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Saturn Award

Media type(s):Film, Television
Criteria:
  • To be eligible for a Saturn Award, a film must have been screened for the general Academy membership in California.
  • Members currently vote for the Best Films of the year. Academy committees decide both the nominations and ultimate winners in each area committee (direction, writing, music etc.). When the accountant knows the results, he contacts the President who confidentially informs the winners. Winners are then invited to attend the annual dinner/awards show to pick up their statuette.
Initiator:Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films
Time Specification:regular
Geographic Specification:national
Given:1978-
Comments:
  • The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films began in 1972 under the auspices of film historian and author Dr. Donald A. Reed. He established the organization as a non-profit corporation designed to honor, recognize and promote the science fiction, fantasy and horror genres which he felt were never given the respect they so richly deserved as quality films. In those early years, genre films were thought of as "kiddie films designed to mindlessly entertain". Dr. Reed helped to bring credibility to these genres by forming an organization which voted awards to these films which were filled with creative imagination and brought quality to the annals of filmmaking period. He began the annual ritual well known today as the prestigious Saturn Awards.
  • Dr. Reed began handing out awards which in the beginning were Golden Scroll certificates. For five years, this was the official award handed out by the non-profit organization. In 1977, Dr. Reed signed a deal with a prominent television producer to do a nationally syndicated show, The Science Fiction Film Awards. This show led to the beginning of the prestigious Saturn Awards. Star Trek Actor William Shatner hosted the first two televised events, with Mark Hamill (I) (from Star Wars (1977)) hosting the third year. Following these three televised shows, the Academy continued voting annual awards, but the subsequent shows were not televised. It was always Dr. Reed's hope to find a suitable home for the annual event which he spent his lifetime nurturing.
  • In the 80's, Dr. Reed and the Academy leaders met with various independent producers who believed they had the ability of taking the show to television. All of these independent producers failed in their attempts to finalize a TV deal. The 80's proved to be very frustrating for the Academy leaders.
  • In the 90's, the Academy opted to produce the shows themselves. The shows were dinners followed by an awards show. In the last decade, the Academy proved they could deftly produce their own Saturn Awards dinners and be very successful with them. The decade proved to be quite satisfying for the Academy leaders as many of the top persons in the industry got behind the organization and supported the annual dinner. The Academy proved to be very consistent and successful in their endeavors and received great respect from top industry leaders. The Academy began adding new categories including television programming, awards to films in the action/adventure/thriller categories and a youth award. These enhanced the annual event. (Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films)
Official website(s):http://www.saturnawards.org/

Golden Scroll

Media type(s):Film, Television
Format/Amount:certificate
Initiator:Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films
Time Specification:regular
Geographic Specification:national
Given:1973-1977
Comments:
  • The Golden Scroll was the official main award in the early years of the event.

Golden Scroll of Merit

Media type(s):Film, Television
Initiator:Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films
Time Specification:irregular
Geographic Specification:national

Silver Scroll

Media type(s):Film, Television
Initiator:Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films
Time Specification:irregular
Geographic Specification:national

Hall of Fame

Media type(s):Film, Television
Time Specification:regular
Geographic Specification:national

Cinescape Genre Face of the Future Award

Media type(s):Film, Television
Criteria:
  • The award is voted for by the readers of Cinescape who will choose via a poll on www.cinescape.com. (as of 2002)
Initiator:Cinescape magazine
Time Specification:regular
Geographic Specification:national
Given:2002-

Outstanding Film Award

Media type(s):Film, Television
Initiator:Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films
Time Specification:regular
Geographic Specification:national

Special Award

Media type(s):Film, Television
Initiator:Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films
Time Specification:irregular
Geographic Specification:national

Filmmaker's Showcase Award

Media type(s):Film, Television
Initiator:Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films
Time Specification:irregular
Geographic Specification:national

Visionary Award

Media type(s):Film, Television
Criteria:
  • The award honors a luminary in business who has turned science fiction into reality through business, science, research and entrepreneurship for the benefit of all mankind.
Initiator:Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films
Time Specification:irregular
Geographic Specification:national

Most Popular International Performer

Media type(s):Film, Television
Time Specification:regular
Geographic Specification:national

Best New Star Award

Media type(s):Film, Television
Initiator:Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films
Time Specification:irregular
Geographic Specification:national

Rising Star Award

Media type(s):Film, Television
Initiator:Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films
Time Specification:regular
Geographic Specification:national

Outstanding Achievement to the Academy

Media type(s):Film, Television
Time Specification:regular
Geographic Specification:national

George Pal Memorial Award

Media type(s):Film, Television
Initiator:Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films
Time Specification:irregular
Geographic Specification:national
Comments:
  • The award is named after George Pal, who produced and directed the film industry's greatest fantasy film classics.

Posthumous Award

Media type(s):Film, Television
Initiator:Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films
Time Specification:irregular
Geographic Specification:national

Life Career Award

Media type(s):Film, Television
Initiator:Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films
Time Specification:regular
Geographic Specification:national

Lifetime Achievement Award

Media type(s):Film, Television
Initiator:Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films
Time Specification:regular
Geographic Specification:national

President's Award

Official Name:Dr. Donald A. Reed President's Award (2001-)
Media type(s):Film, Television
Initiator:Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films
Time Specification:irregular
Geographic Specification:national
Comments:
  • The award is named after the academy's founder, Dr. Donald A. Reed, and is given in the spirit of his unending enthusiasm and work in honoring and paying tribute to filmmakers for over 40 years.

Executive Achievement Award

Media type(s):Film, Television
Initiator:Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films
Time Specification:irregular
Geographic Specification:national

Service Award

Media type(s):Film, Television
Initiator:Academy of Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Films
Time Specification:irregular
Geographic Specification:national