Jon Favreau was honored by the Visual Effects Society (VES) at the VES Honors Celebration on November 7, 2025, at Sony Pictures Imageworks' new facility in Los Angeles. Favreau was made an Honorary Member of the VES. The Visual Effects Society annually recognizes individuals who have significantly impacted the art and science of visual effects. According to the VES Board Chair, Kim Davidson, the annual VES Honors Celebration serves to acknowledge the incredible contributors to the industry and to give this year's recipients their well-deserved recognition.
Jon Favreau has directed films such as Iron Man (2008), The Jungle Book (2016), The Lion King (2019), and the television series The Mandalorian (2019-2023). Favreau's work often incorporates groundbreaking digital effects. He also executive produced both seasons of the docu-series Prehistoric Planet for Apple TV+ and the BBC.
Favreau's acting credits include Swingers, which he also wrote, The Wolf of Wall Street, and the role of Rocky Marciano in the biopic Rocky Marciano. His television appearances include Seinfeld, Friends, and The Sopranos.
Favreau's previous awards include a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023, being named a Disney Legend in 2019, and receiving the Visual Effects Society's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. In 2018, Mike Chambers, the VES board chair said that Favreau has created exceptionally humanistic stories through his vision, unique approach to storytelling and full embrace of emerging technology to enhance the movie-going experience.
Also honored at the 2025 VES Honors Celebration was Tim Sweeney, the founder and CEO of Epic Games, who was also inducted as an honorary VES member. Sweeney revolutionized the industry with the Unreal Engine, which facilitated breakthroughs in real-time rendering and virtual production. Bob Coleman received the VES Founders Award for his sustained contributions to the art, science, and business of VFX. Dennis Hoffman received an Honorary VES Lifetime Membership for his dedication to the Society. Colin Campbell, Darin Grant, and Gayle Munro were recognized as VES Fellows for their outstanding contributions to VFX. Glenn Campbell (1956-2024), Mabel Normand (1893-1930), and Eiji Tsuburaya (1901-1970) were inducted into the VES Hall of Fame for their pioneering work.
