The landscape of visual effects and digital storytelling is defined by innovation, technical mastery, and visionary leadership. For decades, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) has remained at the vanguard of this dynamic industry, pushing the boundaries of what is possible on both the silver screen and emerging digital platforms. This October, the contributions of one of the industry’s most influential leaders will be formally recognized on an international stage.
Janet Lewin, Senior Vice President, General Manager, and Head of Industrial Light & Magic, has been named the distinguished recipient of the 2026 VIEW Visionary Award. This prestigious honor will be presented during a special ceremony at the upcoming VIEW Conference, scheduled to run from October 12 through October 16, 2026, in the historic Italian city of Turin. Lewin’s recognition underscores a career defined by monumental achievements in visual effects production, technological pioneering, and global studio management.
A Legacy of Excellence: The VIEW Visionary Award
Established to recognize individuals who have made an extraordinary, lasting contribution to the visual arts, the VIEW Visionary Award stands as one of the most respected accolades in the global animation and visual effects community. The honor celebrates creators, technologists, and executives whose work has fundamentally advanced the medium and inspired generations of artists.
The award holds a rich history of celebrating industry titans. Nora Twomey received the inaugural VIEW Visionary Award in 2018, paving the way for a succession of legendary figures to be honored. Subsequent recipients include Pixar’s late Ralph Eggleston in 2019, ILM visual effects master Dennis Muren in 2020, stop-motion auteur Henry Selick in 2022, and Weta FX senior visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri in 2023. By joining this elite roster, Janet Lewin’s extensive body of work is cemented alongside the architects of modern cinematic magic.
Chronology of a Career: Shaping the Star Wars Universe and Beyond
Janet Lewin’s path to the upper echelons of visual effects leadership is characterized by decades of hands-on production experience and strategic studio stewardship. Currently, Lewin oversees ILM and its sprawling network of global studios, managing comprehensive production, creative pipelines, and studio operations spanning traditional visual effects, feature-length animation, and immersive entertainment.
Before assuming her current executive role, Lewin played a pivotal administrative and creative role at Lucasfilm, helping shepherd some of the most lucrative and technologically demanding franchises in cinematic history. Her filmography as an overall visual effects producer includes five foundational titles from the modern Star Wars saga: Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
Beyond the feature film landscape, Lewin served as a co-producer on the groundbreaking live-action television series The Mandalorian. In this capacity, she was instrumental in driving the widespread adoption and refinement of ILM’s revolutionary StageCraft virtual production methodology. By replacing traditional green screens with massive, real-time reactive LED volumes running on Unreal Engine, StageCraft fundamentally transformed how television and film are produced, drastically reducing post-production timelines while offering unprecedented creative freedom to directors and cinematographers.
The VIEW Conference 2026: A Global Hub for Innovation
The 2026 edition of the VIEW Conference promises to be a landmark gathering for professionals, students, and enthusiasts of digital media. Set against the magnificent backdrop of Turin’s Officine Grandi Riparazioni (OGR), a sprawling industrial heritage site transformed into a contemporary cultural hub, the English-language conference continues its tradition of bridging the gap between artistic vision and technological execution.
The inclusion of Lewin in the 2026 lineup builds upon a momentum that began earlier this year, when her participation was initially announced alongside other prominent industry figures, including Skydance Animation’s Holly Edwards and Sony Pictures Imageworks’ Michelle Grady.
The conference program is rich with high-profile presentations, masterclasses, and retrospective panels. Notably, Oscar-winning cinematographer Sir Roger Deakins will return to the VIEW stage alongside his creative partner, James Ellis Deakins, to host an intimate and deeply analytical Q&A session titled "Reflections on Cinematography." Additionally, Oscar-winning producer Yvett Merino is slated to offer an exclusive Italian preview of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ upcoming feature Hexed, treating attendees to never-before-seen clips and behind-the-scenes insights.
Immersive Technology and Hands-On Learning
A cornerstone of the 2026 VIEW Conference is its dedication to experiential education and technological democratization. In a major initiative presented in collaboration with Sony Corporation Japan and Texas A&M University’s Virtual Production Institute, conference organizers are constructing a fully functional, professional-grade virtual production stage on-site.
Occupying the 3,200-square-foot Duomo hall—an awe-inspiring 62-foot-high domed architectural marvel within the OGR venue—the installation will grant every registered ticket-holder unprecedented access to cutting-edge tools. Equipped with expansive LED walls, real-time camera tracking systems, and a comprehensive suite of post-production technology, the stage allows attendees to interact directly with working industry professionals. Participants will have the rare opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the very hardware and software pipelines currently driving Hollywood blockbusters and high-end episodic television.
For those inclined toward physical crafts, the conference is also maintaining its commitment to traditional animation techniques. Places remain available in the intensive four-day Stop-Motion Lab led by acclaimed filmmaker Chris Lavis, the Oscar-winning co-director of Madame Tutli-Putli and The Girl Who Cried Pearls. Under Lavis’s expert mentorship, participants will engage in the meticulous processes of puppet construction, armature design, and frame-by-frame cinematography, shooting their own original short stop-motion sequences.
Broader Impact and Industry Implications
The recognition of Janet Lewin at the VIEW Conference arrives at a critical juncture for the entertainment industry. As the visual effects sector navigates post-pandemic economic shifts, the rise of artificial intelligence integration, and the widespread maturation of virtual production methodologies, steady and forward-thinking executive leadership is more vital than ever.
ILM under Lewin’s guidance has continuously adapted to these macroeconomic and technological headwinds, balancing the demands of high-volume franchise output with creative exploration in animation and immersive media. By honoring Lewin, the VIEW Conference not only celebrates individual excellence but also highlights the critical importance of operational leadership in transforming ambitious artistic concepts into commercial and cultural realities.
As digital production tools become increasingly sophisticated, the barrier between live-action filmmaking, animation, and real-time engine rendering continues to dissolve. Leaders like Lewin are tasked with harmonizing these disparate disciplines, ensuring that creative artists are empowered by technology rather than constrained by it. Her recognition in Turin serves as a testament to the collaborative spirit required to sustain modern cinematic art, setting a benchmark for future generations of studio executives and visual effects producers.
Registration details, full program schedules, and ticketing information for the 2026 VIEW Conference are currently available through the official VIEW Conference website.
