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Ash salutes VES winner Alfonso Cuarón

The Visual Effects Society has named “Gravity” filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón the winner of its Visionary Award.

Cuarón’s award comes “in recognition of his extraordinary career, most recently including his landmark achievement on this year’s hugely acclaimed “Gravity.”
The acclaimed filmmaker will receive the award at the 12th Annual VES Awards on Feb 12, 2014. The ceremony will be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in LA.
Most widely known for his work on “Gravity”, Cuarón has also worked on many films, including “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”.
His feature film directorial debut, “Sólo Con Tu Pareja”, was the biggest box office hit in Mexico in 1992 and his American feature film debut, “A Little Princess”, was highly praised.
He went on to do “Great Expectations” in 1998 before receiving his first Oscar nomination with “Y Tu Mamá También”, for Best Original Screenplay. The film also scored two BAFTA Award nominations.
In 2006, Cuarón landed two more Oscar nominations for “Children of Men”.
Of course, “Gravity” has become one of 2013’s most highly acclaimed films, receiving a host of awards and nominations, including Best Director and Best Picture awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, four Golden Globe nominations and ten Broadcast Film Critics Association nominations.

Read the full press release below:

Los Angeles (December 23, 2013) – Today, the Visual Effects Society (VES), the industry’s professional honorary society, named acclaimed filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón as the recipient of its Visionary Award in recognition of his extraordinary career, most recently including his landmark achievement on this year’s hugely acclaimed “Gravity.” The award will be presented at the 12th Annual VES Awards on February 12, 2014 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
The VES Visionary Award, bestowed by the VES Board of Directors, recognizes an individual who has uniquely and consistently employed the art and science of visual effects to foster imagination and ignite future discoveries by way of artistry, invention and groundbreaking work. VES will honor Cuarón for his consummate artistry, expansive storytelling and profound ability to use and pioneer technology and visual effects to bring his unique visions to life.
A three-time Oscar® nominee, Cuarón directed, co-wrote, produced and edited the drama “Gravity,” which is one of the most acclaimed films of this or any year. The accolades that Cuarón and the film have received to date include: Best Director and Best Picture awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association; four Golden Globe nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress (Sandra Bullock); and ten Broadcast Film Critics Association nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Art Direction.
Cuarón made his feature film directorial debut in 1992 with “Sólo Con Tu Pareja,” the biggest box office hit in Mexico that year, which brought him an Ariel Award as the film’s co-writer. Cuarón made his American feature film debut in 1995 with the widely acclaimed “A Little Princess,” followed in 1998 by “Great Expectations.” He then wrote and directed “Y Tu Mamá También,” for which he received his first Oscar® nomination, for Best Original Screenplay, as well as BAFTA Award nominations for Best Foreign Film and Best Original Screenplay. He went on to helm “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” the third film in the most successful motion picture franchise of all time. Cuarόn’s 2006 hit, “Children of Men,” was celebrated by critics and film fans for its groundbreaking techniques. The film brought two Oscar® nominations to Cuarón, for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing.
“Alfonso pushes the known boundaries of filmmaking,” said Jeffrey A. Okun, VES Board Chair. “He has been at the forefront in using visual effects to tell remarkable, highly nuanced stories that change the way we think about what is possible to achieve. Throughout his career, Alfonso has shown a rare talent for using cutting-edge technology to engage us in his deeply visceral storytelling and create unforgettable cinematic experiences.”
Previous winners of the VES Visionary Award have been Christopher Nolan and Ang Lee.

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