If we're going to look at the Hollywood guilds/societies as a predictor for what will win at the Oscars, then Life of Pi will be the film to beat. Ang Lee's drama won four categories at last night's Visual Effects Society Awards including Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture; Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture; Outstanding FX and Simulation Animation in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture; and Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Motion Picture. Brave also picked up four awards, but that doesn't seem to be as much of a factor, and the Best Animated Film category is still very much in question with Frankenweenie and Wreck-It Ralph as contenders. As for television, Game of Thrones was the unsurprising winner as the show also netted four awards.
Hit the jump for a full list of winners, and for Steve's interviews at VES, click on the respective links for Ang Lee and cinematographer Wally Pfister (The Dark Knight Rises).
Thanks to Awards Daily for condensing the press release to cleanly list the winners:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture
- Life of Pi
Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
- Brave
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Feature Motion Picture
- The Impossible
Outstanding Animated Character in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
- Life of Pi: Richard Parker
Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
- Brave: Merida
Outstanding FX and Simulation Animation in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
- Life of Pi: Storm of God
Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
- The Avengers: Midtown Manhattan
Outstanding Created Environment in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
- Brave: The Forest
Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture
- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Motion Picture
- Life of Pi: Storm of God
Outstanding Models in a Feature Motion Picture
- The Avengers: Helicarrier
Outstanding FX and Simulation Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture
- Brave
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program
- Game of Thrones: Volar Morghulis
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Broadcast Program
- Boardwalk Empire: Episode 308
Outstanding Real-Time Visuals in a Video Game
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial
- Nike: Biomorph
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project
- Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem
Outstanding Animated Character in a Commercial or Broadcast Program
- Game of Thrones: Training the Dragons
Outstanding Created Environment in a Commercial or Broadcast Program
- Game of Thrones: Pyke
Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a Commercial or Broadcast Program
- ZombiU
Outstanding FX and Simulation Animation in a Commercial or Broadcast Program
- Guinness: Cloud
Outstanding Compositing in a Broadcast Program
- Game of Thrones, Episode 210: White Walker Army
Outstanding Compositing in a Commercial
- Chevy 2012 Silverado
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project
- Natalis