This latest recognition adds to Baneham’s previous Academy Awards for his work on Avatar (2009) and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022). His third Oscar was shared with fellow visual effects specialists Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett, highlighting the collaborative effort behind the film’s groundbreaking visual achievements.
Accepting the award, Baneham acknowledged the enormous scale of the project and paid tribute to the people who supported the production. He began by thanking the families of the crew members, recognising the sacrifices made behind the scenes. “First and foremost, thank you to our families,” he said. “There’s 2,200 artists. This is a massive collaboration on the VFX side.” He also emphasised that the visual effects team worked closely with many other departments across the film.
Baneham also expressed his appreciation to director James Cameron, praising his creative influence on the production. “Jim Cameron, go raibh míle maith agat,” he said.” He added that Cameron “literally informs every frame of the movie” and plays a major role in shaping the film’s visual effects.
Irish political leaders were quick to congratulate Baneham on his achievement. Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the Oscar as a “well-deserved win” in a message shared on social media. Meanwhile, Minister for Culture Patrick O’Donovan said Baneham’s third Academy Award reflects both his extraordinary expertise and his leadership in one of the most technically advanced areas of modern filmmaking. He added that the achievement demonstrates the significant contribution Irish artists are making to major international productions.
President Catherine Connolly also praised Baneham’s success, calling it a “truly remarkable” accomplishment. She noted that his repeated recognition at the Oscars reflects his reputation as one of the leading technicians in the global film industry.
Baneham’s victory was one of only two Irish wins at this year’s ceremony. Actor Jessie Buckley also claimed an Oscar, taking home the award for Best Actress.
Elsewhere, Irish filmmaker John Kelly received a nomination for Best Animated Short for his seven-minute film Retirement Plan, which tells the story of a middle-aged man imagining life after retirement. However, the award ultimately went to the stop-motion short The Girl Who Cried Pearls.
