A Pembrokeshire man is celebrating after receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects for his work on survival drama The Lost Bus.
RUSSELL BOWEN, originally from Pembrokeshire, is part of a four-strong team recognised by the Academy. He shares the nomination with Charlie Noble, David Zaretti and Brandon McLaughlin for the gripping film, which is based on a real-life rescue mission during the devastating 2018 Californian wildfires.
The Lost Bus tells the dramatic story of a bus driver who guides 22 children to safety as flames close in around them, battling through smoke and chaos to escape the deadly inferno. The film’s visual effects have been widely praised for capturing both the scale and intensity of the disaster.
Bowen previously spent 14 years with leading visual effects company DNEG, contributing to major Hollywood productions including Venom, The Fate of the Furious and Star Trek Beyond.
More recently, he joined beloFX, where he has worked on high-profile projects such as The Acolyte and entries within the Star Wars franchise. He is currently working on a forthcoming horror film with Warner Bros..
Speaking about the nomination, Bowen said: “Just to be nominated for an Oscar is incredible.”
The recognition marks a major achievement for the Pembrokeshire creative, placing him among the film industry’s elite and shining a spotlight on local talent making waves on the global stage.
