James Cameron

2026 Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award (Screens and Voices)

Filmmaker, explorer, inventor and environmental entrepreneur

James Cameron is an acclaimed filmmaker, explorer, inventor and environmental entrepreneur. As director, writer and producer, he is responsible for The Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, True Lies, Titanic, Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Avatar: Fire and Ash, as well as 12 documentaries, including Ghosts of the Abyss, The Game Changers, and the Emmy-winning Secrets of the Whales. His 1997 film Titanic held the record for highest-grossing film in the world for 12 years, surpassed only by his own Avatar in 2009. His films have earned numerous nominations and awards, most notably Titanic’s record 11 Oscars, including Best Picture. He has written, produced and directed three of the four highest-grossing films in history.
 
A National Geographic Society Explorer at Large, Mr. Cameron has led eight ocean expeditions and has developed unprecedented robotic and submersible vehicles, lighting, and 3D camera equipment for deep ocean exploration. Among his 75 deep submersible dives, he has dived to the Titanic wreck site 33 times, and dived solo to the Challenger Deep, the deepest place on Earth, in a sub of his own design in 2012, setting a world record. He is the recipient of National Geographic’s prestigious Hubbard Medal and the Explorers Club medal for Explorer of the Year.
 
Over the last 20 years, he has developed cutting edge 3D camera systems for television and cinema, and has invented new technology for movie visual effects, including facial performance capture and Simulcam real-time composite systems.
 
Mr. Cameron is a fierce advocate for sustainability, having founded the Avatar Alliance Foundation to take action on climate change, deforestation, Indigenous rights, ocean conservation, and sustainable agriculture. The Avatar sequels production is the first entirely vegan-catered motion picture set and is dedicated to being as green and sustainable as possible. It is powered by a one-megawatt solar array installed for that purpose. Mr. Cameron and his wife Suzy have founded multiple companies in the plant-based protein and foods space. They operate farms in Canada and New Zealand dedicated to improving regenerative and sustainable organic agronomy.
 
James Cameron is currently completing his 3D film of the Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft concert tour.