
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 ...
09/10/2026
September 10 2026, 06:00 (PDT) Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026
New Sports Intelligence helps providers better unders...
07/10/2026
New all-in-one scoring package incoming
EastWest's latest release brings together an eclectic mix of sampled instruments in an attempt to provide compos...
07/10/2026
Granular process features graph-based sequencer
The latest addition to Baby Audio's ever-expanding collection of plug-ins is a new time-bending effect b...
07/10/2026
Iconic inventor & designer passes away
Mike Beigel, the inventor and designer who co-founded Musitronics, has sadly passed away aged 79. Mike was responsibl...
07/10/2026
Combines filtering & wavefolding
Kreuzberg Audio have recently introduced a plug-in that combines filtering and wavefolding in a way that allows the two pro...
07/10/2026
Recreates the ultra-rare Gleeman Pentaphonic
Cherry Audio's latest soft synth faithfully recreates the Gleeman Pentaphonic, a vintage synth that was kno...
07/10/2026
Statement on the passing of Richard Morecroft
7 October, 2026
Media releases
Statement by SBS Managing Director, Jane Palfreyman
SBS is deeply saddened...
07/10/2026
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is pleased to announce the extensi...
07/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/10/2026
Sacramento Production Services has completed a major wireless audio overhaul at Sutter Health Park, current home of the Athletics (A's) professional basebal...
07/10/2026
Cobalt Digital to Bring End-to-End ST 2110/IPMX Solutions and Practical Tools to...
07/10/2026
Sanbila Lets Video Editors Import Rushes From a WeTransfer Link and Edit Them Fr...
07/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/10/2026
UK-based broadcast engineer Andrew Kemp has chosen a dhd.audio SX2 and XS3 as the basis of a transportable media-training resource. With a quarter-century of ex...
07/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
07/10/2026
Cobalt Digital to Bring End-to-End ST 2110/IPMX Solutions and Practical Tools to NAB Show New York
Highlights include complete path from SDI to IP, C-band tran...
07/10/2026
Deerstalker Pictures The Exorcism of Nixie Shot With Blackmagic Cameras
Brie Clayton October 6, 2026
0 Comments
Fantasy series relied on Blackmagic ca...
07/10/2026
Nevion announces Providius NVRT integration with eMerge switches for expanded br...
07/10/2026
DriveShelf - A Filmmaker's Mac App for Finding Footage on Unplugged Drives
Brie Clayton October 6, 2026
0 Comments
DriveShelf for Mac catalogs eve...
07/10/2026
COW Jobs: Cinematographer, Video Editor - Baltimore, MD
Brie Clayton October 7, 2026
0 Comments
Cinematographer / Video Editor
September 23, 2026 ...
07/10/2026
Behind the Scenes at Berklee Homecoming 2026 Follow Marley Striem BM '25 behind the scenes as she manages a team of students and liaises with artists duri...
07/10/2026
Berklee College of Music and Berklee Valencia Named to Billboards 2026 List of T...
07/10/2026
The six-part series will launch on free-streaming service U in 2027.
A set of first look images have been released for The Cadburys (6x60'), the upcoming s...
07/10/2026
Wednesday 7 October 2026
Sky Sports to broadcast England's ODI tri-series a...
07/10/2026
When the EBU and AMWA launched the Joint Task Force on the Dynamic Media Facility (JT-DMF) at IBC2025, the DMF was largely a concept. Twelve months on, the conv...
07/10/2026
Even the Digital Government Needs a Plan B
AFCEA study National Security Ecosystem 2030 presented at the Bonn IT Dialogue. Arvato Systems / AFCEA Bonn e. ...
07/10/2026
This development extends certification beyond individual Retail Media Networks a...
07/10/2026
RT has been informed that, as stated in Budget 2027, the Government has made the decision to cut the agreed public funding of RT by 20 million for 2027.
In ...
07/10/2026
Undercover filming shows add-on treatments with potential safety concerns on sal...
07/10/2026
Join Emma Doran, Justine Stafford, Killian Sundermann, Se n Burke and Michael Fry on RT 2 and RT Player tomorrow at 10.30pm
A host of guest stars include Siob...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/10/2026
A response to Mark Turner and the SVG AI Innovation Lab
SVG AI Innovation Lab Program Director Mark Turner's How Broadcast Sports Can Apply the Newsroom S...
06/10/2026
Cobalt Digital will exhibit at NAB Show New York 2026 (Booth 226, Javits Center, October 21-22), demonstrating its ST 2110/IPMX product line alongside solutions...
06/10/2026
LiveU and Airwise have announced a strategic partnership integrating LiveU's bonded video transmission with Airwise's drone fleet management, airspace a...
06/10/2026
Hotspur Labs, Tottenham Hotspur's corporate venture programme, will co-host ...
06/10/2026
SPORTEL Monaco 2026 will take place October 19-21 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, with the conference programme running October 19-20.
Sessions include:
Mast...
06/10/2026
Zixi has announced the appointment of John Towers as Chief Financial Officer. Towers brings more than 20 years of experience in media and entertainment, includi...
06/10/2026
The Memphis Grizzlies, DAZN, and WATN/ABC24 have announced a partnership to simulcast 15 regular season Grizzlies games free over-the-air on ABC24 during the 20...