Illumination’s Chris Meledandri to Receive the David O. Selznick Award at the 2025 Producers Guild Awards
LOS ANGELES, CA — The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced today that Chris Meledandri, founder and CEO of Illumination, will be honored with the 2025 David O. Selznick Achievement Award for his extraordinary producing accomplishments. He will accept the honor at the 36th Annual Producers Guild Awards on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
The Producers Guild of America’s Selznick Achievement Award recognizes a producer for their outstanding body of work in motion pictures. Meledandri will become only the second animation producer in the history of the PGA to receive this prestigious honor. The Selznick Award has a rich and distinguished history, with past recipients including such legendary producers as Steven Spielberg, Barbara Broccoli, Mary Parent, Charles Roven, Brian Grazer, David Heyman, Kevin Feige, and most recently Martin Scorsese.
"The extraordinary vision and innovation Chris brings to animated feature films has not only captivated audiences of all ages but also been instrumental in reshaping the entertainment landscape," said Producers Guild of America Presidents Donald De Line and Stephanie Allain in a joint statement. "His hands-on, meticulous approach to producing has resulted in the rare accomplishment of record-breaking films and beloved franchises. We are proud to honor Chris with this prestigious award as a leader in both the animation industry and our industry as a whole."
Meledandri stated, “Being recognized by my peers with the David O. Selznick award is one of the most meaningful moments in my career. However, it makes me realize how much more I have to accomplish in my third act to earn an association with this legend. His influence on the artistry of motion pictures remains one of the most profound in cinematic history. I learned about life sitting in dark theaters, witnessing the magic of cinema—images that would shape my entire journey. Early in my career, I was fortunate enough to work with legendary filmmakers who taught me the intricacies of storytelling, production, and connecting with an audience. Their mentorship laid the foundation for everything I do today, instilling in me a deep appreciation for the craft and the collaborative effort it requires. My accomplishments in this industry have been enabled by countless filmmakers, artists, crew members, actors, studio colleagues and my fellow producers. I am deeply grateful to the PGA for this honor."
A pioneer in the entertainment industry, Meledandri is known for some of the most successful and highest-grossing animated films and franchises of all time. Since founding Illumination in 2007, Meledandri has produced 15 feature films. Among these films are the four Despicable Me movies and two Minions movies, which comprise the most successful animated franchise in history, and the record-breaking The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
Driven by the goal of uniting audiences of all ages globally and making an enormous impact on culture, Meledandri has reshaped the animation landscape by introducing beloved, unforgettable characters that have become ingrained in the pop culture zeitgeist. One of the most remarkable aspects of Meledandri’s work is his ability to transcend the screen, creating stories that form deep emotional connections and inspire passionate fandom. Illumination’s films strike the perfect balance between being subversive and emotionally engaging, allowing them to resonate far beyond the theater. This unique approach has not only resulted in box office success—grossing nearly $11 billion worldwide—but also earned critical acclaim, including an Academy Award nomination and several PGA Award nominations.
Meledandri’s producing credits include Despicable Me, The Lorax, Hop, Minions, The Secret Life of Pets, Sing, The Grinch, The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Migration. Before founding Illumination, which has an exclusive financing and distribution partnership with Universal Pictures, Meledandri was President of 20th Century Fox Animation, where he executive produced some of the studio’s most popular films, including the Ice Age films, Robots, and Horton Hears a Who. Meledandri also executive produced Cool Runnings. Upcoming Illumination films include Minions 3 and a new animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros.
Sponsors of the 2025 Producers Guild Awards include Cadillac, the Official Vehicle, Delta Air Lines, the Official Airline, Glenfiddich Scotch Whisky, and GreenSlate.