Illumination’s Chris Meledandri Set For PGA’s David O. Selznick Award
Chris Meledandri, founder and CEO of animation powerhouse Illumination, is set to receive the David O. Selznick Achievement Award at the 36th Annual Producers Guild Awards, taking place at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on Saturday, February 8.
The PGA’s Selznick Achievement Award recognizes a producer for their outstanding body of work in motion pictures, and with his recognition this season, Meledrandi will become just the second animation producer ever to receive the honor. Past recipients include such legendary producers as Steven Spielberg, Barbara Broccoli, Mary Parent, Charles Roven, Brian Grazer, David Heyman, Kevin Feige, and most recently Martin Scorsese.
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Reflected PGA Presidents Donald De Line and Stephanie Allain in a joint statement, “The extraordinary vision and innovation Chris brings to animated feature films has not only captivated audiences of all ages but also been instrumental in reshaping the entertainment landscape. His hands-on, meticulous approach to producing has resulted in the rare accomplishment of record-breaking films and beloved franchises. We are proud to honor Chris with this prestigious award as a leader in both the animation industry and our industry as a whole.”
Stated Meledandri on the honor, “Being recognized by my peers with the David O. Selznick award is one of the most meaningful moments in my career. However, it makes me realize how much more I have to accomplish in my third act to earn an association with this legend. His influence on the artistry of motion pictures remains one of the most profound in cinematic history.”
Continued the producer, “I learned about life sitting in dark theaters, witnessing the magic of cinema—images that would shape my entire journey. Early in my career, I was fortunate enough to work with legendary filmmakers who taught me the intricacies of storytelling, production, and connecting with an audience. Their mentorship laid the foundation for everything I do today, instilling in me a deep appreciation for the craft and the collaborative effort it requires. My accomplishments in this industry have been enabled by countless filmmakers, artists, crew members, actors, studio colleagues and my fellow producers. I am deeply grateful to the PGA for this honor.”
Coming off of huge success with Despicable Me 4, which grossed more than $963 million worldwide over the summer, Meledandri’s Illumination has produced 15 features in total since its 2007 founding. Among these films are four Despicable Me films and two Minions, which comprise the most successful animated franchise in history, and the record-breaking The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Last year, that film established itself as the fourth highest-grossing animated title of all time at over $1.3B worldwide before going on to score three Golden Globe nominations.
To date, Melendrandri’s films have grossed nearly $11 billion. Before founding Illumination, which has an exclusive financing and distribution partnership with Universal Pictures, Meledandri was President of 20th Century Fox Animation, where he executive produced some of the studio’s most popular titles, including the Ice Age films, Robots, and Horton Hears a Who.
Upcoming Illumination films include Minions 3 and a new animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros.
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