The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the winners of the 2024 Scientific and Technical Awards, recognizing groundbreaking innovations that have significantly advanced filmmaking technology. Among the honorees are Wētā FX’s ML Denoiser, Disney’s ML Denoiser, and Intel’s Open Image Denoise, highlighting the industry’s growing reliance on machine learning for high-quality image processing.
Machine Learning Denoisers Take the Spotlight
Wētā FX’s ML Denoiser – Developed by Javor Kalojanov and Kimball Thurston, this tool prioritizes temporal filtering through advanced optical flow techniques, ensuring the preservation of critical image details while reducing noise. Wētā’s denoiser sets a new standard for high-fidelity CGI rendering.
Disney’s ML Denoiser – Recognized for its contributions to real-time and high-quality denoising, this tool was developed by Thijs Vogels, Fabrice Rousselle, David Adler, Gerhard Röthlin, and Mark Meyer. Disney’s approach improves the efficiency of rendering while maintaining visual integrity.
Intel Open Image Denoise – Created by Attila T. Áfra, this open-source denoiser enhances ray-traced imagery using deep learning. Additionally, Timo Aila’s pioneering work at Nvidia applying U-Nets to denoising was acknowledged for its impact on the field.
Other Notable Awards
The Academy honored a total of 14 scientific and technical achievements, spanning advancements in fire stunt safety, motion capture, stabilization systems, and CGI tools. Among the recipients:
- Ziva VFX (Essex Edwards, James Jacobs, Jernej Barbic, Crawford Doran, and Andrew van Straten) – Recognized for its cutting-edge character simulation technology.
- Action Factory Hydrogels (Jayson Dumenigo) – A new fire stunt material allowing longer burns with increased safety.
- Auto Align Post 2 (Nir Averbuch, Yair Chuchem, Dan Raviv) – A groundbreaking system for automated camera alignment in post-production.
- Trinity 2 System & Steadicam Volt – Innovations in camera stabilization improving cinematography precision.
A Celebration of Innovation
Originally scheduled for February, the Sci-Tech Awards Ceremony has been moved to April 29 at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. While these awards do not receive live Oscars coverage, they are a critical acknowledgment of the engineers and developers shaping the future of filmmaking.
This year’s honorees reaffirm the growing influence of machine learning, real-time rendering, and automation in visual effects and cinematography—advancements that continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible on screen.
read more here : https://press.oscars.org/news/14-scientific-and-technical-achievements-be-honored-academy-awardsr
