Carpenter named ACE Filmmaker of Year

John Carpenter has been selected to receive the American Cinema Editors Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year award. The 77th annual ACE Eddie Awards ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 6.

Carpenter is a director, writer, producer, and composer. He first gained wide recognition with the 1978 film Halloween. His other directing credits include The Thing, Escape from New York, and Vampires. He released the album Cathedral earlier this year.

Sabrina Plisco, the ACE president, announced the selection. She stated that Carpenter makes films that linger with the audience. Plisco noted that few directors understand rhythm and tension as well as he does. She said he has consistently trusted his editors to help find that rhythm.

The award will be presented at a ceremony hosted by Patton Oswalt. Nominations for the event will be announced on Jan. 14. The awards recognize editing work across film and television.

Editors Bonnie Koehler and Christopher Nelson will also receive ACE Career Achievement awards. Koehler has worked for more than 40 years. She edited 15 feature films and nine primetime series. Her credits include The Empire Strikes Back and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Nelson has worked on more than 70 television series and films. He won a Primetime Emmy for editing the series finale of Lost. He also earned nominations for Mad Men and Six Feet Under. Plisco described both editors as generous contributors to the editing community.