13th edition · PIDS ENGHIEN January 20 → 23, 2027
PIDS Enghien is an event dedicated to digital creation in all its forms: from visual effects to virtual reality, through animation and 3D, PIDS addresses the creative, technical, economic and artistic challenges of a constantly evolving sector.
The organizers created the Digital Creation GENIE Awards in 2015, which aim to honor the talents of French digital creation.
GENIE Honorary Award
GENIE Honorary Award 2027
Press release · Paris, October 21st 2026
John Hughes will receive
the 2027 GENIE Honorary Award
Casino Barriere Theater, Enghien-les-Bains – Wednesday, January 20th 2027
On the occasion of PIDS ENGHIEN (Jan 20-23 2027), the Centre des arts and the City of Enghien-les-Bains are delighted to announce that John Hughes, co-founder of Rhythm & Hues Studios and founder of Tau Films, will be presented with the prestigious GENIE Honorary Award, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the art and technology of visual effects and digital animation.
GENIE Honorary Award 2027
The GENIE Visionary Award rewards a personality of the digital creation industry for significant and lasting contributions to the art and science by way of vision, artistry, invention and innovation.
John Hughes is one of the pioneering figures of modern digital visual effects, whose career has helped shape the evolution of computer-generated imagery and its role in cinematic storytelling.
In 1987, he co-founded Rhythm & Hues Studios, which grew into one of the world’s most acclaimed visual effects and animation studios, renowned for its groundbreaking work in creating photorealistic digital creatures and characters.
Under his leadership, Rhythm & Hues contributed to some of Hollywood’s most memorable films, including Babe (1995), The Golden Compass (2007) and Life of Pi (2012), all three of which received the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
The studio’s achievements on Life of Pi, particularly the creation of the remarkably lifelike digital tiger Richard Parker, marked a major milestone in the history of visual effects, demonstrating the extraordinary potential of digital technology to bring emotionally compelling characters to the screen.
Building on decades of experience at the forefront of the industry, John Hughes went on to establish Tau Films, continuing his commitment to creative excellence, technological innovation and the development of visual effects talent on an international scale.
Throughout his career, John Hughes has championed the collaboration between artistic vision and technological innovation, helping to push the boundaries of what is possible in cinema.
By presenting him with the GENIE Honorary Award, PIDS ENGHIEN celebrates an exceptional career and pays tribute to a visionary whose work has left a lasting imprint on the global visual effects industry.
The full list of nominees for the 13th Genie Awards will be revealed on December 18th. The program for the 2027 edition of PIDS will be announced in early December.
Former GENIE Honorary Awards
GENIE Awards – Best of
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