Jamie Lee Curtis, Skip Chaisson, and Frank Chiocchi to be Honored at the 2026 Clio Entertainment Awards
The 2026 Clio Entertainment Awards will serve as a high-profile celebration of the architects behind the modern cinematic experience, honoring an eclectic group of industry titans whose work has redefined the landscape of film and television marketing. Scheduled for November 19 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the ceremony will recognize the contributions of Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis, creative visionary Skip Chaisson, and Disney executive Frank Chiocchi. Comedian and writer Cat Cohen has been tapped to host the event, bringing her distinct brand of humor to a night dedicated to the art of the campaign.
Celebrating Half a Century of Iconic Impact
Jamie Lee Curtis, a performer whose career has spanned five decades and traversed nearly every genre of modern storytelling, will receive the Honorary Clio Entertainment Award. The honor serves as a formal acknowledgment of her enduring influence, particularly regarding how horror cinema is perceived and marketed to global audiences.
Curtis’s legacy is inextricably linked to the horror genre, specifically her breakout role as Laurie Strode in John Carpenter’s 1978 masterpiece, Halloween. By establishing the archetype of the "scream queen," Curtis did more than anchor a successful franchise; she fundamentally altered the way studios approached the marketing of horror, transforming the genre from a niche B-movie category into a mainstream cultural powerhouse.
However, her career has evolved far beyond the confines of the genre that made her a household name. In recent years, Curtis has experienced a profound professional renaissance. Her 2023 Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actress in the genre-bending Everything Everywhere All at Once underscored her ability to pivot between high-concept drama and experimental comedy, while her Emmy-winning turn in the critically acclaimed series The Bear showcased her range in the modern streaming era. The Clio committee highlighted that Curtis’s impact on the arts remains a blueprint for how talent can shape the cultural trajectory of a project through both performance and public engagement.
Recognizing the Visionaries Behind the Trailer
The Trailblazer Award will be presented to Skip Chaisson, a creative force whose influence on cinematic trailer storytelling has helped define the visual language of modern film marketing. As the founder of Skip Film and a key creative contributor at Wild Card Creative Group, Chaisson has been instrumental in crafting the narrative hooks for some of the most significant motion pictures of the last 30 years.
Chaisson’s portfolio reads like a history of modern blockbuster cinema, with work on campaigns for Titanic, Gladiator, and Gravity. His ability to distill complex, high-budget epics into compelling two-minute trailers has set a standard for the industry. Beyond his contributions to the trailer medium, Chaisson also demonstrated entrepreneurial foresight by co-founding the El Rey Network alongside Robert Rodriguez, a venture that aimed to bridge the gap between niche programming and mainstream cable television. The Trailblazer Award specifically recognizes his "signature style and bold creative choices," noting that his work often serves as the primary bridge between a film’s production and its eventual box office success.
Lifetime Achievement in Strategic Marketing
Frank Chiocchi, the executive vice president of marketing at Walt Disney Studios, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. This distinction recognizes a career defined by longevity, strategic acumen, and the successful navigation of shifting distribution models.
Chiocchi’s career trajectory offers a window into the evolution of Hollywood marketing. His early work at Craig Murray Productions, including pivotal campaigns for Pixar’s Toy Story, demonstrated an early understanding of how to market computer-generated imagery to a skeptical public. As he moved into leadership roles at Universal Pictures and later Disney, he became a master of the "event film" campaign.
One of his most significant contributions to the industry’s infrastructure was the creation of The Hive, Disney’s internal creative agency. By bringing creative talent in-house, Chiocchi fundamentally changed how Disney interacts with its own IP, allowing for more cohesive, data-driven, and rapid-response marketing campaigns in an era defined by social media saturation. The Clio organizers noted that his work has not only facilitated the success of major franchises but has also served as a training ground for a new generation of marketing professionals.
The Host: Cat Cohen’s Expanding Footprint
Cat Cohen, who will serve as the master of ceremonies, represents the new guard of entertainment creators. A standout performer whose 2019 Edinburgh Comedy Award-winning show The Twist… She’s Gorgeous transitioned seamlessly into a popular Netflix special, Cohen has cultivated a career that defies traditional categorization. Her presence as a host reflects the Clio Entertainment Awards’ commitment to bridging the gap between traditional industry honors and the current generation of digital-first content creators. With screen credits including Only Murders in the Building and Girls5eva, Cohen’s involvement underscores the event’s focus on the intersection of comedy, streaming, and modern performance art.
Historical Context and the Clio Legacy
The Clio Entertainment Awards trace their roots back to 1971, when they were originally established by The Hollywood Reporter. At the time, the advertising landscape was centered on print, radio, and television spots. Over the past 53 years, the awards have evolved to mirror the technological shifts in the industry, expanding to include categories for digital content, interactive marketing, and social media campaigns.
Today, the Clio Entertainment program stands as one of the five primary verticals of the Clios, an organization that remains the global benchmark for creative excellence. The selection process is rigorous, involving a panel of international industry leaders who evaluate entries based on original concept, execution, and cultural impact. The ceremony on November 19 will not only honor the career-long achievements of Curtis, Chaisson, and Chiocchi but will also reveal the winners of the year’s Grand, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Clio awards, as well as the coveted "Of the Year" honors.
Industry Implications and Future Trends
The selection of these specific honorees signals a broader shift in how the industry views "marketing." In an age of fragmented media consumption, the marketing professional is no longer just a vendor of trailers or posters; they are architects of digital ecosystems.
The recognition of Frank Chiocchi’s work with The Hive, for example, points to a broader trend of studios internalizing their creative marketing departments to ensure brand consistency across platforms. Similarly, the celebration of Skip Chaisson’s trailer work acknowledges that in a world of infinite content, the "hook" remains the most valuable commodity in entertainment.
Furthermore, honoring Jamie Lee Curtis serves as a reminder of the symbiotic relationship between star power and marketing strategy. In the modern era, a star’s ability to engage with audiences directly—through social media, press tours, and behind-the-scenes storytelling—has become just as important as the film’s production values. Curtis’s career trajectory, from the exploitation horror of the late 70s to the prestige accolades of the 2020s, provides a masterclass in professional longevity and audience relationship management.
As the entertainment industry continues to grapple with the rise of artificial intelligence, the transition to streaming-first distribution, and the changing demands of a globalized audience, the Clio Entertainment Awards remain a critical forum for acknowledging what works. By honoring those who have spent decades defining the industry, the 2026 ceremony aims to ground the future of entertainment in the foundational principles of creativity, narrative precision, and deep, emotional resonance. The upcoming ceremony at the Dolby Theatre will, above all, be a testament to the fact that while technology changes, the human desire to be captivated by a well-told, well-marketed story remains constant.
