When your favourite film/series/game/actor accepts that shiny award on stage, they always thank the people that got them there. But truthfully, there isn't possibly enough time to thank everyone. The talented creatives working long hours behind the scenes to bring these award-winning projects to life are the true unsung heroes of the entertainment industry.
Every year, thousands of artists are credited on nominated and winning projects at The Game Awards, Emmys, Golden Globes, Oscars, and beyond. What you may not realize: many of these credited artists are Vancouver Film School alumni! With the dust settled following the recent Academy Awards ceremony, we are proud to report that 1200+ alumni were credited on nominated projects; of these 1200, 318 credits were for projects that won their respective award(s). These projects span all corners of the creative industry, from The Game Awards to the Golden Globes, Emmys, and the Oscars.
1200+ VFS were credited on projects recognized by The Game Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, the Primetime Emmy Awards, and the Academy Awards.The Game Awards
Last December, The Game Awards saw Baldur's Gate 3 and Alan Wake 2 dominate, taking home a combined 9 trophies. Multiple VFS alumni were credited on both. Overall, 273 VFS alumni were credited on games recognized at this ceremony; 202 on nominated games and 71 on winning games. Highlights include:
- 10 VFS alumni were credited on Baldur's Gate 3 which won 6 awards including Game of the Year.
- VFS Writing for Film & Television alum Tyler Burton Smith was one of 3 writers on Alan Wake 2, which won 3 awards including Best Narrative.
- A Shell in the Pitt – a sound design company started by VFS grads – was credited on two games, Goodbye Volcano High and Tchia, the latter of which won for Impact.
The Golden Globe Awards
Oppenheimer, Barbie, Succession, and The Bear all won big here. Again, VFS alumni were credited on all four. When all was said and done, 174 VFS alumni were credited on projects recognized at the Globes; 157 on nominated projects and 17 on winning projects.
- 6 VFS alumni were credited on double-winner Barbie, from VFS's 3D Animation & Visual Effects, Acting for Film & Television, Game Design, and Sound Design for Visual Media programs.
- VFS Acting alum Jillian Dion played Minnie in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, which won Best Actress (Lily Gladstone).
- Other winning projects where VFS alumni were credited include The Holdovers, Poor Things, and The Crown.
VFS Writing alum Tyler Burton Smith was part of the Alan Wake 2 writing team that won Best Narrative at The Game Awards; Acting alum Jillian Dion starred in Killers of the Flower Moon.The Emmy Awards
We lost count multiple times tracking this one! Similar to the Globes, the Emmys saw Succession and The Bear take the lion's share of the awards. 601 VFS alumni were credited on projects recognized at the Emmys – 381 on nominated shows and 220 on winning shows.
- VFS Makeup Design for Film & Television alum Darla Edin was personally nominated for her work on Daisy Jones & the Six. Darla previously competed and won on SYFY's Face Off.
- VFS Makeup Design alum Crissy Renaud was part of the team that won Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) for HBO's The Last of Us. 30 VFS alumni in total are credited on this 8-time Emmy-winner.
- Other winning projects where VFS alumni were credited include Abbott Elementary, Wednesday, and The White Lotus.
The Academy Awards
The 96th Academy Awards conclude our awards season roundup for 2024. Of the 152 alumni credited on Oscar-nominated projects, 10 of these credits were on winning projects. Aside from the films previously mentioned, VFS alumni have also worked on Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Nyad, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, and Napoleon – all of which were nominated. The 10 credits on winning films belong to Oppenheimer, Barbie, Poor Things, and The Holdovers.
VFS Makeup Design alum Darla Edin was part of the Emmy-nominated team for Daisy Jones & the Six; 5 VFS alum were credited on Oscar-winner Barbie.While 1200 may seem like "just a number" – it’s representative of just a small handful of the artists who have made a remarkable contribution to the entertainment industry over the past year. VFS alumni continually raise the bar for excellence, proving that there will always be a need for creative talent in the workforce. The best part? This could be you! VFS can train you for the creative industry you’re most passionate about in just one short year. To find out how you can join the next wave of creative talent, start your journey here.
FAQ
How does Vancouver Film School support its alumni (beyond their education) to help them succeed in the entertainment industry?
Beyond VFS’s world-class training, students are empowered with invaluable career insights and establish a lifelong network of industry connections that will help them secure their first job after graduating. This is an advantage no other school can offer at the same level. During students’ respective programs, they receive regular guest lectures & mentorship, have exclusive access to Online Industry Talks, and are provided with career-focused courses (and one-on-one career support for select programs) that help them prepare for life after VFS. Additionally, while our School of Animation, Digital Design, and VR/AR students have the opportunity to connect with and show off their final projects to our industry partners via Industry Showcases, our Game Design students get to display their games directly to studios & recruiters via Pitch + Play. These tactics help are students to effectively find employment opportunities before they’ve graduated.
What were the specific roles/contributions made by VFS alumni on these projects?
The roles these alumni played in these projects are vast, from Actor to Technical Sound Designer, Makeup Artist, Senior Game Writer, Animator, VFX Artist, and more.
Are there any particular challenges or obstacles that VFS alumni face in the industry despite their education and industry experience?
Despite their education and contributions to these nominated/winning projects, VFS alumni may still face challenges or obstacles in the industry. As with many industries, your next job is never guaranteed. Many artists in the creative industries are constantly evolving their skillsets to remain in-demand; some even pivot in their careers to an adjacent role or even an entirely different creative field. It is important for artists to continuously update their skills, stay fluent in the growth and changes of their respective industry, and keep their networks strong in order to be successful.