Behind-the-Camera Craftspeople Recognized as Audiences Return to Theaters

Variety has released its 2026 list of Artisans to Watch, honoring below-the-line film workers whose contributions typically go unseen by the public. Among those recognized are the head of the makeup department on "Obsession," the animation supervisor on "Project Hail Mary," and the composer of "La Bola Negra." The recognition arrives in a year the trade publication describes as one in which audiences filled theaters again for large-scale releases, including "The Odyssey," "Project Hail Mary," "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," "Toy Story 5" and "Michael." For readers in Beverly Hills and the surrounding film community, the list points to the makeup artists, animators and composers whose work underpins the pictures drawing those crowds.

With reporting from Variety Film.