
The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) Awards Committee has announced that FotoKem will receive HPA's prized Charles S. Swartz Award at the 19th HPA Awards gala on Nov. 7. The ceremony will return to the Wolfe Theater here at the Television Academy.
Last given in 2018, the Charles S. Swartz Award is one of HPA's most significant honors; bestowed at the discretion of the HPA Awards Committee to recognize profound and lasting contributions to the media content ecosystem. FotoKem, renowned for over 60 years of service, has played a pivotal role in supporting filmmakers, studios, cinematographers, and artists across diverse film and media landscapes. A team from FotoKem will accept the award.
FotoKem was founded in 1963 by Gerald Brodersen as an independent black and white film lab, located on Cahuenga Boulevard, only a couple of blocks from Universal and Warner Bros. FotoKem is considered one of the world's best artistic and technical partners, whose deep film expertise is accompanied by a philosophy of implementing innovative and sophisticated digital processes. Celebrating decades of collaboration with the industry's most brilliant artists, FotoKem has become a creative hub for all aspects of filmmaking. In addition to FotoKem's main campus in Burbank, their other LA facilities include an editorial facility in Hollywood, Keep Me Posted episodic post in Burbank, and LA Studios / Margarita Mix sound in Hollywood and Santa Monica. They have four wall facilities in several US states and deploy dailies and edit systems globally to support production anywhere in the world. While recognized as playing a critical role in keeping film alive as a viable acquisition and delivery medium, their technical and artistic expertise presents a deep understanding of color, sound, and complex workflow. FotoKem remains an independently owned and operated company, an anomaly in today's post production services sector.
Bill Brodersen, chief executive officer of FotoKem said, On behalf of the entire team at FotoKem, we are deeply honored to be recognized with the Charles S. Swartz Award. From the time my father started FotoKem until today, we have remained dedicated to serving the filmmakers who entrust us with their work. This award shines a light on our teams who work so diligently on behalf of our clients, and the community of artists and technologists who tell stories and share their vision. Thank you to HPA for honoring FotoKem with such a meaningful award.
Of FotoKem being named the recipient of the Charles S. Swartz award, HPA President Seth Hallen said, The HPA Awards Committee and the Board of Directors were unanimous in their desire to honor FotoKem with this award. They have played an undeniable role in keeping film alive as a viable tool for filmmakers. The impact of their unwavering support of film along with their non-stop innovation in many aspects of the post production processes and the talent and skill with which they serve their clients, eloquently illustrate their impact. From dailies to the meticulous restoration of classic films, and outstanding work for picture and sound to mind-blowing 70mm workflows, FotoKem brings an unparalleled level of talent. It is with great pride that the HPA Awards Committee bestows the Charles S. Swartz Award to FotoKem. It is richly deserved thanks to their team that includes some of the most talented creative, technical and operational individuals in the industry.
The award is named in honor of the late Charles S. Swartz, who led the Entertainment Technology Center at the University of Southern California from 2002 until 2006 and helped to build it into the industry's premiere test bed for new digital cinema technologies. Swartz passed away in 2007 and this award was established to honor his legacy and contributions to our industry. In addition to a long and successful career as producer, educator and consultant, Swartz served on the Board of Directors of the HPA.
The HPA Awards are made possible through the generous sponsorship of Blackmagic Design, Warner Bros. Post Production Creative Services Worldwide, Avid, Colorist Society, Sohonet and Dolby. For sponsorship or program advertising opportunities, contact Joyce Cataldo at jcataldo@hpaonline.com.
Ticket sales for the November 7th HPA Awards gala are now open, and available at HPAAwards.com.
For further information visit www.hpaawards.com or email awards@hpaonline.com.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
19/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/02/2026
Foundry, the leading developer of creative software for the Media and Entertainment industry, today announced the completion of its acquisition of Griptape, a p...
19/02/2026
Capturing the raw energy and emotional intensity of FX's hit series The Bear is no small feat, especially when the set itself is as hectic and unpredictab...
19/02/2026
Cobalt Digital Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of award-winning video and audio conversion, processing, and distribution solutions, and a founder of o...
19/02/2026
DHD s complete range of digital audio mixers plus the latest-generation RM1 Pro broadcast-from-anywhere unit will be promoted at the upcoming Lokalradioforbunds...
19/02/2026
Operative, the preferred advertising management solution provider for the world's leading media brands, today announced a partnership with GraySwan to bring...
19/02/2026
Witbe today announced the launch of Agentic SDK, a new test automation framework designed to help video service providers build, operate, and scale agentic auto...
19/02/2026
Grass Valley today announced that Network18 Media & Investments Ltd., one of India's largest and most influential media conglomerates, is deploying Grass Va...
19/02/2026
Clear-Com is sponsoring and presenting the USITT Stage Management Award during the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) Annual Conference & S...
19/02/2026
Paramores Hayley Williams Praises Berklee Ensemble: Make Noise Williams acknowledged the Paramore Ensemble after their show at the Berklee Performance Center ...
19/02/2026
Mapping protein production in brain cells yields new insights for brain disease Scripps Research and UC San Diego scientists used a novel method to show that so...
18/02/2026
Audio quality control (QC) is becoming ever more crucial for Olympic Broadcastin...
18/02/2026
The Olympic Games are not only a showcase of athletic excellence, they are also ...
18/02/2026
Netflix is entering the MMA game with a matchup between two of the biggest names ever to compete on the women's side.
Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix ...
18/02/2026
Grass Valley announces that Network18 Media & Investments Ltd., one of India'...
18/02/2026
Cobalt Digital Inc., a designer and manufacturer of video and audio conversion, ...
18/02/2026
Production is divided between a studio in the mountains and a brand-new studio i...
18/02/2026
At the Winter Games IBC in Milan, NBC Sports and Olympics' director of audio...
18/02/2026
The Women's Alpine events at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Center, about a 10-minute drive from Cortina d'Ampezzo, featured some of the most exciting Olympic...
18/02/2026
At the Broadcast Center, 14 audio-control rooms handle the sound in a complex routing and processing regimen
We are exactly where we want to be, Karl Malone,...
18/02/2026
With 300 hours of curling competition in two weeks, it's a safe bet that even the most curling-hungry fan will be satiated. It also requires a production te...
18/02/2026
Always seen as one of the more crazy Olympic events, Bobsleigh is a sport in which athletes must have nerves of steel and pilots must navigate high-tech sleds...
18/02/2026
A typical Winter Olympics day - or should I say evening - inside the Warner Bros...
18/02/2026
The Netherlands has dominated Milan's ice rinks, scooping six speed skating ...
18/02/2026
At the Broadcast Center in Stamford, three discrete intercom systems combine into a centralized infrastructure
Into the second week of Milan Cortina 2026, eigh...
18/02/2026
AI is reshaping operations, capital is scaling ownership, sports are converging with media and entertainment, and venues are evolving into year-round platforms...
18/02/2026
DNA Inc. specializes in crafting next level digital experiences in the Media, St...
18/02/2026
Conflicts have increased, but so have solutions, driven chiefly by pragmatism and the threat of AI music
The only persons on the Figure Skating ice at the 2026...
18/02/2026
Canadian rightsholder deploys its most complex setup at an Olympics ever with ...
18/02/2026
A crew of 1,685 people and 13 control rooms produce nearly every on-air minute f...
18/02/2026
Following an extraordinary 2025 in which he was named Spotify's Global Top A...
18/02/2026
Despu s de un extraordinario 2025 en el que fue nombrado Top Artista Global de Spotify por cuarta vez, algo sin precedentes (y tras su presentaci n en el halfti...
18/02/2026
SBS brings Australians together to mark Ramadan and Eid with communities nationw...
18/02/2026
The Virginia-class attack submarine USS Texas (SSN 775) underway....
18/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
18/02/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...