At the Infinity Festival, we believe that true innovation often comes from the corners of the industry that are too easily overlooked. The Monolith Awards were created to shine a spotlight on the underdogs of the entertainment and tech space—those who are quietly making groundbreaking changes and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

We pride ourselves on discovering and celebrating those achievements that might fall through the cracks of traditional awards.

DANE SMITH

Executive Producer, Infinity Festival Monolith Awards.

JENNIELYN ABROT

Owner of JAR Entertainment, Jennielyn has overseen star-studded films and led the first successful Filipino Film Festival in Los Angeles. A breast cancer survivor and visionary in the film industry, she is dedicated to empowering underrepresented voices.

MARIANA ACUÑA ACOSTA

A dynamic entrepreneur, Mariana excels at the intersection of AI, XR, VFX, and game engines, bridging technology and creativity. With expertise in product launches, M&E workflows, and team management, she’s also a captivating public speaker and forward-thinking leader.

ANDREA BARI

Andy, an expert in entertainment and new media law, is a key figure in XR education and the Monolith Awards. With a legal research background and experience with top production companies, Andy advises on IP rights and new tech in media, and runs his company Name and Like, Inc.

DARIO HAMABIK BARRERA

Dario, with a background in animation and virtual production, has worked at Stoopid Buddy and Lucasfilm. At The Third Floor, he built strategic resource models, ensuring the right talent for the right projects during Hollywood’s pivot to game engine-based production.

JORDAN BIZIOU

Jordan, with a career spanning animation and live-action, has contributed to “Doctor Strange” and “Dune”. Passionate about mentoring and AI explorations, he’s at the forefront of integrating emerging technologies into film production.

NATHALIE BONIN

Nathalie Bonin is a distinguished producer, composer, and performer whose work spans some of the most prestigious networks and platforms, including Netflix, AppleTV, Showtime, CBS, NBC, BBC, PBS, TF1, CBC, ICI, and TVA. Her impressive list of awards includes the SESAC Best Film Performance 2023 and the SOCAN Screen Composer of the Year 2023. She contributed to the Grammy-winning project “Women Warriors: The Voices of Change” and has received the SCL Jury Award, HMMA Award, and Mark Award. Nathalie is an active member of the Recording Academy and the Television Academy.

KOINA FREEMAN

Koina is a multi-platform storyteller and Unreal Authorized Trainer with expertise in AI tools, real-time 3D workflows, and visual direction. Her work at the intersection of narrative and emerging technologies is shaping the future of film and interactive media.

FELIX JORGE

Felix, CEO of Narwhal Studios, specializes in virtual production and real-time VFX, with credits including “The Mandalorian” and “Avatar: The Last Airbender”. His leadership in pipeline development and team building drives innovation in the film and TV industry.

JEROEN HALLAERT

With 25+ years in live production, Jeroen specializes in technical and executive advisement for complex projects. He leads PRG’s Production Services, driving innovation in all production aspects; including live music, feature film, episodic series, commercials, LBE, new media endeavors and any other live entertainment.

DENYS KRASNIKOV

Denys, an AI visionary, leads AI Venture Corp and Vidby.ai in advancing AI, media, and translation technologies. His work in responsible AI development is shaping the future of global media localization.

BRIAN MCNELIS

Brian is a Grammy Award & Guild Of Music Supervisors Award nominee, who has overseen music supervision for acclaimed films and videogames such as “Drive” and “Cyberpunk 2077”. A champion of artist rights in the digital age, his work spans music documentaries, independent labels, major studio releases and videogames.

PATRICK SMITH

As Head of Visualization at MPC, Patrick Smith leads global teams in creative direction and technology. With nearly two decades in the industry, including senior roles at The Third Floor and Technicolor, he’s a pioneer in visualization for film and TV.

TANYA LEAL SOTO

Tanya Leal Soto is an accomplished producer with a diverse career spanning theatre, film, television, XR, and games. As Head of Production at Hexagram, she’s at the forefront of integrating AI and immersive storytelling. A Mexico City native now based in Los Angeles, Tanya has worked on cutting-edge projects like “The Under Presents” and “Virtual, Virtual Reality”. She brings an international perspective and deep expertise in emerging technologies, making her a key player in the future of narrative-driven experiences.

TAMMY SUTTON

Tammy Sutton is an Emmy Award-winning VFX Supervisor and Producer with over 25 years of industry experience. As Head of Production at Theory Studios, she combines artistic vision with advanced technology, overseeing projects in VR, animation, theme parks, and XR training. Tammy’s leadership and technical expertise have driven the success of major films and TV shows, including “Silicon Valley”, “Avatar”, and “The Conjuring”. A Hollywood native, she continues to innovate and push the boundaries of visual effects.

SPOOKYDAN WALKER

Dan (aka SpookyDan) Walker is a renowned horror filmmaker, with directorial credits on “Slay Belles” and production roles on films like “The Devil’s Carnival” and “Spaghetti”. His career spans various aspects of filmmaking, including production, marketing, and visual effects. Since 2021, Walker has embraced AI in filmmaking, using tools such as Midjourney and RunwayML to innovate production methods. He now stands as a leading figure in integrating AI with traditional filmmaking, enhancing storytelling through technology.

ERIK WEAVER

Erik introduced LED Volume technology to filmmakers and won the Cannes Film Festival prize for “FATHEAD”. A leader in next-gen solutions, Erik crafts strategies for long-term business success and leverages cutting-edge technologies in film production.

GAMING TECH: AUDIO-DRIVEN NARRATIVE

Recognizing achievements in sound design, music composition, voice acting, and innovative use of audio to drive the story, this award highlights games that utilize auditory elements to enhance the player’s experience and emotional engagement. The Gaming Tech: Audio-Driven Narrative Award honors the studios, teams, and individuals who have set new standards in the industry, demonstrating exceptional creativity and technical mastery in narrative.

EXCELLENCE IN USER EXPERIENCE (UX)

User Experience (UX) focuses on the overall experience that a user has while interacting with digital experiences. This category recognizes excellence in the design, usability, and effectiveness of digital interfaces, websites, apps, or interactive media to ensure they provide a seamless and intuitive experience for the end-user.

VISIONARY INNOVATION

Celebrates vision and execution resulting in outstanding innovation, recognizing achievements in both technical and creative production. The award acknowledges studios or companies that have set new standards in the industry, demonstrating exceptional creativity, technical mastery, and transformative impact.

LIVE ENGAGEMENT

Recognizing outstanding achievements in creating immersive, interactive live experiences that engage audiences in real-time. The award celebrates innovative use of digital enhancements to create shared experiences that captivate and connect audiences, setting new standards for live digital engagement.

JURORS CHOICE: NEW MEDIA FINE ART

Celebrating excellence in new media fine art, recognizing outstanding fine art projects that utilize new and emerging technologies. Honoring the creativity and innovation in digital artistry, this non-jury prize is awarded based on the jurors’ collective choice.

AUDIENCE AWARD – BEST OF FEST POPULAR VOTE

This non-jury award is determined by your ballot as an attendee at Infinity Festival 2024. It celebrates the best technical and creative demonstrations, showcasing the innovations and achievements that resonate most with the Infinity Festival Community.

NEXT GEN: STUDENT + TEACHER

Honoring the Teacher and Student who have significantly influenced their next generation, demonstrated through submitted work. Next Gen acknowledges the exceptional contributions of both students and teachers in fostering creativity, innovation, and excellence in the film, television, and digital media.

NEXUS AWARD: EXCELLENCE IN APPLIED TECHNOLOGY

The Nexus Award celebrates era-defining advances that were unimaginable before the stable integration of real-time technology, cloud computing, and XR. These innovations result from deep expertise, unwavering commitment to a singular vision, and leadership that attracts top talent, often without widespread understanding or assurance of success. Upon launch, these nominated leaders and their teams ushered in a new era of opportunity.

VIRTUAL ART DEPARTMENT

Recognizes outstanding achievements in the Virtual Art Department (VAD), celebrating projects that have leveraged VAD technology to create immersive and realistic digital environments. Honoring the creative and technical teams behind these projects, the category highlights the seamless integration of virtual and physical worlds, showcasing exceptional creativity, technical mastery, and transformative impact in the field of digital production.

VISUALIZATION

Recognizing outstanding achievements in the field of pre-visualization. It honors the creative and technical prowess of individuals and teams who have utilized advanced visualization techniques to visualize complex scenes and sequences before production. Celebrating innovation in storyboarding, animation, and visual planning, this category highlights the importance of pre-vis in enhancing storytelling, improving production efficiency, and delivering compelling visual narratives.

REAL-TIME PRODUCTION

Honors exceptional achievements in real-time production, recognizing the innovative use of real-time technology to create dynamic and interactive content. The award celebrates the creative and technical skills of individuals and teams who leverage real-time engines, virtual production techniques, and cutting-edge tools to bring stories to life with immediacy and responsiveness.

(AI) TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

Recognizes outstanding technical innovation and execution using AI within the film, television, and digital media industries. The award honors individuals and teams who have made significant advancements in technology, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in production, post-production, or distribution. This award celebrates the ingenious application of technical skills that enhance the overall quality and impact of a project.

(AI) CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT

This category celebrates remarkable creativity and artistic innovation using AI in film, television, and digital media. It acknowledges the visionary work of individuals and teams who have demonstrated exceptional creative talent, bringing unique and compelling stories to life through their artistry. This award highlights the imaginative and groundbreaking contributions that set new standards for creativity in the industry.

Josh Arensberg – Verizon

Jordan Bartow – Google Cloud

John Canning – AMD

Rick Champagne – NVIDIA

Patrick Costello – Qualcomm

Paul Debevec – Netflix

John Gauntt – The Augmented City

Lisa Gerber – Amazon Web Services

Dan Gregoire – Nep Virtual Studios

Annie Hanlon – Netflix

Marc Johnson – Live Planet, Inc.

Phil Lelyveld – ETC @ USC

Mark Lieber – Infinity Festival

Penny Malsch – Intel

Barbara Marshall – Z by Hp

Will McDonald – Unity

Danilo Moura – Simulated Reality

John Rubey – Rubey Entertainment

Anshel Sag – Moor Insights and Strategy

Lori H. Schwartz – StoryTech

Seth Shapiro – Alpha Transform Holdings

Brad Spahr – Sony Music

Christina Lee Storm – Netflix

Sebastian Sylwan – Netflix

Alice Taylor – Disney StudioLab

Todd Terrazas – JoinAI

Chris Vienneau – Movielabs

Erik Weaver – ETC @USC

Ken Williams – ETC @ USC

Michael Zink – WarnerMedia

Mariana Acuna Acosta – Technicolor

Daniel Barak – R/GA

Vicki Dobbs Beck – ILMxLAB

Elijah Allan-Blitz – Director

Ana Brzezinska – Tribeca

Raegan Brown – Intel

Rick Champagne – NVIDIA

Christian Cloud – Intel

Simon Crownshaw – Microsoft

Noam Dromi – Reboot Studios

Addy Ghani – Disguise

Carolyn Giardina – Variety

Alton Glass – GRX Immersive

Annie Hanlon – Netflix

Alexx Henry – BlueVishnu

Marc Johnson – Digital Media Executive

Blake Kammerdiener – SXSW

Bill Kendal – Story World

Kevin Lau – mOcean

John MacInnes – MacInnes Studios

Daniel Mallek – Yu Studio

Barbara Marshall – Z by HP

Ron Martin – Unity

Adam Newman – Infinity Festival

Amanda Orr – Toonstar

Joanna Popper – Independent

Morgan Prygrocki – Adobe

Jackson Rogow – Infinity Festival

Lori H. Schwartz – StoryTech

A.J. Sciutto – Magnopus

Eric Shamlin – Media Monks

Christina Lee Storm – Independent

Alice Taylor – Disney Studio Lab

Ste Thompson – Powster

Justin Winters – Verified Labs

Boo Wong – Independent

Iris Wu – Ambidio