Productions, distributed by Reef Distribution)
• Into America's Wild (directed by Greg MacGillivray, produced and distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films)
• Mountain Adventure: Out of Bounds (directed by Caspar Mazzotti; produced by David Gross, Tim Maddocks and Nick Robinson; distributed by K2 Studios)
• Sea Lions: Life By a Whisker (directed by Amelia McCarten and Paul Phelan, produced by David Gross and Sarah Beard, distributed by K2 Studios)
• Secrets of the Universe (directed and produced by Stephen Low, distributed by K2 Studios)

Best Film-Short Subject 2020

• Ancient Caves (directed by Jonathan Bird, produced by Oceanic Reasearch Group, distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films)
• Apollo 11: Quarantine (directed by Todd Douglas Miller, produced by Statement Pictures, distributed by Neon)
• Asteroid Hunters (directed by W.D. Hogan, produced by Phil Groves and Jini Durr, distributed by IMAX Entertainment)
• Back From the Brink: Saved From Extinction (directed by Sean Casey, produced by ROAM/AGBO, distributed by Cosmic Picture)
• Dinosaurs of Antarctica (directed by David Clark, produced and distributed by Giant Screen Films)
• Expedition Chesapeake: A Journey of Discovery (directed by Greg Matkosky, produced by Whitaker Center Productions, distributed by Reef Distribution)
• Into America's Wild (directed by Greg MacGillivray, produced and distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films)
• Mountain Adventure: Out of Bounds (directed by Caspar Mazzotti, produced by David Gross and Nick Robinson, distributed by K2 Studios)
• Sea Lions: Life By a Whisker (directed by Amelia McCarten and Paul Phelan, produced by David Gross and Sarah Beard, distributed by K2 Studios)
• Secrets of the Universe (directed and produced by Stephen Low, distributed by K2 Studios)

No films were submitted for Best Film-Feature Length for 2020

2021 Awards

Best Cinematography 2021

• Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia (Earle Dresner, Peter Beeh, Kimlon Meng, Murray Fredericks)
• Antarctica (Alexander Vail, Hugh Miller, John Aitchison, Rolf Steinmann, Mark MacEwen, John Brown, Bertie Gregory, Pete McCowen, Ted Giffords, Dan Beecham, Espen Rekdal, Justin Hofman)
• Astronaut: Ocean to Orbit (Jonathan Bird, Tim Geers, Tim Howe)

Best Sound Design 2021

• Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia (Peter Purcell)
• Antarctica (Tim Owens, Kate Hopkins, Jonny Crew)
• Astronaut: Ocean to Orbit (Jonathan Bird, Tim Howe)

Best Original Score 2021

• Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia (Christopher Elves)
• Antarctica (Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea)
• Astronaut: Ocean to Orbit (Bruce Zimmerman)

Best Visual Effects 2021

• Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia (Darkframe Digital, House of Nerds, Akromat, Thought Cafe, Sensilab, Rangi Sutton)
• Antarctica (Onsight LTD)
• Astronaut: Ocean to Orbit (Jonathan Bird, Tim Howe)

Best Film for Lifelong Learning 2021

• Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia (directed by Murray Pope; produced by David Gross, Murray Pope, Christopher Zaryc; distributed by K2 Studios)
• Antarctica (directed by Fredi Devas, produced by BBC Studios Natural History Unit, distributed by SK Films)
• Astronaut: Ocean to Orbit (directed by Jonathan Bird, produced by Oceanic Research Group, distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films)

Best Film-Short Subject 2021

• Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia (directed by Murray Pope; produced by David Gross, Murray Pope, Christopher Zaryc; distributed by K2 Studios)
• Antarctica (directed by Fredi Devas, produced by BBC Studios Natural History Unit, distributed by SK Films)
• Astronaut: Ocean to Orbit (directed by Jonathan Bird, produced by Oceanic Research Group, distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films)

• Tenet: The IMAX Experience (directed by Christopher Nolan, produced by Christopher Nolan an dEmma Thomas, distributed by Warner Bros.)
• Wonder Woman 1984: The IMAX Experience (directed by Patty Jenkins; produced by Patty Jenkins, Stephen Jones, Gal Gadot, Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder; distributed by Warner Bros.)

2022 Awards

Best Cinematography 2022

• The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness (Florian Schulz)
• Dino Dana The Movie (George Lajtai)
• IMAX Presents The Last Glaciers (Cody Tuttle)
• Ireland (Brad Ohlund, Greg MacGillivray, Justin Ostensen, Chris Newman, Ron Goodman)
• Ocean Odyssey (Nick Robinson, Jon Shaw ACS, Caspar Mazzotti, Cam Batten)
• Serengeti (Cam Batten, Gian Schachenmann, Michael Dalton)
• Wings Over Water (Andrew Young, Michael Male, Neil Rettig)

Best Sound Design 2022

• The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness (Bernhard Zorzi)
• Dino Dana the Movie (Blag Ahilov)
• IMAX Presents The Last Glaciers (Jason Swamy)
• Ireland (Michael Payne, M.P.S.E., Andrew DeCristofaro, M.P.S.E)
• Ocean Odyssey (Jake Flannery, Damien Siviero, Nigel Manhood)
• Serengeti (Peter Purcell)
• Wings Over Water (Brian Eimer)

Best Original Score 2022

• The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness (Alex Heffes)
• Dino Dana The Movie (Michael Paul-Ella)
• IMAX Presents The Last Glaciers (Above & Beyond)
• Ireland (Brian Byrne)
• Ocean Odyssey (Hylton Mowday)
• Serengeti (Alan Williams)
• Wings Over Water (Gil Talmi)

Best Visual Effects 2022

• The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness (Tudor Colac, Max Laurie)
• Dino Dana The Movie (Kayla Cabral, VFX Production Manager Lynn Nikolaidis)
• Ireland (Alan G. Markowitz)
• Ocean Odyssey (Hamish Mason)
• Serengeti (Scott Koppelhuber, Tamatea Kohu)
• Wings Over Water (Switch VFX, Machineyes, Mechanism Digital Inc, Post Cafe, VFX Study)

Best Film for Lifelong Learning 2022

• The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness (directed by Myles Connolly and Florian Schulz, produced by Terra Mater Factual Studios, distributed by Cosmic Picture)
• Dino Dana The Movie (directed and produced by JJ Johnson, distributed by Sinking Ship Entertainment)
• IMAX Presents The Last Glaciers (directed by Craig Leeson, produced by Craig Leeson and Malcolm Wood, distributed by IMAX Entertainment)
• Ireland (directed by Greg MacGillivray, produced and distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films)
• Ocean Odyssey (directed by Nick Robinson; produced by Peta Ayers, Electra Manikakis, Nick Robinson, Jon Shaw; distributed by K2 Studios)
• Serengeti (directed by Michael Dalton, produced by David Gross, distributed by K2 Studios)
• Wings Over Water (directed by Andrew Young, produced by Dorsey Pictures, distributed by SK Films)

Best Film-Short Subject 2022

• The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness (directed by Myles Connolly and Florian Schulz, produced by Terra Mater Factual Studios, distributed by Cosmic Picture)
• Dino Dana The Movie (directed and produced by JJ Johnson, distributed by Sinking Ship Entertainment)
• IMAX Presents The Last Glaciers (directed by Craig Leeson, produced by Craig Leeson and Malcolm Wood, distributed by IMAX Entertainment)
• Ireland (directed by Greg MacGillivray, produced and distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films)
• Ocean Odyssey (directed by Nick Robinson; produced by Peta Ayers, Electra Manikakis, Nick Robinson, Jon Shaw; distributed by K2 Studios)
• Serengeti (directed by Michael Dalton, produced by David Gross, distributed by K2 Studios)
• Wings Over Water (directed by Andrew Young, produced by Dorsey Pictures, distributed by SK Films)

• Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: The IMAX Experience (directed by Sam Raimi, produced by Kevin Feige, distributed by Walt Disney Studios)
• Dune: The IMAX Experience (directed by Denis Villeneuve; produced by Cale Boyter, Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr., Mary Parent, Denis Villeneuve; distributed by Warner Bros.)
• No Time To Die: The IMAX Experience (directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga; produced by Barbara Broccoli, Michael G. Wilson; distributed by United Artists Releasing, Univeral Pictures)
• Spider-Man: No Way Home The IMAX Experience (directed by Jon Watts; produced by Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal; distributed by Sony Pictures)
• Top Gun: Maverick The IMAX Experience (directed by Joseph Kosinski; produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, David Ellison, Christopher McQuarrie; distributed by Paramount Pictures)