Hook: Royce Hall turned into editing HQ — where sharp cuts, beat-perfect jokes and emotional pacing got their moment in the spotlight. The ACE Eddie Awards brought editors, filmmakers and fans together for an evening that felt part party, part industry weather check for awards season.
Quick takeaways
– Sinners and One Battle After Another scored top feature editing honors, signaling both strong craft and awards buzz.
– Animated, documentary and TV winners showed editing’s power to shape tone — from punchlines to intimate testimony.
– Special tributes put editors front and center: career wins and a filmmaker shout-out reminded everyone how much the cut determines what we feel on screen.
Why the Eddies matter
The Eddies are a peer-driven preview of the season. Editors vote on editors, so a win here often carries weight with the Oscars and sets editors up for bigger gigs and more creative control. Think of the ceremony as the editing community pointing to what kinds of rhythms, risks and storytelling choices are trending.
Feature film winners — what they mean
– Sinners — Best Edited Feature Drama (Michael P. Shawver) Shawver’s win celebrates editing that pushes tempo and surprises audiences. He praised Ryan Coogler’s daring choices — a reminder that when director and editor click, the story’s pulse can shift wildly and effectively.
– One Battle After Another — Best Edited Comedy/Musical (Andy Jurgensen) This nod was about timing: tight beats, tone control and comic rhythm that keep the laughs landing without losing shape.
Animated and documentary highlights
– KPop Demon Hunters — Best Edited Animated Feature Judges loved the kinetic cutting — edits that sync to music and visual jokes so the energy never dips.
– The Perfect Neighbor — Best Edited Documentary Feature Netflix’s pick stood out for how it turned scattered testimonies into a clear emotional throughline, honoring subjects without flattening their voices.
TV, shorts and series — editing that makes scenes sing
– The Pitt (“6pm”) — Best Edited Drama A win for building tension while keeping us rooted in character choices.
– The Studio (“The Promotion”) — Best Edited Single-Camera Comedy Crisp comic timing and storytelling that respects both jokes and beats.
– Frasier (“Murder Most Finch”) — Best Edited Multi-Camera Comedy Precise rhythm between actors and coverage — classic sitcom craft.
– South Park (“Twisted Christian”) — Best Edited Animated Series Sharp, fearless cutting that serves the show’s provocative voice.
– Pee-wee as Himself – Part One — Best Edited Documentary Series Editor Damian Rodriguez dedicated the award to Paul Reubens and the team who resurrected a distinct comedic timing and persona.
– All The Empty Rooms — Best Edited Short Erin Casper focused the edit on people and place, centering humanity while steering clear of sensational details.
– Reality/Non-scripted honors (e.g., Conan O’Brien Must Go) Judges rewarded inventive structures and pacing that turn messy real-life moments into coherent stories.
Special honors and tributes
Ang Lee grabbed the ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award and used his stage time to elevate editor Tim Squyres — crediting Squyres for shaping his cinematic voice. His cooking-and-editing metaphor stuck: shooting supplies the ingredients; editing is where flavor happens.
Other recognitions included the ACE Visionary Award (Kim Larson and YouTube Will) and Career Achievement Awards for Arthur Forney, ACE, and Robert Leighton. These tributes spotlight both new-media innovation and long-running excellence.
How the Eddies map onto Oscars and careers
Historically, winners in the Eddies’ film categories often match up with Oscar nods. Beyond trophies, the real currency is momentum: editors who win here often gain bargaining power, higher-profile projects and creative latitude. For awards-watchers, the Eddies are a smart lens for spotting which editing styles and storytelling choices are resonating industry-wide.
Notable names to remember
– Henk van Eeghen — The Penguin (limited series)
– Matthew Shaw & Brad Roelandt — reality editing winners
– Luis Barragan — Anne V. Coates Award (student editing) It was a reminder that editing is storytelling’s secret engine — the thing that decides when you laugh, when you cry and when a movie takes your breath away. The Eddies showed what editors are currently valuing: bold rhythms, exacting comedic timing, and edits that honor real people’s voices. Those choices are already shaping awards season and the next wave of projects editors will lead.