HPA Awards Opens Call for Submissions for Innovation & Technology Awards
The Hollywood Professional Association is now accepting submissions for the HPA Awards Innovation & Technology, which marks an expanded evolution of the prestigious HPA Engineering Excellence Award.
LOS ANGELES(04 Sep 2025)
Reimagined Program Expands the Engineering Excellence Awards and Further Recognizes Innovation
LOS ANGELES — Sept. 4, 2025 — The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) is now accepting submissions for the HPA Awards Innovation & Technology, which marks an expanded evolution of the prestigious HPA Engineering Excellence Award. This reimagined program reflects the transformative role that innovation and disruptive technologies play in today's rapidly evolving media content industry and the broader M&E technology space.
For nearly two decades, the HPA Engineering Excellence Award has recognized groundbreaking engineering achievements, and now the HPA Awards Innovation & Technology broadens that tradition, introducing multiple categories covering the entire production life cycle, from pre-production through distribution and audience experience. This broader framework highlights technologies making a measurable impact on the professional media and entertainment ecosystem, spanning film, television, streaming, advertising, and branded content for lifestyle and retail experiences.
Judging criteria for the Innovation & Technology categories will include innovation, current industry impact, technical merit, and adoption readiness. The focus will be on tools and technologies that are impactful today and representative of forward momentum.
Awards to be given in the following categories:
- Innovation in Pre-Production
- Innovation in Production & Capture
- Innovation in VFX, Virtual Production & Animation
- Innovation in Post-Production
- Innovation in Distribution & Audience Experience
Additionally, HPA is launching two special awards:
- HPA Transformative Impact Award — Recognizes the single idea in any given year with the most potential to transform the professional media content industry ecosystem. Any submission in one of the above categories is automatically eligible for award consideration.
- HPA Tech Retreat Best in Show — Selected by HPA Tech Retreat attendees as the most innovative technology exhibited in the Innovation Zone at the 2026 HPA Tech Retreat.
Chuck Parker, co-chair of the HPA Awards Innovation & Technology, explains, "We're expanding recognition to spotlight practical innovations that teams can deploy today — while highlighting the ideas most likely to redefine tomorrow."
Co-chair Joachim "JZ" Zell says, "The Engineering Excellence Award created a legacy we're proud of. These new awards take that foundation and move us into the future."
The HPA Awards Innovation & Technology will be presented at the 2026 HPA Tech Retreat on Feb. 18, 2026, at the Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California.
Key Dates:
- Submission Deadline: October 17, 2025
- Nominations Announced: January 2026
- HPA Awards Innovation & Technology Ceremony: February 18, 2026
- HPA Special Awards Honors Given: February 19, 2026
- To submit visit HPAAwards.com.
To inquire about sponsorship, contact Joyce Cataldo at jcataldo@hpaonline.com.
About The HPA Awards
Since 2006, the HPA Awards have been the standard bearer for creative achievement, outstanding artistry, and engineering excellence in an industry embracing an expanding array of groundbreaking technologies and creativity. Judges are composed of distinguished industry professionals from across the media landscape.
About the Hollywood Professional Association
The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) serves individuals and businesses who support the creation and finishing of motion pictures, television, commercials, and digital content. Through events, education, and advocacy, HPA advances the professional community and technologies that power storytelling. Learn more at www.hpaonline.com.
All trademarks appearing herein are the properties of their respective owners.
Link to Word Doc: www.wallstcom.com/HPA/250904-HPA_Awards.docx