The Visual Effects Society (VES) is rolling out the red carpet for two industry legends at their 23rd Annual VES Awards, happening February 11, 2025, at The Beverly Hilton.
In a nod to excellence and vision in the VFX world, the Society is honoring Emmy-winning actor-producer Hiroyuki Sanada and Academy Award-winning director and visual effects maestro Takashi Yamazaki.
Hiroyuki Sanada
The VES Creative Excellence Award is reserved for individuals who’ve made lasting contributions to the art and science of visual effects. And Sanada? He’s done that and more.
Known for his jaw-dropping roles in Japanese and Hong Kong action flicks, Sanada has also carved out a name in dramatic cinema. His portrayal in FX’s Shōgun series broke barriers, making him the first Japanese actor to snag a Primetime Emmy Award.
He’s also a producer for the show, which took home an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series? Toss in a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Television Drama, and you’ve got a resume that screams legendary.
Takashi Yamazaki
The VES Visionary Award goes to those who push the boundaries of what’s possible with visual effects, and Yamazaki is in a league of his own.
Case in point: Godzilla Minus One. He didn’t just direct the global hit; he wrote it, helmed the visual effects, and absolutely crushed it. Fun fact: Yamazaki is the first director since freaking Stanley Kubrick to win an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. No big deal, right?
And just when you thought he couldn’t level up, he’s heading to Hollywood. Yamazaki’s next adventure? Grandgear, a sci-fi spectacle he’s writing, directing, and producing with J.J. Abrams for Bad Robot and Sony Pictures. Safe to say, expectations are sky-high.
Read more here : https://www.vesglobal.org/press-releases/ves-awards-hiroyuki-sanada-creative-excellence/
