
As previously announced, FotoKem is set to receive the prestigious Charles S. Swartz Award from the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) this year at the annual HPA Awards Ceremony on November 7th! This special honor, which recognizes profound contributions to the media content ecosystem, is only awarded when the HPA Awards Committee feels it's truly deserved, and this year, the decision was clear.
Named in memory of Charles S. Swartz-a trailblazer in the industry who was a producer, educator, and a vital collaborator-the award pays tribute to his incredible legacy. Swartz, who led the Entertainment Technology Center at USC and served on the HPA Board of Directors, left an indelible mark on the media world before his passing in 2007. This award, which is not bestowed every year, but rather when worthy recipients are identified, continues to celebrate his vision and impact on digital cinema technologies. Previous recipients include AVID, Michelle Munson and Victoria Alonso.
Founded in 1963 by Gerald Brodersen, FotoKem began as an independent black-and-white film lab on Cahuenga Boulevard, just blocks from Universal and Warner Bros. Over more than six decades, FotoKem has grown into a leading name in post-production services, maintaining its independent ownership, an anomaly in today's post production services sector. The company has become a trusted partner for filmmakers, studios, and artists, known for its deep expertise in film and commitment to innovative digital processes.
FotoKem's facilities include their main campus in Burbank, an editorial facility in Hollywood, Keep Me Posted episodic post in Burbank, and LA Studios / Margarita Mix sound in Hollywood and Santa Monica. They operate four-wall facilities across several U.S. states and deploy dailies and edit systems globally, supporting production around the world. FotoKem's technical and artistic prowess, coupled with their understanding of color, sound, and complex workflows, has established them as a creative hub in the filmmaking industry. Their impressive credits include major projects such as Oppenheimer, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Euphoria, Dune, and many, many others.
Bill Brodersen, CEO of FotoKem, shared his enthusiasm about the award, saying, 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. On behalf of the entire team at FotoKem, we are deeply honored to be recognized with the Charles S. Swartz Award
Seth Hallen, HPA President commented, 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.
Join us in celebrating the brilliant work of artists in the creative categories, Engineering Excellence winner and FotoKem's achievement at the HPA Awards gala on November 7th! For more details about the HPA Awards, visit HPAonline.com.
Most recent headlines
13/12/2025
In a move that will help it offer more flexible and less costly programming options, YouTube TV has announced that it will be launching YouTube TV Plans with mo...
13/12/2025
SINGAPORE Magna Systems has designed, built and completed what is believed to be the first full UHD and IP-based OB truck in Southeast Asia for a Singapore medi...
12/12/2025
SVG Summit 2025 Preview: Everything You Need to Know for Next Week's Big Sho...
12/12/2025
Hailey Gates at the Atropia premiere (photo by George Pimentel / Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival)...
12/12/2025
Last month, Spotify announced a new collaboration with the ATP Tour, the global governing body of men's professional tennis, aimed at bringing the next gene...
12/12/2025
CONWAY, Ark. In a notable example of how the elimination of Federal federal funding is forcing public stations to make massive cuts and changes in the way they...
12/12/2025
Wisycom and DPA Microphones announce the appointment of Ren Moerch as Group Product Director, Wireless, a strategic leadership role that will guide the combine...
12/12/2025
SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, in conjuncture with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Entertainment Technolog...
12/12/2025
Keepit, the vendor-independent, cloud-native data protection provider, today announced a strategic go-to-market relationship in Poland with Ingram Micro, a lead...
12/12/2025
Atomos announced the immediate availability of a new firmware update for its Ninja TX GO and Ninja TX monitor-recorders, unlocking Open Gate 48P RAW recording w...
12/12/2025
Professional Wireless Systems (PWS) once again played a critical role in delivering flawless wireless coordination and support at the 2025 Latin Grammy Awards a...
12/12/2025
The Alliance for IP Media Solutions (AIMS), together with the Video Services Forum (VSF), the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) and the European Broadc...
12/12/2025
DHD audio will demonstrate the latest additions to its range of digital audio production solutions on Booth 321 in Hall B6 at Hamburg Open 2026. The show will b...
12/12/2025
Chaos today announces the release of V-Ray for Blender, update 2, bringing its award-winning rendering technology to even more Blender users by adding support f...
12/12/2025
Lighting specialist UltraLEDs has launched Precision LED Tape, a high-CRI lighting solution designed specifically for professional film, TV, and studio use.
P...
12/12/2025
Zixi, the Emmy Award-winning leader in live broadcast-quality video over IP, today announced that Roi Sasson has joined the company as Vice President, Engineer...
12/12/2025
BitFire (bitfire.tv), the leader in software-defined live production and IP transmission, today announced a strategic partnership with Appear, a leader in high-...
12/12/2025
LOS ANGELES The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) today said futurist Robert Tercek, creative technologist Jessie Hughes from Leonardo.AI and Emmy-winnin...
12/12/2025
HUDSON, Mass. BitFire and Appear have struck a strategic partnership aimed at offering broadcasters, sports leagues and streaming platforms a faster, more flexi...
12/12/2025
The broadcast industry is evolving faster than ever. #IPWorkflows #remoteproduction, and next-gen audio systems are reshaping how teams design, deliver, and sca...
12/12/2025
LOS ANGELES The payroll and production accounting platform Wrapbook has announced the acquisition of Cinapse, a modern scheduling platform for film and televisi...
12/12/2025
DEHLI Ross Video has announced that it is expanding and restructuring its commercial and technical teams in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation...
12/12/2025
LONDON Following the success of its UK launch in January 2025, Rise AV, the global not-for-profit initiative dedicated to supporting and advancing women in the ...
12/12/2025
SAN FRANCISCO Ad-supported streaming service Tubi next week will launch Matter Casting, a new casting standard that will enable seamless mobile-to-TV viewing di...
12/12/2025
LOS ANGELES The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) today said futurist Robert Tercek, creative technologist Jessie Hughes from Leonardo.AI and Emmy-winnin...
12/12/2025
Friday 12 December 2025
Ted is back! Seth MacFarlane's live-action comedic ...
12/12/2025
In Las Vegas's T-Mobile Arena, fans of the Golden Knights are getting more than just hockey - they're getting a taste of the future. ADAM, a robot devel...
12/12/2025
Uachtar n na h ireann, Catherine Connolly visited RT Raidi na Gaeltachta's...
12/12/2025
Ireland AM host Eric Roberts has been revealed as the sixth contestant taking to...
12/12/2025
Scripps Research team pioneers an efficient way to stereoselectively add fluorine to drug-like molecules A new method uses a novel catalyst and inexpensive fluo...
11/12/2025
Thomson and the Center for News, Technology and Innovation (CNTI) convened a two-day workshop in Sarajevo bringing together more than 35 journalists, editors, p...
11/12/2025
ESPN's Aims for Spectacular With Heisman Trophy ShowEvent firsts include 1080p HDR production airing on both national broadcast and cableBy Dan Daley, Audio...
11/12/2025
SVG Students To Watch: Frankie Patton, University of ColoradoThe 2025 grad is hitting the ground running as a PA on national broadcastsBy Brandon Costa, Directo...
11/12/2025
SVG Summit 2025 Technology Exhibits Preview, Part 3By SVG Staff
Thursday, December 11, 2025 - 7:24 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
The 2...
11/12/2025
SVG Sit-Down: What Makes Gen Z, X, and Y Fans Tick? Dave Gavant of WSC Sports Go...
11/12/2025
SVG Summit 2025 Preview: 5G, MXL, Spectrum Loss, and Outerspace on Tap for Tues...
11/12/2025
2025 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame: David Levy, Turner Titan and Master of Al...
11/12/2025
SVG Launches Follow the Money' Podcast: Go Inside the Sports Media Biz with...
11/12/2025
A Deep Dive Inside Game Creek Video's Bird and Magic Mobile Units, Home to A...
11/12/2025
How Sound Effects for Monsters Funday Football' Emulated the Sonic Soul of ...
11/12/2025
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: CSP Mobile Productions' Len Chase on Upgrading Tr...
11/12/2025
Having the right song soundtrack your moves can make all the difference when gam...
11/12/2025
It's been a big year for Taylor Swift. Her highly anticipated album The Life...
11/12/2025
New satellites for the SDA Tranche 1 Tracking program in production at L3Harris&...
11/12/2025
The Meadowlands system, a compact and mobile version of the CCS, uses ground-based radio frequency units to disrupt satellite communications....
11/12/2025
The L3Harris demonstration united tactical communications devices, counter-UAS c...
11/12/2025
Throughout 2025, L3Harris delivered innovative solutions to U.S. and allied warfighters across every domain.
With an unrelenting commitment to excellence, our...
11/12/2025
A Majority of the World's Population (51%) Identify As Soccer Fans
The 2025 MLB postseason notched 58.2 billion viewing minutes, up +24% from the prior y...
11/12/2025
WALTHAM, Mass. Video-over-IP software provider Zixi said Roi Sasson has joined the company as vice president, engineering....
11/12/2025
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. In a move that highlights the growing competition between broadcasters and CTV platforms for local advertising, LG Ad Solutions has announ...