Imagine
DesignEffect
Visual effects (VFX) have been a magic show for cinema, a feast for the eyes and the mind since its birth. Afterwards, visual effects continued to be one of the indispensable elements of storytelling, and over the years they have reached unimaginable heights. Now, with the contribution of advanced and ever-evolving technologies such as artificial intelligence, we observe that the boundaries of possibilities are disappearing.
In Turkey, visual effects discipline is developing in parallel with the development of post-production and animation production companies, educational institutions, cinema-TV gaming and the advertising industry. According to the UN Report, Turkey is the 2nd fastest growing country in the world in creative industries. While the global income of creative industries in the world economy is 2.250 billion dollars, its share in Turkey’s national income is 28 billion dollars. In a global employment of 30 million people, the country employs 344 thousand people. The place of animation and visual effects in these figures is very important. It is obvious that visual effects, which is indispensable for creative industries, will provide a much greater economic and cultural return with the development of the talent pool, investment and awareness projects that will benefit the increase in quality as well as quantity.
The creative industries are essential for our economic growth, generating £125 billion a year and employing 2.4 million people in the UK. And, as of 2024, indie films are backed up with tax reliefs: independent film productions with a budget up to £15 million will benefit from an increased tax relief of 53%. That being said, a LinkedIn post titled “Why Mommy Can’t Get Funding”, written by Ingrid Murray underlines research reported in Harvard Business Review which surfaced a shift in investor focus from questions about the opportunity when talking to male founders to questions about risk when talking to female founders: “We badly need a drip feed monitor to see how this metric has changed since the report, and continues to change over time. The story ends with Mommy being told to ‘come back when you’re further along.’ Of course, it does. An article from 2022, written by Karen Idelson titled “Lack of Women in Booming VFX Field” states “Despite the desperate need for qualified VFX artists, producers and supervisors to meet the increasing demand, a report by Women in Animation, an advocacy group, and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found that just 2.9% of all VFX supervisors are women and only 0.5% are women of colour. When they looked at the number of women credited for VFX work over time, the numbers also didn’t show that much improvement. When the groups analysed the 400 top-earning films from 2016 through 2019, it was found that women were given 20.8% of the VFX credits in 2016 and 22.6% in 2019.”
For educational institutions, these awards inspire young talents, encouraging them to dream bigger and dedicate themselves passionately to their projects. Analyzing award-winning projects updates curricula and provides students with fresh, creative perspectives on the industry. These awards are not just a source of inspiration but also a gateway to professional opportunities. For platforms, award-winning projects are not just a way to attract audiences—they elevate content quality and increase industry awareness. Exclusive behind-the-scenes content and production insights help audiences appreciate the artistry and power of visual effects. For production companies, these awards serve as a key to national and international prestige, trust, and creative collaborations. An award is more than just a trophy; it opens doors to new project proposals, funding opportunities, and a place on the global stage. For professional organizations and industry associations, awards bring professionals together, fostering solidarity and collaboration. Through workshops, training programs, and connections built around award-winning projects, these awards help set industry standards. They don’t just push the sector forward—they shape its future. For post-production studios, awards provide an opportunity to showcase talent, raise quality standards, and unlock new projects. Being part of an award-winning project is not just an achievement; it is a testament to having a voice in the global competition.
Visual effects awards do more than celebrate success. They make talent visible, drive the industry forward, strengthen collaboration, and fuel innovation. These awards are not just a recognition of the present but a manifesto for the future of the industry.
The First
VFX AWARDSThe 1st EFEKT VFX Awards Ceremony featuring Outstanding Visual Effects in Feature Film, Outstanding Visual Effects in Series Episode, and Outstanding Visual Effects in Student Project will take place at Atlas 1948. This historic event marks Turkey’s first-ever visual effects awards ceremony.
