""September 20, 2023—The Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) is pleased to announce the winners of its 2023 Achievement Awards, recognizing excellence in the giant screen industry. The awards were presented the evening of Tuesday, September 19, at the GSCA 2023 International Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, during a ceremony held at the IMAX Theater at the Indiana State Museum. Eligible films are submitted by GSCA member distributors and voted on by GSCA members. This marks the first year since 2019 that GSCA has given its awards for marketing campaigns by theaters and distributors, so awards were presented for campaigns launched in 2020-2023. IMAX Corporation, sponsor of the awards ceremony, presented the IMAX Hall of Fame Award, which goes to a giant screen film that is at least 10 years old and is selected by vote of the IMAX theater network.

The following awards were presented by GSCA:

Best Film-Short Subject (tie)

Secrets Of The Sea

Directed by Howard Hall and Jonathan Bird, produced by Michele Hall, distributed by MacGillivray Freeman Films

Arctic: Our Frozen Planet

Directed by Rachel Scott, produced by BBC Earth, distributed by SK Films

Best Film-Feature Length

Avatar: The Way of Water: An IMAX 3D Experience
Directed by James Cameron, produced by Lightstorm Entertainment and 20th Century Studios, distributed by 20th Century Studios

Best Film for Lifelong Learning

Arctic: Our Frozen Planet
Directed by Rachel Scott, produced by BBC Earth, distributed by SK Films

Best Cinematography

Arctic: Our Frozen Planet
Cinematography by Benjamin Sadd, Jamie McPherson, John Aitchison, Olly Jelley, Barrie Britton, Bertie Gregory, Florian Ledoux, Ted Giffords, Justin Maguire, Garath Whyte, and Rolf Steinmann

Best Sound Design

Arctic: Our Frozen Planet
Sound design by Tim Owens and Kate Hopkins

Best Original Score

Arctic: Our Frozen Planet
Composed by Hans Zimmer, Adam Lukas, and James Everingham for Bleeding Fingers Music

Best Visual Effects

Grand Canyon: Rivers of Time
Visual effects by Alan G. Markowitz, Visceral Image Productions; Marios Kourasis, Astrobear Studios; Michael Roderick, Digital Artist Coalition

Outstanding Achievement

As previously announced, GSCA Outstanding Achievement Awards were presented to Greg MacGillivray, MacGillivray Freeman Films; Patricia Keighley, IMAX Corporation; and David Keighley, IMAX Corporation. Read the earlier press release about the award and their achievements here

Best Film Launch by a Theater

  • Museon-Omniversum for its launch of Secrets of the Sea
  • Carnegie Science Center for its launch of Wings Over Water

Best Marketing Campaign by a Distributor 2020

MacGillivray Freeman Films, Into America’s Wild

Best Marketing Campaign by a Distributor 2021

Giant Screen Films, Dinosaurs of Antarctica

Best Marketing Campaign by a Distributor 2022

SK Films, Wings Over Water

Best Marketing Campaign by a Distributor 2023 (tie)

  • MacGillivray Freeman Films, Secrets of the Sea
  • SK Films, Arctic: Our Frozen Planet

Big Idea

Sinking Ship Entertainment, The Dino Dana Experience
The Big Idea Award is given for a significantly innovative and impactful idea from a marketing campaign.

Big Shoe

Rick Gordon, RPG Productions
The Big Shoe is selected by GSCA staff to recognize exemplary volunteers.

IMAX Hall of Fame

During the GSCA awards ceremony, IMAX Corporation also presented the Hall of Fame Award, which is voted by the IMAX theater network and honors a giant screen film that is at least 10 years old. This year’s winner was Flight of the Butterflies, released in 2012, directed by Mike Slee, produced and distributed by SK Films.

View photos of the award winners here

The GSCA 2023 Conference is September 18-21, with the Cincinnati Museum Center OMNIMAX Theater in Cincinnati, Ohio, hosting Dome Day on September 18, and the IMAX Theater at the Indiana State Museum hosting the Conference on September 19-21. The GSCA conference, which is attended by giant screen industry professionals from around the world, includes screenings of new films, films in production, and projects in development, as well as professional development and innovations sessions. For more information visit www.giantscreencinema.com or contact GSCA Executive Director Tammy Barrett at tammy@giantscreencinema.com.

About GSCA
The mission of the Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) is to support a prosperous international giant screen industry. GSCA is the essential organization that supports, grows, fortifies, and sustains the international network of premium giant screen theaters and content creators to provide immersive, transformational, educational cinematic experiences. GSCA’s membership includes nearly 200 organizations in 20 countries and represents giant screen theaters, production, distribution, related businesses, and students. Connect with GSCA at www.giantscreencinema.com, https://www.facebook.com/giantscreencinema, https://www.instagram.com/gsca1/, https://twitter.com/gsca, and https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1046547. For more information, contact GSCA Executive Director Tammy Barrett at tammy@giantscreencinema.com.