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Technicolor group’s VFX pioneer The Mill closes as creative team joins new venture – Variety report
MUMBAI: Technicolor group outfit, visual effects studio, The Mill has closed its doors after 35 years of operation, with its US creative team promptly establishing a new venture called Arc Creative in partnership with Dream Machine FX, Variety has reported.
The closure, which took effect on Monday, comes amid ongoing financial difficulties at parent company Technicolor, which has begun shutting down parts of its business. More than 100 artists from The Mill US issued a joint statement to Variety expressing their shock but ultimate resolve to continue their creative legacy.
“While The Mill as we know it has shut its doors, its spirit, its passion, and its legacy live on through its amazing and talented people,” the statement read.
Arc Creative will focus primarily on short-form work including advertising, game cinematics and trailers. The new venture’s leadership includes former Mill US executive creative directors Robert Sethi and Gavin Wellsman, alongside managing directors Angela Lupo and Anastasia von Rahl.
Dream Machine FX chairman David Li told Variety: “We have always held The Mill in the highest regard and the shutting of its doors is a sad day for the entire industry.”
Founded in London in 1990, The Mill earned numerous industry accolades including Cannes Lions, Clios and Visual Effects Society Awards. The studio was also the lead VFX house for “Gladiator,” which won the Academy Award for Visual Effects in 2000.
The team is currently working to secure office space in Los Angeles and New York.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
