James Cameron to receive VES Lifetime Achievement Award

James Cameron will be the recipient of the VES Lifetime Achievement Award to be presented at the 8th Annual VES Awards which will be held at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City on Sunday, February 28, 2010. 

The VES Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an outstanding body of work that has significantly contributed to the art and/or science of the visual effects industry.  Cameron’s work is so cutting edge he had to wait years for new visual effects technologies to be created in order to move forward with his most recent film, “Avatar” (to be released in December 2009). 

“James Cameron has set the gold standard for storytelling by combining true creative artistry along with the latest advances in technology to bring incredible stories to the screen,” said Eric Roth, VES Executive Director.

“Jim’s sense of how to effectively utilize what the visual Effects Community has to bring to the story telling experience has changed the face of storytelling – not just in the past and the present, but in a significant way in the future.  The Board of Directors and the Society feel this honor is long overdue for Mr. Cameron,” stated Jeffrey A. Okun, Chair of the VES.

Cameron commented, “I've loved visual effects my whole life, and it's been an ongoing thrill to be able to practice that art and to work with the best artists and technical people in the business to realize my dream images as a director.  It is an incredible honor to be receiving this award."

Cameron’s films have received multiple Academy Award nominations, including “Titanic,” which garnered 11 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Visual Effects, Best Director and Best Editing for Cameron.  Cameron’s other ground-breaking works include “Terminator”, “Aliens”, “True Lies”, “Terminator 2” and “The Abyss” among many others.

Previous winners of the VES Lifetime Achievement Award include Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Robert Zemeckis, Dennis Muren and Frank Marshall & Kathleen Kennedy.