DNEG Scores BAFTA Award for Special Visual Effects on “Dune”
Visual Effects Studio Led VFX Work on Four Out of the Five Nominated Films for Special Visual Effects
LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–DNEG, a leading technology-enabled visual effects (VFX) and animation studio for the creation of feature film, television and multiplatform content, received the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award for Special Visual Effects for its work on Dune.
Four out of the five films nominated in the BAFTA’s Special Visual Effects category featured DNEG-led VFX work; the other nominees were No Time To Die, The Matrix Resurrections and Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
DNEG’s BAFTA award for its VFX work on Dune further exemplifies the company’s exceptional and leading capabilities in the visual effects and animation industries. This BAFTA award – combined with the seven 2022 Visual Effects Society awards that DNEG picked up earlier this month – makes this year one of DNEG’s most impressive to date, with two Academy Award® nominations for Best Visual Effects awaiting (Dune, No Time To Die). DNEG has now won a total of seven BAFTA awards for projects featuring DNEG-led VFX work.
“Thank you to the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for recognising DNEG’s ground-breaking visual effects work on Dune, and congratulations to our winners, collaborators, global teams and clients on this honour,” said DNEG Chairman and CEO Namit Malhotra. “I’d also like to call-out the work of our global Technology team, and their incredible achievement during the pandemic in enabling remote working in record time, allowing our creative teams to deliver all of this amazing work almost without interruption. This award – paired with the seven VES awards DNEG earned last week and DNEG’s two Oscars® nominations – firmly positions DNEG as a powerhouse in the industry.”
DNEG’s complete 2022 BAFTA award and nominations include:
BAFTA® Award for Special Visual Effects
- [WINNER:] Dune — Brian Connor, Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, Gerd Nefzer (DNEG was the lead VFX partner)
- [Nominated:] Ghostbusters: Afterlife — Aharon Bourland, Sheena Duggal, Pier Lefebvre, Alessandro Ongaro (DNEG was the lead VFX partner)
- [Nominated:] The Matrix Resurrections — Tom Debenham, Huw J Evans, Dan Glass, J. D. Schwalm (DNEG was the lead VFX partner and DNEG’s Dan Glass was the overall Production VFX Supervisor)
- [Nominated:] No Time to Die — Mark Bokowski, Chris Corbould, Joel Green, Charlie Noble (DNEG was the lead VFX partner and DNEG’s Charlie Noble was the overall Production VFX Supervisor)
DNEG served as lead VFX partner on each of the above projects, with work completed throughout its worldwide studios.
On March 8, 2022, DNEG received seven Visual Effects Society (VES) awards for its VFX work on Dune, Last Night in Soho and “Foundation.” DNEG’s VES awards included “Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature” for Dune and “Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature” for Last Night in Soho. Additionally, DNEG’s VFX work on Dune and No Time to Die earned two Academy Awards® nominations for Best Visual Effects this year.
DNEG has now won seven BAFTA awards, 18 VES awards and three Primetime EMMY® awards, as well as six total Academy Awards®, including five of the last seven, for Tenet (2021), First Man (2019), Blade Runner 2049 (2018), Ex Machina (2016), Interstellar (2015) and Inception (2011).
On January 25, 2022, DNEG announced its entry into a definitive business combination agreement with Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: AKIC). Upon the closing of the business combination, which is expected in the first half of 2022, the combined public company will be named DNEG. For more information about the transaction, please visit https://investors.dneg.com/
About DNEG
DNEG (www.dneg.com) is one of the world’s leading visual effects (VFX) and animation companies for the creation of feature film, television, and multiplatform content. DNEG employs nearly 7,000 people with worldwide offices and studios across North America (Los Angeles, Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver), Europe (London) and Asia (Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai and Mumbai).
DNEG’s critically acclaimed work has earned the company six Academy Awards® for Best Visual Effects and numerous BAFTA and Primetime EMMY® Awards for its high-quality VFX work. Current and upcoming DNEG projects on behalf of its Hollywood and global studio and production company partners include “Stranger Things” (season 4) (May 2022), Bullet Train (July 2022), Shazam! Fury of the Gods (December 2022), Borderlands (2022), Knives Out 2 (2022), The Last of Us (2022), The School for Good and Evil (2022), Super/Natural (2022), Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (March 2023), Haunted Mansion (March 2023),The Flash (June 2023) and Meg 2: The Trench (August 2023).
About Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp.
Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company organized with the purpose of effecting a merger similar business combination with a major entertainment powerhouse. Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. is led by Alan Kestenbaum, businessman and minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL. Other leadership members include Robert Tilliss, who brings with him extensive sports and arena expertise, Daniel Strauss, and Steve Horowitz.
Additional Information About the Transaction and Where to Find It
This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material with respect to the proposed transaction for Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. to acquire Prime Focus World NV. In connection with this proposed transaction, Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. will file a definitive proxy statement with the SEC, which will be sent to the shareholders of Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. will also file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. This communication does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed transaction. It is not intended to provide the basis for any investment decision or any other decision in respect to the proposed transaction. SHAREHOLDERS OF SPORTS VENTURES ACQUISITION CORP. ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
The documents filed by Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. with the SEC may also be obtained free of charge at Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp.’s website at https://www.sportsventuresacq.com or upon written request to Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp., 9705 Collins Ave 1901N, Bal Harbour, FL 33154.
Participants in Solicitation
Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp., Prime Focus World NV and their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the holders of Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. Class A Ordinary shares in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. and their ownership of Class A Ordinary shares are set forth in its Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, which was filed with the SEC on March 1, 2022, and its Reports on Form 8-K, which were filed with the SEC on April 6, 2021 and January 12, 2022, as modified or supplemented by any Form 3 or Form 4 since the date of that filing. Investors may obtain additional information regarding the interest of such participants by reading the preliminary proxy statement and the definitive proxy statement when available.
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Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact contained in this communication including, without limitation, statements regarding Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp.’s or Prime Focus World NV’s financial position, expected operating performance, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations; anticipated financial impacts of the proposed transaction; the satisfaction of the closing conditions to the proposed transaction; and the timing of the completion of the proposed transaction, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, results or events and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including financial community and rating agency perceptions of Prime Focus World NV, Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. and their respective business, operations, financial condition and the industries in which they operate, the risk that the proposed transaction between Prime Focus World NV, and Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. may not be consummated, and the factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp.’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, which was filed with the SEC on March 1, 2022, the proxy statement discussed above and other documents filed by Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. from time to time with the SEC. Prime Focus World NV and Sports Ventures Acquisition Corp. each disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.
Contacts
Media
Eric Becker, ICR
(303) 638-3469
DNEGPR@icrinc.com
Tony Bradley, DNEG
+44 (207) 268-5000
pr@dneg.com
Investors
Ashley DeSimone, ICR
(646) 677-1827
DNEGIR@icrinc.com
Brett Milotte, ICR
(332) 242-4344
DNEGIR@icrinc.com