The 30th Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800) Excellence in Production Design Awards was a night to remember as “Frankenstein” and “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” took home the top film honors. The awards ceremony, held at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown, also recognized TV winners such as “Andor,” “Severance,” and “The Studio.”
The event celebrated the creative production design teams behind some of the most visually stunning films, television series, and music projects of the year. It honored their outstanding achievement in the art of cinematic and episodic world-building.
Florencia Martin, who also won for her work on the Prada “Galleria Bag” commercial, is nominated in the production design category for the Oscars along with Tamara Deverell. Other nominees in this category include “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” and “Sinners.”
“Kpop Demon Hunters” continued its winning streak by taking home the ADG Award in feature animation, adding to its recent wins at the Annie Awards and the Producers Guild Awards.
Special honors were also bestowed upon filmmaker Jon M. Chu, who received the Cinematic Imagery Award, and Rep. Laura Friedman (D-CA), who was presented with the President’s Award for her support of the film and television industry. Production designer Thomas E. Sanders was posthumously inducted into the ADG Hall of Fame, while Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to Jann Engel, Bo Welch, Tom Southwell, and Stephen McNally.
During her acceptance speech, Friedman expressed her commitment to defending the film and television industry, particularly in the fight for a national film tax credit. She emphasized the cultural and economic importance of the industry, stating that a strong film and TV industry is essential for America’s success.
Chu, reflecting on his work on “Wicked,” spoke passionately about the emotional impact of filmmaking and the role of production design in creating connections with audiences. He praised the creativity and exploration of production designers and set decorators, calling them “explorers” in the world of filmmaking.
The full list of winners at the 30th ADG Awards included various categories for feature films, television series, commercials, and music videos. Notable winners included “Frankenstein” for Period Feature Film, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” for Fantasy Feature Film, and “One Battle After Another” for Contemporary Feature Film.
Overall, the 30th ADG Awards highlighted the talent and creativity of production designers and recognized their invaluable contribution to the entertainment industry.
