Dubliner wins Oscar for visual effects on Avatar

The academy has already acknowledged the exceptional talent of Irish filmmakers with five Irish nominations, but for Richard to win an Oscar is international recognition at the highest level. We are delighted for Richard and his team.

Simon Perry, the chief executive of the Irish Film Board

Silicon Republic
08 March 2010

A Dublin man has won an Academy Award for best visual effects in the hit movie Avatar.

Winner Richie Baneham accepted the Oscar trophy at the 82nd Academy Awards last night in Los Angeles, where he works on film productions.

"The academy has already acknowledged the exceptional talent of Irish filmmakers with five Irish nominations, but for Richard to win an Oscar is international recognition at the highest level. We are delighted for Richard and his team," said Simon Perry, the chief executive of the Irish Film Board.

Ireland's President Mary McAleese said she was delighted with Baneham‘s win.

“This award is a wonderful recognition of Richard’s remarkable talent for animation and builds on his success earlier this year at the Bafta awards,” she added.

Baneham, who trained in Ballyfermot College, was animation supervisor on Avatar, the most financially successful film in cinema history.

Other Irish nominees, Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty, The Secret of Kells and The Door, lost out in their categories at the ceremony honouring the best in film.