Scientific or Technical Award – Class I (Statuette)

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Category Active: 1930/31 – Present

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2020s

2010s

2017 (90th)

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To Mark Elendt and Side Effects Software for the creation and development of the Houdini visual effects and animation system.

2014 (87th)

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To Dr. Larry Hornbeck for the invention of digital micromirror technology as used in DLP Cinema projection.

2013 (86th)

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To all those who built and operated film laboratories, for over a century of service to the motion picture industry.

2012 (85th)

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To COOKE OPTICS LIMITED for their continuing innovation in the design, development and manufacture of advanced camera lenses that have helped define the look of motion pictures over the last century. Since their first series of motion picture lenses, Cooke Optics has continued to create optical innovations decade after decade. Producing what is commonly referred to as the “Cooke Look,” these lenses have often been the lens of choice for creative cinematographers worldwide. [Lenses and Filters]

2011 (84th)

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To FRANZ KRAUS, JOHANNES STEURER and WOLFGANG RIEDEL for the design and development of the ARRILASER Film Recorder. The ARRILASER film recorder demonstrates a high level of engineering resulting in a compact, user-friendly, low-maintenance device, while at the same time maintaining outstanding speed, exposure ratings and image quality. [Special Photographic]

2000s

2007 (80th)

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To the EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY for the development of photographic emulsion technologies incorporated into the Kodak Vision2 family of color negative films. These new technologies are breakthroughs in film speed, grain and sharpness that have made a significant impact on the motion picture industry. The Vision2 family allows wider use of high-speed color negative film, lower light levels on set and faster set-ups. Most importantly, Vision2 improves the overall picture quality in theatrical presentation. [Laboratory]

2004 (77th)

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To HORST BURBULLA for the invention and continuing development of the Technocrane telescoping camera crane. With its electronically driven leveling head, adjustable moveable weight carriage, and lightweight, extremely precise telescoping beam elements that allow camera movement during shots, the Technocrane has redefined the state-of-the-art in camera crane technology. [Camera Cranes]
To JEAN-MARIE LAVALOU, ALAIN MASSERON and DAVID SAMUELSON for the engineering and development of the Louma Camera Crane and remote system for motion picture production. The Louma pioneered a remotely-operated camera head combined with a lightweight and portable modular crane. Its design has proved to be the inspiration for numerous subsequent remote camera systems. [Camera Cranes]

2003 (76th)

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To DIGIDESIGN for the design, development and implementation of the Pro Tools digital audio workstation. The efficient algorithms, extensible architecture and intuitive interface have enabled Pro Tools to become the worldwide standard for the creation and editing of motion picture soundtracks. [Sound]
To BILL TONDREAU of Kuper Controls for his significant advancements in the field of motion control technology for motion picture visual effects. Measuring his valuable contributions to the invention and implementation of robotic camera systems in decades rather than years, his efforts have aided motion control in becoming a core technology that has supported the renaissance of visual effects. [Systems]

2002 (75th)

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To ALIAS/WAVEFRONT for the development of a 3D animation, dynamics, modeling and rendering production tool known as Maya. With its significant and dominant impact on the motion picture industry, the Maya software package offers a robust and widely used commercial visual effects tool with a rich infrastructure for extension and customization. [Digital Imaging Technology]
To ARNOLD & RICHTER CINE TECHNIK and PANAVISION INC., for their continuing development and innovation in the design and manufacturing of advanced camera systems specifically designed for the motion picture entertainment industry. With a commitment that lies beyond the usual commercial considerations, these two manufacturers continue to lead the industry in developing and introducing products that have defined the state of the art in motion picture camera technology. [Camera]

2000 (73rd)

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To ROB COOK, LOREN CARPENTER and ED CATMULL for their significant advancements to the field of motion picture rendering as exemplified in Pixar’s ‘Renderman.’ Their broad professional influence in the industry continues to inspire and contribute to the advancement of computer-generated imagery for motion pictures. [Special Photographic]

1990s

1998 (71st)

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To AVID TECHNOLOGY, INC. for the concept, system design and engineering of the Avid Film Composer for motion picture editing. The Avid Film Composer is a digital, non-linear, 24 frame-per-second editing machine usinig compression algorithms, that has revolutionized the art of film editing. Shots can be stored, recalled, manipulated and played back instantaneously, allowing the film editor unprecedented creative freedom and the ability to realize a film more fully than before. [Editorial and Pre-production]

1997 (70th)

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To GUNNAR P. MICHELSON for the engineering and development of an improved, electronic, high-speed, precision light valve for use in motion picture printing machines. [Laboratory]

1996 (69th)

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To IMAX CORPORATION for the method of filming and exhibiting high-fidelity, large-format, wide-angle motion pictures. [Systems]

1994 (67th)

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To PETRO VLAHOS and PAUL VLAHOS for the conception and development of the Ultimatte Electronic Blue Screen Compositing Process for motion pictures. [Special Photographic]
To the EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY for the development of the Eastman EXR Color Intermediate Film 5244. [Film]

1993 (66th)

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To PANAVISION for the Auto Panatar anamorphic photographic lens. [Lenses and Filters]
To MANFRED G. MICHELSON of Technical Film Systems, Incorporated, for the design and development of the first sprocket-driven film transport system for color print film processors which permits transport speeds in excess of 600 feet per minute. [Laboratory]

1992 (65th)

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To CHADWELL O’CONNOR of the O’Connor Engineering Laboratories for the concept and engineering of the fluid-damped camera head for motion picture photography. [Stage Operations]

1990 (63rd)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY for the development of T-Grain technology and the introduction of EXR color negative films which utilize this technology. [Film]

1980s

1988 (61st)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To RAY DOLBY and IOAN ALLEN of Dolby Laboratories Incorporated for their continuous contributions to motion picture sound through the research and development programs of Dolby Laboratories. [Sound]

1987 (60th)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To BERNHARD KÜHL and WERNER BLOCK and to the OSRAM GmbH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT for the invention and the continuing improvement of the OSRAM HMI light source for motion picture photography. [Lighting]

1983 (56th)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To DR. KURT LARCHE of OSRAM GmbH for the research and development of xenon short-arc discharge lamps for motion picture projection. [Projection]

1982 (55th)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To AUGUST ARNOLD and ERICH KAESTNER of Arnold & Richter, GmbH, for the concept and engineering of the first operational 35mm, hand-held, spinning-mirror reflex, motion picture camera. [Camera]

1981 (54th)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To FUJI PHOTO FILM COMPANY, LTD. for the research, development and introduction of a new Ultra-high-speed color negative film for motion pictures. [Film]

1980 (53rd)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To LINWOOD G. DUNN, CECIL D. LOVE and ACME TOOL AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY for the concept, engineering and development of the Acme-Dunn Optical Printer for motion picture special effects. [Laboratory]

1970s

1979 (52nd)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To MARK SERRURIER for the progressive development of the Moviola from the 1924 invention of his father, Iwan Serrurier, to the present Series 20 sophisticated film editing equipment. [Editorial]

1978 (51st)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Academy Award of Merit)

To EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY for the research and development of a Duplicating Color film for Motion Pictures. [Film]
To STEFAN KUDELSKI of Nagra Magnetic Recorders, Incorporated, for the continuing research, design and development of the Nagra Production Sound Recorder for Motion Pictures. [Sound]
To PANAVISION, INCORPORATED, and its engineering staff under the direction of ROBERT E. GOTTSCHALK, for the concept, design and continuous development of the Panaflex Motion Picture Camera System. [Camera]

1977 (50th)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Class I)

To GARRETT BROWN and the CINEMA PRODUCTS CORPORATION ENGINEERING STAFF under the supervision of John Jurgens, for the invention and development of Steadicam. [Camera Cranes]

1960s

1968 (41st)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Class I)

To PHILIP V. PALMQUIST of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co., to DR. HERBERT MEYER of the Motion Picture and Television Research Center, and to CHARLES D. STAFFELL of the Rank Organization for the development of a successful embodiment of the reflex background projection system for composite cinematography. [Special Photographic]
To EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY for the development and introduction of a color reversal intermediate film for motion pictures. [Film]

1964 (37th)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Class I)

To PETRO VLAHOS, WADSWORTH E. POHL and UB IWERKS for the conception and perfection of techniques for Color Traveling Matte Composite Cinematography. [Special Photographic]

1950s

1957 (30th)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Class I)

To the TODD-AO CORP. and WESTREX CORP. for developing a method of producing and exhibiting wide-film motion pictures known as the Todd-AO System. [Systems]
To THE MOTION PICTURE RESEARCH COUNCIL for the design and development of a high efficiency projection screen for drive-in theatres. [Projection]

1955 (28th)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Class I)

To the NATIONAL CARBON CO. for the development and production of a high efficiency yellow flame carbon for motion picture color photography. [Lighting]

1954 (27th)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Class I)

To PARAMOUNT PICTURES, INC., LOREN L. RYDER, JOHN R. BISHOP and all the members of the technical and engineering staff for developing a method of producing and exhibiting motion pictures known as VistaVision. [Systems]

1953 (26th)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Class I)

To PROFESSOR HENRI CHRETIEN and EARL SPONABLE, SOL HALPRIN, LORIN GRIGNON, HERBERT BRAGG and CARL FAULKNER of 20th Century-Fox Studios for creating, developing and engineering the equipment, processes and techniques known as CinemaScope. [Systems]
To FRED WALLER for designing and developing the multiple photographic and projection systems which culminated in Cinerama. [Systems]

1952 (25th)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Class I)

To EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY for the introduction of Eastman color negative and Eastman color print film. [Film]
To ANSCO FILM DIVISION OF GENERAL ANILINE AND FILM CORPORATION for the introduction of Ansco color negative and Ansco color print film. [Film]

1940s

1949 (22nd)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Class I)

To EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY for the development and introduction of an improved safety base motion picture film. [Film]

1940 (13th)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Class I)

To 20TH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORP. for the design and construction of the 20th Century Silenced Camera, developed by DANIEL CLARK, GROVER LAUBE, CHARLES MILLER and ROBERT W. STEVENS. [Camera]

1930s

1937 (10th)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Class I)

To AGFA ANSCO CORPORATION for Agfa Supreme and Agfa Ultra Speed pan motion picture negatives. [Film]

1936 (9th)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Class I)

To DOUGLAS SHEARER and the METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER STUDIO SOUND DEPARTMENT for the development of a practical two-way horn system and a biased Class A push-pull recording system. [Sound]

1930/31 (4th)

SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL AWARD (Class I)

To ELECTRICAL RESEARCH PRODUCTS, INC., RCA-PHOTOPHONE, INC. and RKO RADIO PICTURES, INC., for noise reduction recording equipment. [Sound]
To DuPONT FILM MANUFACTURING CORP. and EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY for super-sensitive panchromatic film. [Film]