The US-Ireland Alliance will honour two-time Academy Award-winning animator Richard Baneham at the upcoming annual Oscar Wilde Awards.
The pre-Academy Awards event celebrates "the creative Irish and introduces people in the entertainment world in Ireland to those in the US", and will be held at JJ Abrams and Katie McGrath's Bad Robot production company offices in Santa Monica on 7 March, 2024.
US-Ireland Alliance founder Trina Vargo said in a statement: "We're delighted to honour Richie – not only is he creatively exceptional but he is also beloved in the industry as someone who has always remained connected to his colleagues and friends in the film and animation industries in Ireland."
Richard Baneham, Two-Time 'Avatar' VFX Oscar Winner, to Be Honored at Oscar Wilde Awards (Exclusive) https://t.co/O4hpclVvMJ via @thr @OscarWildeLA @NIScreen @WindmillLaneVFX @officialavatar
— Trina Vargo (@trinavargo) November 9, 2023
The Dublin-born VFX Supervisor won his first Oscar for Best Achievement in Visual Effects for Avatar in 2010.
In 2023, he secured his second Oscar for Best Achievement in Visual Effects for Avatar: The Way of Water.
Baneham studied at Ballyfermot College of Art & Design before moving to Los Angeles in 1994 to work in traditional animation.
He made the transition to CG while working on The Iron Giant, and has won awards for his work as an Animation Supervisor on The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
His other credits include Alita: Battle Angel and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
The Oscar Wilde Awards typically honours three people, with more honourees set to be announced in the future.
