CELEBRATING CINEMA IN INDUSTRY
SINCE 1959

SPECIAL AWARDS

The Roger Deakins Award for Excellence in Cinematography

Roger Deakins is widely recognized as one of the greatest and most impactful cinematographers in the history of cinema. His consistent and exceptional work has earned him high praise from both his peers and the film community at large. In fact, fellow cinematographer Robert Elswit has humorously suggested that the American Society of Cinematographers establish a special award specifically for "films shot by Roger Deakins."
Despite receiving 13 Academy Award nominations, Deakins had yet to receive a win – a fact that was frequently lamented by journalists and film critics. However, his first Oscar win (on his 14th nomination) for Blade Runner 2049 at the 90th Academy Awards was widely reported and met with great excitement and celebration.
Deakins is highly regarded in the film industry and his involvement in a project often leads to the casting of established actors, a distinction usually reserved for successful directors. For example, Tim Robbins insisted that Deakins be hired to shoot The Shawshank Redemption after working with him on the Coen brothers' film The Hudsucker Proxy. Similarly, Josh Brolin agreed to join the cast of Sicario after hearing of Deakins' involvement, and Ryan Gosling accepted his role in Blade Runner 2049 citing Deakins' involvement as a factor in his decision. Deakins is a legendary and highly sought-after figure in the film industry, known for his exceptional work as a cinematographer and his ability to secure the casting of established stars. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest and most influential cinematographers of all time.

The CINDY Roger Deakins Special Award is only given out twice a year for outstanding cinematography in film and commercial work is announced at the International Spring and Fall awards ceremonies.

THE SIR RIDLEY SCOTT AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DIRECTING

Sir Ridley Scott is an accomplished English film director and producer known for his work in the film and television industry. Born on November 30, 1937, he has made a significant impact in the world of entertainment, directing some of the most iconic and memorable films of all time.
Scott's career in the film industry started in the late 1970s, and one of his most notable early works is the sci-fi classic "Alien" which was released in 1979. For his work on the film, he won a Saturn Award for Best Director. He also directed other notable films such as "Blade Runner" (1982), "Thelma & Louise" (1991), "Gladiator" (2000), "Hannibal" (2001), "Black Hawk Down" (2001), "Kingdom of Heaven" (2005), and "The Martian" (2015).
In 1984, Scott directed a big-budget television commercial, "1984", which was used to launch Apple Computer's Macintosh computer. The advertisement, which was filmed in England, was given a showcase airing during Super Bowl XVIII in the United States and was considered a "watershed event" in advertising, being ranked as one of the 50 greatest commercials by Advertising Age. The commercial was set in a dystopian future and depicted the Macintosh computer as a means of saving humanity from "conformity".
Scott has been nominated for numerous awards for his work in the film industry, including three Academy Awards for Best Director for "Thelma & Louise," "Gladiator," and "Black Hawk Down," two Golden Globes, and three BAFTA Awards. He has also been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 for his "services to the British film industry."
In addition to his directing work, Scott has also produced several films, including "Prometheus," "Alien: Covenant," and the upcoming "Alien" TV series. He is the father of director Luke Scott and was the elder brother of the late director Tony Scott. He is also in a relationship with actress Giannina Facio, who he has cast in many of his films.

The CINDY Ridley Scott Special Award is announced twice a year during the Spring and Fall competitions and is awarded to outstanding directing for film and commercial work.

THE VERNA FIELDS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDITING

Verna Fields was a highly accomplished film editor and sound editor with a successful career spanning over two decades. She started out as a sound editor in 1956 and continued to work in that role even after becoming a film editor, earning 19 credits in each field. Fields worked on films such as Irving Lerner's Studs Lonigan and Haskell Wexler's Medium Cool. She was also instrumental in helping shape the careers of young directors like Peter Bogdanovich, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg, and was affectionately referred to as their "mother cutter." Her editing work on films like What's Up, Doc?, Paper Moon, American Graffiti, and Jaws earned her recognition and numerous awards, including an Oscar and an Eddie Award for Jaws. In 1976, Fields made history as one of the first women to reach upper-level management in the entertainment industry, when she was appointed Vice-President for Feature Production at Universal Studios. Sadly, her career as an executive was cut short by her death in 1982 at the age of 64.

The CINDY Verna Fields Special Award is announced twice a year during the Spring and Fall competitions and is awarded to outstanding editing for film and commercial work.

THE HANS ZIMMER AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING MUSICAL SCORE

Hans Zimmer is a world-renowned composer who has left an indelible mark on the film and music industry. He started his musical journey in 1970 as a keyboardist and synthesizer player with the band Krakatoa. In 1977, he co-founded the band Buggles, which was responsible for the hit song “Video killed the Radio Star” which was the very first video ever played on MTV. His association with film composer Stanley Meyers helped him refine his style of blending orchestral and classical music, which he applied to films like “Moonlighting” and “Insignificance”.
Zimmer’s first solo score was for the film “Terminal Exposure” in 1987, which was followed by his breakthrough score for “The Last Emperor” that earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Score. He went on to compose for TV shows like “Going for Gold” and blockbuster film “Rain Man”, which established his position in the industry. In 1992, he travelled to Africa to learn about African choirs and drums, which he incorporated into his score for the Disney animation film “The Lion King”, for which he won an Academy Award.
Over the years, Zimmer became the go-to composer for Hollywood filmmakers, composing for popular films like “The Last Samurai”, “Madagascar”, and the big-budget film series “The Dark Knight Trilogy” and “Pirates of the Caribbean”. He also composed the theme music for the Netflix production “The Crown” and the BBC documentary “Planet Earth 2”, as well as the introduction music for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In 2020, he composed the score for the James Bond film “No Time to Die”.
Zimmer has received numerous awards, including Academy Awards for “The Lion King”, Golden Globe Awards for “The Lion King”, “Dune” and “Gladiator”, Grammy Awards for various films, and the BMI Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. He remains one of the most celebrated and respected composers in the world.

The CINDY Hans Zimmer Special Award is announced twice a year during the Spring and Fall competitions and is awarded to outstanding score for film and commercial work.

THE JASON BLUM AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRODICING

Jason Blum's journey in the film industry began at Miramax where he held a high-ranking executive position. However, after moving to Los Angeles in 2000, his career hit a rough patch, and he found himself struggling to make ends meet as a scriptwriter. Nevertheless, his persistence paid off with the release of the microbudget horror film "Paranormal Activity" in 2007, which became a worldwide success, earning $193 million from a budget of only $15,000. This marked the start of Blumhouse Productions, which has since become known for producing popular horror franchises such as "The Purge," "Sinister," and "Insidious."
In 2014, Blum signed a 10-year multiplatform deal with Universal, which allowed him to branch out and produce other genres of films. One of his notable productions outside of the horror genre was the Oscar-nominated film "Whiplash" in 2014. He also played a significant role in the production of the highly discussed HBO documentary series "The Jinx."
Blum has been nominated for numerous awards and recognition for his work in the film industry. He has received two Primetime Emmy nominations, one for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series for "The Jinx" and one for Outstanding Television Movie for "The Normal Heart." He was also nominated for a Producers Guild of America Award for "Whiplash" in 2015. Despite branching out, Blum maintains that horror will always be at the core of Blumhouse, and with over a dozen films set for release in the coming year, it is evident that the company will continue to be a major player in the horror genre. The CINDY Jason Blum Special Award is announced twice a year during the Spring and Fall .competitions and is awarded to outstanding producing for film and commercial work.