Said ADG President Nelson Coates, "We are thrilled to recognize the amazing contributions Kathleen Kennedy has made to narrative design for more than three decades, while so beautifully creating a cinematic legacy as represented by some of the most successful movies of our time. Ms. Kennedy is truly a significant role model. Her creative legacy and professional journey is an inspirational example to all young artists who are in search of a meaningful career in the entertainment industry. Through her perseverance, talent and leadership, she has become an icon elevating the art of production design. She continues to raise the bar for all visual storytellers.ย
Considered one of the most successful and respected producers and executives in the film industry today, Kathleen Kennedy is President of Lucasfilm and she oversees the companyยs three divisions: Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound. Kennedy is also the producer of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), which set a record for the biggest domestic opening of all time with $248M and went on to earn over $2B worldwide, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (12/16/16), as well as the upcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi (12/15/17), Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) and a new installment in the Indiana Jones series (2019).
Kennedy has produced or executive produced over 70 feature films, which have collectively garnered 120 Academy Award nominations and 25 wins. Among her credits: Jurassic Park, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, The Sixth Sense, the Back to the Future trilogy, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Gremlins, The Goonies, Poltergeist, Empire of the Sun, Lincoln (nominated for 12 Oscars and won 2), War Horse, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Schindler's List, The Color Purple, and The Adventures of Tintin.
Kennedy has produced the films of such directors as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, JJ Abrams, Rian Johnson, Ron Howard, David Fincher, Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, Robert Zemeckis, Julian Schnabel, Marjane Satrapi, M. Night Shyamalan, Frank Oz, Peter Bogdanovich and Richard Donner.
Prior to joining Lucasfilm in 2012, Kennedy headed The Kennedy/Marshall Company, which she founded in 1992 with director/producer Frank Marshall, and in 1982 she co-founded the successful Amblin Entertainment with Marshall and Steven Spielberg.
The ADG's Cinematic Imagery Award is given to those whose body of work in the film industry has richly enhanced the visual aspects of the movie-going experience. Previous recipients have been Brad Bird, David O. Russell, Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese, John Lasseter, George Lucas, Frank Oz, the Production Designers behind the James Bond franchise, the principal team behind the Harry Potter films, Bill Taylor, Syd Dutton, Warren Beatty, Allen Daviau, Clint Eastwood, Blake Edwards, Terry Gilliam, Ray Harryhausen, Norman Jewison, Robert S. Wise and Zhang Yimou.
Producers of this year's ADG Awards (#ADGawards) are Production Designers Thomas A. Walsh ADG and Thomas Wilkins ADG. Award submissions are open online now through November 9, 2017. Online nomination voting will be held December 6, 2017 – January 3, 2018 and nominees announced on January 4, 2018. Final online balloting will be held January 8-25, and winners will be announced at the dinner ceremony on Saturday, January 27, 2018. ADG Awards are open only to productions when made within the U.S. by producer's signatory to the IATSE agreement. Foreign entries are acceptable without restrictions.
About the Art Directors Guild
The Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800) represents 2,500 members who work throughout the United States, Canada and the rest of the world in film, television and theater as Production Designers, Art Directors, Assistant Art Directors; Scenic, Title and Graphic Artists; Illustrators and Matte Artists; Set Designers and Model Makers; and Previs Artists. Established in 1937, the ADGยs ongoing activities include a Film Society, an annual Awards Banquet, a creative/technology community (the World Building Institute), a bimonthly craft magazine (Perspective); and extensive technology-training programs, figure drawing and other creative workshops and year-round Gallery 800 art exhibitions. The Guildยs Online Directory/Website Resource is at www.adg.org.
