CinemaCon award honorees

CinemaCon has set its 2026 Big Screen Achievement Awards lineup, with James Cameron leading a seven-person group for the April 16 ceremony in Las Vegas. (cinemaunited.org) The other announced honorees are Queen Latifah, LaKeith Stanfield, Zoey Deutch, Adam Scott, Noah Centineo and Catherine Lagaʻaia. Their awards range from Cultural Impact in Film to Rising Star of 2026. (cinemaunited.org) Cinema United said the awards will be held at the Dolby Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Thursday, April 16, closing out CinemaCon’s four-day convention. The 2026 gathering runs from April 13 through April 16 at Caesars Palace. (cinemaunited.org) The Big Screen Achievement Awards are CinemaCon’s showcase for talent tied to theatrical moviegoing, not a general film academy prize. Cinema United said the event is meant to let exhibitors recognize performers and filmmakers “behind the movies made for the theatrical experience.” (cinemaunited.org) That framing puts the awards inside a trade convention built around theater owners, studio presentations and the business of getting audiences into cinemas. CinemaCon’s official site says the event draws attendees from more than 80 countries and serves as the official convention of Cinema United. (cinemacon.com) Cameron’s award is the Cinema United Spirit of the Industry honor, and the announcement ties it to his upcoming concert film, “Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D),” which Paramount Pictures is set to release in theaters on May 8, 2026. (cinemaunited.org) Queen Latifah is set to receive the Cultural Impact in Film award ahead of her return as Ellie in “Ice Age: Boiling Point,” which the announcement says is due in theaters on February 5, 2027. (cinemaunited.org) Zoey Deutch’s inclusion fills out the full list beyond the initial six names carried in some summaries; The Hollywood Reporter identified her as the Vanguard Award recipient. The same report said Entertainment Tonight host Nischelle Turner will emcee the ceremony, replacing Kevin Frazier, who hosted in prior years. (hollywoodreporter.com) Cinema United President and Chief Executive Michael O’Leary said the group reflects “the power of seeing a movie on the big screen.” The awards will serve as the closing-night salute for an industry that spends the rest of the week in Las Vegas selling the theatrical slate ahead. (cinemaunited.org)