Vancouver's Visual Effects Powerhouse Shines in 2026 Oscar Nominations
The 98th Academy Awards nominations have been announced, and Vancouver's film industry is celebrating a remarkable achievement. Industrial Light & Magic's Vancouver studio played a crucial role in every single film nominated for Best Visual Effects, demonstrating the city's growing influence in Hollywood's most prestigious technical category.
Complete Dominance in Visual Effects Category
Industrial Light & Magic's Vancouver team contributed significantly to all five films competing for the Best Visual Effects Oscar. The nominated films include:
- Avatar: Fire and Ash - The latest installment in James Cameron's groundbreaking franchise
- F1 - A high-octane racing drama requiring extensive digital effects
- Jurassic World Rebirth - Continuing the dinosaur franchise with cutting-edge creature effects
- Sinners - Ryan Coogler's blues-driven vampire horror film starring Michael B. Jordan
- The Lost Bus - A mysterious thriller with complex visual sequences
This complete sweep of the visual effects category marks a significant milestone for Vancouver's film industry, which has been steadily growing its reputation as a global visual effects hub.
Vancouver Studio's Growing Legacy
Founded by George Lucas and now owned by Disney, Industrial Light & Magic celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025. The Vancouver studio, which has been operating for just over a decade, now employs more than 900 local professionals. This substantial workforce contributes to major Hollywood productions while strengthening British Columbia's creative economy.
The Vancouver location has become increasingly important to ILM's global operations, handling complex visual effects work that was previously concentrated in California. The studio's success with this year's Oscar nominations validates Vancouver's position as a world-class center for digital film production.
Additional Vancouver Oscar Recognition
Beyond the visual effects category, Vancouver's film industry received additional Oscar recognition. Zootopia 2, nominated for Best Animated Film, had substantial production work completed at ILM's Vancouver studio. This demonstrates the facility's versatility across different types of animation and visual effects work.
Canadian talent also featured prominently in other categories. Toronto-based filmmakers Maggie Kang and Domee Shi received nominations for Best Animated Feature for their respective films KPop Demon Hunters and Elio. Montreal's Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski earned a nomination for Best Animated Short Film with The Girl Who Cried Pearls, while Alison McAlpine from Montreal is up for Best Documentary Short with Perfectly a Strangeness.
Record-Breaking Nominations and New Categories
The 2026 Oscar nominations saw several notable achievements. Sinners made history by earning 16 nominations, breaking the previous record of 14 held by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land. The film received recognition across multiple categories including Best Picture, Best Director, and acting nominations for Michael B. Jordan.
Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another followed closely with 13 nominations. The complete list of Best Picture nominees includes:
- Bugonia
- F1
- Frankenstein
- Hamnet
- Marty Supreme
- One Battle After Another
- The Secret Agent
- Sentimental Value
- Sinners
- Train Dreams
This year's ceremony will also feature a new award category. For the first time, the Academy will present an award for Achievement in Casting, recognizing the crucial role casting directors play in film production.
Looking Ahead to the Ceremony
The 98th Academy Awards will take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted by comedian Conan O'Brien. As Vancouver's film professionals watch the ceremony, they can take pride in knowing their work contributed directly to the visual excellence recognized by the Academy.
This year's nominations highlight how Vancouver has evolved from a production location to a creative powerhouse, with local talent contributing to some of cinema's most technically ambitious projects. The success of ILM's Vancouver studio serves as both validation of past achievements and promise for the future of British Columbia's film industry.
