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Awards Overview

Since 2006, the HPA Awards have been the standard bearer for creative achievement, outstanding artistry, and engineering excellence in an industry embracing an expanding array of groundbreaking technologies and creativity.

2025 Awards Schedule TBA

2024 Awards Schedule

  • September 5, 2023 – September 3, 2024 Period of Eligibility for Entries
  • April 14 – June 14, 2024 Submission Period – Engineering Excellence
  • June 3 – July 26, 2024 Submission Period – Creative Categories
  • July 19, 2024 Petition Deadline
  • July, 2024 Engineering Excellence Judging
  • August 1, 2024 Tickets Sales Open
  • August, 2024 Engineering Excellence Winners Announced
  • August - September, 2024 Creative Judging Panels
  • October, 2024 Nominations Announced
  • November 7, 2024 Awards Gala

The 2023 HPA Awards on Nov. 28, 2023 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)

The 2023 HPA Awards on Nov. 28, 2023 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Molly O’Keeffe/Capture Imaging)

Awards Given

Creative Categories recognize excellence in Color Grading, Editing, Sound, Visual Effects, and Restoration for film, episodic and commercial work. Special awards may also be presented, including Engineering Excellence, the HPA Judges Award for Creativity & Innovation, Charles S. Swartz Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.


Event Details

November 7, 2024
The Television Academy | Wolf Theatre
5210 Lankershim Blvd.
North Hollywood, California 91601

  • Doors Open – 6:00 PM PT
  • Pre-show Show Reception, Food Stations, Full-Bar, and Party – 6:00 PM PT
  • Awards Show – Wolf Theatre – 8:00 PM PT
  • Complimentary Parking is available for attendees after 5 PM in the Television Academy Parking Structure
  • Dress Code: Cocktail Attire Suggested
  • (timing subject to change)

Parking Info

The 20213 Hollywood Professional Association Awards Ceremony on Nov. 28, 2023, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)


Awards Categories

Creative Categories recognize excellence in Color Grading, Editing, Sound, Visual Effects, and Restoration for film, episodic and commercial work. Special awards may also be presented, including Engineering Excellence, the HPA Judges Award for Creativity & Innovation, Charles S. Swartz Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

 


Creative Categories

Outstanding Color Grading

Live Action Theatrical Feature:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the color grading within an entire Live Action Feature Film for a theatrical release.

Animated Theatrical Feature:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the color grading within an entire Animated Feature Film for a theatrical release.

Live Action Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the color grading within a Live Action Episode (includes an episode of an Episodic Series, Pilot, Miniseries or Special) or NonTheatrical Feature.

Animated Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the color grading within an Animated Episode (includes an episode of an Episodic Series, Pilot, Miniseries or Special) or NonTheatrical Feature.

Documentary:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the color grading within a Documentary Feature or Episode (includes an episode of an Episodic Series, Pilot, Miniseries or Special).

Commercial:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the color grading within a Commercial. Infomercials, corporate IDs or marks and company logos are not eligible in this or any other category. Movie trailers are not eligible in this category.

Outstanding Editing

Theatrical Feature:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the editing within an entire Feature Film for a theatrical release. Features that had a previously planned theatrical release but were initially made available on a commercial streaming or VOD service due to the pandemic may qualify as eligible in the theatrical feature category.

Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature (30 Minutes and Under):

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the editing within an Episode (includes an episode of an Episodic Series, Pilot, Miniseries or Special) or NonTheatrical Feature with a running time of 30 minutes or less.

Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature (Over 30 Minutes):

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the editing within an Episode (includes an episode of an Episodic Series, Pilot, Miniseries or Special) or NonTheatrical Feature, with a running time of 30 minutes or longer.

Documentary:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the editing within a Documentary project. Eligible projects can include a Theatrical Feature, Episode (includes an episode of an Episodic Series, Pilot, Miniseries or Special) or NonTheatrical Feature, with a running time of 30 minutes or longer.

Outstanding Sound (Design, Editing, Mixing)

Theatrical Feature:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the sound postproduction work within an entire Feature Film for a theatrical release. Features that had a previously planned theatrical release but were initially made available on a commercial streaming or VOD service due to the pandemic may qualify as eligible in the theatrical feature category.

Episode or Non-Theatrical Feature:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the sound post production work within an Episode (includes an episode of an Episodic Series, Pilot, Miniseries or Special) or NonTheatrical Feature.

Documentary:

This award is to honor the overall achievement of the sound post production work within a Documentary Feature
or Episode (includes an episode of an Episodic Series, Pilot, Miniseries or Special).

 

Outstanding Visual Effects

Live Action Feature:

The HPA Awards recognizes that multiple visual effects production companies and hundreds of artisans can contribute to the overall visual effects within an entire Feature. We seek to recognize and honor the contributions of these organizations and artisans. This award is to honor the outstanding achievement in visual effects in a sequence or sequences created for a Live Action Feature by an artist or team of artists. For the purpose of this category, a Feature is defined as a project with a minimum 70minute runtime that premiered during the Period of Eligibility for Entries and ran in a commercial theater for a paying audience for at least one week; or have been broadcast on a network, pay or basic cable, satellite network or online distribution platform.

Each facility, studio, or team may submit only one (1) entry per Feature Film. Multiple entries for a Feature Film may be submitted by different facilities, studios, or teams if all of the entrants are also different.

Title sequences are excluded from this category.

Animated Feature:

The HPA Awards recognizes that multiple visual effects production companies and hundreds of artisans can contribute to the overall visual effects within an entire Feature. We seek to recognize and honor the contributions of these organizations and artisans. This award is to honor the outstanding achievement in visual effects in a sequence or sequences created for an Animated Feature by an artist or team of artists. For the purpose of this category, a Feature is defined as a project with a minimum 70minute runtime that premiered during the Period of Eligibility for Entries and ran in a commercial theater for a paying audience for at least one week; or have been broadcast on a network, pay or basic cable, satellite network or online distribution platform.

Each facility, studio, or team may submit only one (1) entry per Feature Film. Multiple entries for a Feature Film may be submitted by different facilities, studios, or teams if all of the entrants are also different.

Title sequences are excluded from this category.

Live Action Episode or Series Season:

This award is to honor outstanding achievement in visual effects for a Live Action Episode (includes an episode of an Episodic Series, Pilot, Miniseries or Special) or Series Season. Entries may include work from a single episode, or multiple episodes across a season, so that the best work can be presented. The HPA Award period of eligibility still applies to work over the season. Projects qualify for Category 16 (vs Category 18) if visual effects are an essential part of the storytelling, such as fantasy or sciencefiction projects.

Each facility, studio, or team may submit only one (1) entry per Episode or Series Season. Multiple entries for an Episode or Series Season may be submitted by different facilities, studios, or teams if all of the entrants are also different.

Title sequences are excluded from this category.

Animated Episode or Series Season:

This award is to honor outstanding achievement in visual effects for an Animated Episode (includes an episode of an Episodic Series, Pilot, Miniseries or Special) or Series Season. Entries may include work from a single episode, or multiple episodes across a season, so that the best work can be presented. The HPA Award period of eligibility still applies to work over the season.

Each facility, studio, or team may submit only one (1) entry per Episode or Series Season. Multiple entries for an Episode or Series Season may be submitted by different facilities, studios, or teams if all of the entrants are also different.

Title sequences are excluded from this category.

 

Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects

Episode or Series Season:

This award is to honor outstanding achievement in supporting visual effects for an Episode (includes an episode of an Episodic Series, Pilot, Miniseries or Special) or Series Season. Entries may include work from a single episode, or multiple episodes across a season, so that the best work can be presented. The HPA Award period of eligibility still applies to work over the season. Projects qualify for Category 18 (vs Category 16) if visual effects play an invisible role in the story, such as set extensions for historical realism or enhanced special effects sequences.

Each facility, studio, or team may submit only one (1) entry per Episode or Series Season. Multiple entries for an Episode or Series Season may be submitted by different facilities, studios, or teams if all of the entrants are also different.

Title sequences are excluded from this category.

Outstanding Achievement in Restoration

Outstanding Achievement in Restoration:

This award recognizes the efforts taken to rerelease a creative work that seeks to enhance, restore, repair and represent in a way consistent with the original creative intent through the use of tools, techniques in image, sound and other restorative methods, creates an outstanding new representation and honor the achievement in the Preservation/Restoration of a Motion Picture, Documentary, TV Program, or Series.

The HPA Awards recognizes that restoration is a collaborative process, and that many facilities and artisans can contribute to a restoration effort. We seek to recognize and honor the contributions of these organizations and artisans to the overall project. A submission can be generated from any of the studios, facilities, or team members on the project but only one submission for a project will be considered.


Special Categories

Engineering Excellence

The Engineering Excellence Award is intended to showcase and reward inventors, manufacturers, vendors and/or peer production, postproduction, distribution, and/or archiving companies for their outstanding product. Valid entrants are a single ‘product’i.e. hardware and/or softwarebased and must represent a beneficial advancement for use in the Media and Entertainment industry. One award trophy will be presented per winning entry.

Charles S. Swartz Award

The Charles S. Swartz Award recognizes broad, impactful and lasting contributions that have advanced and/or provided some unique purpose to the larger media content ecosystem. The Award may be conferred on a person, group, or company that has made a significant artistic, technological, business or educational impact across diverse aspects of the media industry.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award may be awarded by the Hollywood Professional Association to an individual who, during his or her lifetime, is recognized for their service and commitment to the professional media content industry. The mission of this award is to give deserving and respectful recognition to specific individuals who have, with great service, dedicated their careers to the betterment of our industry.

Judges Award for Creativity and Innovation

The HPA Judges Award for Creativity and Innovation was conceived to recognize companies and individuals who have demonstrated excellence, whether in the development of workflow and process or project to support creative storytelling or in technical innovation. The Judges Award is chosen by a jury of experts and peers.

Entry Rules, Fees and Upload

Engineering Excellence Call for Entries

Submission Period
April 14, 2024 – June 14, 2024

Creative Categories
Call for Entries

Submission Period
June 3, 2024 – July 26, 2024

Submission Fees

Creative Entry Submissions
  • $215 per submission for HPA members
  • $275 per submission for non-members
  • HPA Corporate member companies may submit all entries from that company under the membership rate.
  • Individual members may use the member rate for entries where that individual is the entrant.
Engineering Excellence Award Submissions
  • HPA Corporate Members – $550 per submission
  • Non-Members – $745 per submission
Payment Information
  • Payment may be made via credit card during the submission process or by ACH/EFT.
  • In the case of EFT or ACH payments, HPA must receive the full amount of the entry fee in US Dollars. All transfer or bank fees are the sender’s responsibility.

Awards Press Kit

Mission

To promote creative artistry in the field of post production, and recognize the achievement of talent, innovation and engineering excellence in the larger professional media content industry.


Awards Given

Creative Categories include Color Grading, Editing, Sound and Visual Effects in Film, Television and Commercials. Special awards may also be presented, including Engineering Excellence, the HPA Judges Award for Creativity & Innovation, Charles S. Swartz Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.


Attendees

The show, which consistently sells out, attracts about 500 entertainment industry leaders: studio heads, post facility executives, the top creative talent in post production, hardware and software industry leaders, post supervisors, DPs, editors, and representatives of industry guilds, unions and professional associations.


About The Trophy

The HPA Award symbolizes freedom of expression, mastery of an artist’s craft, and groundbreaking creative and technological achievement. The award trophy, designed by the superlative design team at Autodesk, physically embodies these qualities, portraying the limitless possibilities of imagination, collaboration and technical ingenuity that break out of constraints to realize today’s most challenging visions.

Show Date

November 7, 2024

Press Contact

Chris Purse
chris@ignite.bz
818-980-3473

HPA Contact

Alicia Rock, Director of
Operations and Events
awards@hpaonline.com
818-273-1508


Quick Links

HPA Awards Sponsors

Award Category

Reception Sponsor

Event Sponsors

Supporting Sponsors

VIP Supporter

Foundation Members

Supporting Organizations & Media Partners

HPA Awards Judges 2024


Engineering Excellence Judges

Wendy Aylsworth, Walden Pond

Wendy Aylsworth
Walden Pond

Paul Chapman, Picture Shop

Paul Chapman
MTI Film

Mike Chiado
Company 3

Greg Ciaccio
IMAX

Ben Dair, Motion Impossible

Ben Dair
Motion Impossible

Jim DeFilippis
TMS Consulting

James Fancher

Katie Fellion, Netflix

Katie Fellion
Netflix

Michael Kammes
Key Code Media

JoAnne Kim
Pragmatic Production Technologist

Sean Lee
OpenDrives

Andy Maltz
General Intelligence

Lon Neumann
Immersive Audio Alliance

Yuriy Reznik
Brightcove, Inc.

Phil Squyres, Sony Pictures TV

Phil Squyres
Industry Consultant

John Stevens
The Foundation

Michael Tosti, IDC-LA

Michael Tosti
IDC-LA

JD Vandenberg
Picture Shop

Erik Weaver, ETC

Erik Weaver
ETC

Jack Wenzinger
AWS

Tomasz Witkowski
Samsung Research UK

Iris Wu, Barco

Iris Wu
Barco

Joachim Zell
Barco

Creative Category Judges

Rabi Basir
Epic Games

Keyhan Bayegan
Colorist

Amanda Beggs, CAS
CAS

Christopher Bellaci
holoride

Peter Berg
The Garrison

Jason Bowdach
PixelTools

Anderson Boyd
Editor

Ramon Breton

Juan Cabrera
LightBender

Michael Carr
Carrma Post

Chaitanya Chinchlikar
Whistling Woods International

Nena Erb
Breeo, Inc.

Monica Fischetti Palmieri Williams

Russell Frazier

Theo Gluck
TheoRama70 Consulting

David Goodman
Remote Picture Labs

Edward Hoxsie
Paramount Pictures

Scott A. Jennings MPSE

Afnahn Khan
Warner Bros. Pictures

Brandie Konopasek
The Shire Post

Mark Lanza MPSE

Kim Lavery
Gentle Giant Studios

Anthony Magliocco

Patricia Morris
Big Teddy Films Ltd / Picture Perfect Ltd

Nathan Moxley
TradeSmith, LLC

Aaron Owen
Cinematiq

Christopher Pearson
Cinematographer

Vincent Pirozzi
Roundabout Entertainment

Jonathan Posell
Film Editor

Bharat Mani Regmi
Chitrakala Productions Pvt. Ltd./h6>

Andrew Såulf, CSI
Sayonse Color

Naeem Seirafi
Director of Photography

Danial Shimiaei
Apple

Tom Sinnott
Sinnott Consulting

Mark Smirnoff
Prasad Corporation

Troy Smith
Fotokem / Margarita Mix

Robert Smith
Mad Old Nut Productions, Inc.

Augustine So
Editor

Catherine Sutton
Amazon Studios

Tammy Sutton
Theory Studios

Peter Swartz
Color Space Finishing

Mike Tosti
IDC LA

Jacki Trinh
Editor

Tim Vincent
Picture Shop

Matthew Wallach
Company 3

Cara Warwick
Producer

Matthew Wolff
Keywords Studios LA

Adrian Wood
Restoration Asia

Chris F. Woods
Dick Clark Productions

Kaitlyn Yang
Alpha Studios

Starry Ye
Post Production Manager

Skylar Zhang
Editor

Jimmy Zhu
Scanline VFX

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