September 10, 2015—The Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) is pleased to announce the winners of its 2015 Achievement Awards, which recognize excellence in giant screen filmmaking, marketing, and lifelong learning. The awards were announced the evening of September 9 at the opening reception of the GSCA 2015 International Conference and Trade Show in San Francisco. IMAX Corporation, sponsor of the opening reception, presented the IMAX Maximum Image Awards during the ceremony as well.

The following film awards were presented by GSCA:

Best Film-Short Subject, Best Film for Lifelong Learning, Best Cinematography
Humpback Whales
Produced and distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films. Produced by Shaun MacGillivray. Directed by Greg MacGillivray. Cinematography by Greg MacGillivray, Brad Ohlund, Howard Hall, and Ron Goodman.

Best Sound Design
Tiny Giants
Produced by BBC Earth. Distributed by BBC Earth and Giant Screen Films. Sound design by Kate Hopkins and Tim Owens.

Best Visual Effects
Walking with Dinosaurs: Prehistoric Planet
Produced by BBC Earth in Association with Evergreen Studios. Distributed by BBC Earth, Reliance Entertainment, and Giant Screen Films. Visual effects by Will Reichelt, Marco Marenghi, and Emmanuel Blasset.

Best Original Score
Living in the Age of Airplanes
Produced by Terwilliger Productions. Distributed by National Geographic Studios. James Horner composer.

Best Film-Feature Length
Interstellar: The IMAX Experience
Produced by Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan, and Lynda Obst. Directed by Christopher Nolan. Distributed by Paramount Pictures.

GSCA also presented the following marketing and education awards:

Best Film Launch by a Theater
TELUS World of Science-Edmonton IMAX Theatre for its launch of Journey to the South Pacific 3D

Best Marketing Campaign by a Distributor
Humpback Whales
Produced and distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films

Best Education Program
Omniversum, The Netherlands, for its D-Day: Normandy 1944 education program

Big Idea (tie)

Given for the most original and effective idea of a single marketing campaign.

  • Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee for its #WhereAreTheWhales Social Media Campaign
  • National Geographic Studios for its outreach to the aviation community to promote Living in the Age of Airplanes

Big Shoe

Selected by GSCA staff to recognize exemplary volunteers.

  • Christian Fry, Pretend Entertainment
  • Mary Nucci, Rutgers University

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

Best IMAX Booth, Film
Science Museum London

Best IMAX Booth Digital/Laser
Sanya Zose Cinema & IMAX, Sanya, China

Hall of Fame (tie)
Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey
Destiny in Space

CQO Award
Toby Winsett, Denver Museum of Nature and Science

The GSCA International Conference and Trade Show is the largest gathering of educational giant screen and immersive cinema professionals. The 2015 event is being held on September 9-11 at the AMC Metreon IMAX Theater in San Francisco, California, and will feature 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. In addition to the digital screenings, the conference will also include film presentations on the IMAX 15-perf/70mm system. On September 12, delegates travel to the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California, for screenings and sessions in the Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater. Conference registration and other event 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 250 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.