Winners of the GSCA 2026 Achievement Awards Announced at GSCA Conference
May 21, 2026 – Los Angeles, California – The Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) is pleased to announce the winners of its 2026 Achievement Awards, recognizing excellence across giant screen filmmaking, marketing, lifelong learning, and service to the giant screen community. The awards were presented Thursday, May 21, during the GSCA 2026 International Conference and Trade Show in Los Angeles. The conference brought together filmmakers, distributors, exhibitors and technology partners from around the world for screenings, films in production and projects in development, professional development, innovation sessions, and industry networking. Eligible films are submitted by GSCA member distributors and voted on by GSCA member organizations. Marketing awards are reviewed by marketing professionals from GSCA member theaters. The following awards were presented by GSCA:
Outstanding Achievement Award
As previously announced, the GSCA Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Mike Lutz in recognition of his exceptional leadership, enduring service, and lasting contributions to the giant screen industry.
Best Film–Short Subject
Call of the Dolphins
Produced by Jonathan Bird and Tim Geers
Directed by Jonathan Bird
Distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films
Best Film–Feature Length
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Produced by Richard Baneham, James Cameron, Jamie Landau, Jon Landau, Rae Sanchini, Peter M. Tobyansen, David Valdes, and Brigitte Yorke
Directed by James Cameron
Distributed by IMAX
Best Film for Lifelong Learning
Wild Rescue
Produced by Ian Shive and Jonathan Williams
Directed by Ian Shive
Distributed by Cosmic Picture
Best Cinematography
Call of the Dolphins
Cinematography by Jonathan Bird, Tim Geers, and Noah Ramirez
Distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films
Best Sound Design
Call of the Dolphins
Sound design by Jonathan Bird, Noah Ramirez, and Bruce Zimmerman
Produced by Jonathan Bird and Tim Geers
Distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films
Best Original Score
Horse Power
Composer: Barnaby Taylor
Produced by Plimsoll Productions and EOS Films
Distributed by SK Films
Best Visual Effects
Secrets of Great Salt Lake
Visual Effects by Switch VFX
Produced by Alex Mifflin, Tyler Mifflin, and Wendy MacKeigan
Distributed by SK Films
Best Film Launch by a Theater (tie)
Clark Planetarium — Lost Wolves of Yellowstone
Best Film Launch by a Theater (tie)
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History — Horse Power
Best Marketing Campaign by a Distributor
MacGillivray Freeman Films — Call of the Dolphins
Big Idea Award (tie)
Clark Planetarium — Find Your Wild Campaign
Big Idea Award (tie)
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Inclusive Approach and Powerful Use of Community Partnerships
Big Shoe Award
Brian Eimer, ImagesInSound
Selected by GSCA staff to recognize exemplary volunteers.
IMAX Hall of Fame
Jerusalem
During the GSCA awards ceremony, IMAX Corporation also presented the Hall of Fame Award, which is voted by the IMAX theater network and honors a giant screen film that is at least 10 years old. This year’s winner was Jerusalem, released in 2013, produced and distributed by Cosmic Picture, directed by Daniel Ferguson.
Emcees
Ryan Holota, Saskatchewan Science Centre
Jackie Mollet, Smithsonian Institution
