September 26, 2017—The Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) is pleased to announce the winners of its 2017 Achievement Awards, which recognize excellence in giant screen filmmaking, marketing, and lifelong learning. The awards were announced the evening of Tuesday, September 26, at the GSCA 2017 International Conference and Trade Show in Chicago during a ceremony at the DoubleTree Hilton-Magnificent Mile. IMAX Corporation, sponsor of the awards gala, presented the IMAX Maximum Image Awards during the ceremony as well.
The following awards were presented by GSCA:
Outstanding Achievement Award
Filmmaker George Casey
Best Film-Short Subject (tie)
- Dream Big: Engineering Our World, MacGillivray Freeman Films. Directed by Greg MacGillivray. Produced by Shaun MacGillivray.
- Amazon Adventure, SK Films. Produced by Jonathan Barker, Wendy MacKeigan, Mike Slee, Yuri Sanada, Vera RP Sanada. Directed by Mike Slee.
Best Film-Feature Length
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, An IMAX 3D Experience, IMAX Corporation, Walt Disney Studios, Lucasfilm
Best Film for Lifelong Learning
Amazon Adventure, SK Films. Produced by Jonathan Barker, Wendy MacKeigan, Mike Slee, Yuri Sanada, and Vera RP Sanada. Directed by Mike Slee.
Best Cinematography
Amazon Adventure, SK Films. Cinematography by Gerry Vasbenter (Drama), Richard Kirby (Natural History).
Best Sound Design
Amazon Adventure, SK Films. Sound design by Peter Thillaye.
Best Original Score
Amazon Adventure, SK Films. Composed by Antonio Pinto.
Best Visual Effects
Dream Big: Engineering Our World, MacGillivray Freeman Films. Visual effects by Alan G. Markowitz, Mathieu Boucher, and Nick Lerum.
Best Theater Marketing Campaign
Museum of Discovery and Science, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, “IMAX With Laser” Rebranding Campaign.
Best Marketing Campaign by a Distributor
Dream Big: Engineering Our World, MacGillivray Freeman Films
Best Film Launch by a Theater (tie)
- Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Extreme Weather
- IMAX Melbourne Museum, A Beautiful Planet
Best Educational Program
Carnegie Science Center, Dream Big: Engineering Our World
Big Idea
National Geographic Extreme Weather webinar series
Big Shoe
Selected by GSCA staff to recognize exemplary volunteers.
- Daniel Ferguson, Cosmic Picture
- David Ripper, Bullock Texas State History Museum
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)
Deep Sea
Best IMAX Booth (4 theaters)
- BFI IMAX, London
- Bullock IMAX Theater, Texas State History Museum, Austin, Texas
- Filmstaden, Scandinavia and IMAX, Stockholm, Sweden
- Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater, San Jose, California
Chief Quality Officer Award of Distinction
Filmmaker Christopher Nolan
The GSCA International Conference and Trade Show is the premier gathering of educational giant screen and immersive cinema professionals. The 2017 event is September 26-29 at the AMC Navy Pier IMAX Theater and the Museum of Science and Industry Giant Dome Theater in Chicago. The conference features new films, films in production, projects in development, professional development sessions, a technical session, trade show, and the GSCA Achievement Awards. On September 29, GSCA will host its first ever marketing symposium, an engaging day exploring consumer trends, new ideas and helpful tools focused on increasing theater attendance and revenue. Conference registration and other event details are available at http://www.giantscreencinema.com.
About GSCA
The Giant Screen Cinema Association's mission is to facilitate communication, information sharing, and the development of best practices to support the production and exhibition of original, high-quality, educational, and entertaining giant screen cinema experiences. 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.