October 4, 2016—The Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) is pleased to announce the winners of its 2016 Achievement Awards, which recognize excellence in giant screen filmmaking, marketing, and lifelong learning. The awards were announced the evening of October 4 at the GSCA 2016 International Conference and Trade Show in Toronto during a ceremony at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. IMAX Corporation, sponsor of the opening reception, presented the IMAX Maximum Image Awards during the ceremony as well.

The following awards were presented by GSCA:

Outstanding Achievement Award
Graeme Ferguson

Best Film-Short Subject
National Parks Adventure
Produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films and directed by Greg MacGillivray

Best Film-Feature Length
Star Wars: The Force Awakens: An IMAX 3D Experience
IMAX Corporation, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Bad Robot Productions

Best Film for Lifelong Learning
A Beautiful Planet
Produced by IMAX Corporation and Toni Myers, directed by Toni Myers

Best Cinematography
National Parks Adventure, MacGillivray Freeman Films
Cinematography by Brad Ohlund, Greg MacGillivray, Doug Lavender, Michael Brown, Shaun MacGillivray, Robert Walker, Jason Sturgis, and Nick Savander

Best Sound Design
National Parks Adventure, MacGillivray Freeman Films
Sound Design by Andrew DeCristofaro, MPSE; Ken Teaney, CAS; Marshall Garlington; and Michael Payne, MPSE  

Best Original Score
National Parks Adventure, MacGillivray Freeman Films
Composer Steve Wood

Best Visual Effects
Space Next, Afterglow Studios

Best Theater Marketing Campaign
Hollywood Megaplex PlusCity, Austria

Best Marketing Campaign by a Distributor
MacGillivray Freeman Films, National Parks Adventure

Best Film Launch by a Theater (tie)
Cincinnati Museum Center, National Parks Adventure
Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater, National Parks Adventure

Big Idea
Given for the most original and effective idea of a single marketing campaign.
Montreal Science Centre IMAX Telus Theatre, Living in the Age of Airplanes

Big Shoe
Selected by GSCA staff to recognize exemplary volunteers.
Cherie Rivers, James Neihouse, and IMAX Post/DKP Inc.

IMAX Corporation also presented the following Maximum Image Awards at the GSCA Achievement Awards ceremony. 

Hall of Fame
Honors a giant screen film that is at least 10 years old
North of Superior

Best IMAX Booth
IMAX Melbourne, Melbourne Museum
Odeon Wimbledon & IMAX

Chief Quality Officer Awards of Distinction
Bela Webster
Sheffield, England

Mahmood Arjomand
Dubai and Los Angeles, CA area

Thanapat Sangwattanarat
Hat Yai, Thailand

The GSCA International Conference and Trade Show is the largest gathering of educational giant screen and immersive cinema professionals. The 2016 event is being held on October 4-7 at the Cineplex Scotiabank IMAX Theatre and Ontario Science Centre, and features new films, films in production, projects in development, professional development sessions, a technical session, trade show, and the GSCA Achievement Awards, which honor excellence in giant screen filmmaking, marketing, and education. Conference details are available at http://www.giantscreencinema.com.

About GSCA

The core purpose of the Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA®) is to advance the business of producing and presenting educational giant screen and immersive cinema experiences globally. GSCA's membership includes more than 260 organizations in nearly 30 countries. Member organizations include giant screen filmmakers, distributors, theaters, suppliers, manufacturers, and students from around the world. Visit www.giantscreencinema.com for further information. Connect with GSCA on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/giantscreencinema) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/gsca). Questions about the GSCA or the conference should be directed to Tammy Seldon at tammy@giantscreencinema.com.