88th Academy Awards:    'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' won the top honors for Best Publicity Campaign for Motion Pictures and EMPIRE won the Best Publicity Campaign in Television at the 53rd Annual ICG Publicists Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. 

"This is a changing and evolutionary time in every part of our industry. The mega-speed at which you have to get the information out there...makes your job more difficult every day. Without you nobody would know who any of us are, or would like to be," Steven Poster, ASC, president of the International Cinematographers Guild, said.

A Special Award of Merit went to famed lyricists and song writers Alan and Marilyn Bergman, presented by Johnny Mathis.  Additional presenters of this year's awards included Ed Asner (Up, Lou Grant), comedian Yakov Smirnoff (Happily Ever Laughter), Vanessa Cloke (The Big Short), Wayne Pére (The Big Short), and Amy Aquino (Bosch).

"The size and spirit of today's gathering is just a small reflection of the dedication with which publicists approach the work we do on a daily basis. It explains, also, the way our messages motivate so many people across our nation and around the world to visit movie theaters and watch shows in all kinds of mediums," Henri Bollinger said.

Barry Wetcher (Motion Picture) and Chuck Hodes (Television) received awards for Excellence in Still Photography, respectively. A special Les Mason Award was given posthumously to renown publicist Murray Weissman.

The Press Award went to Bryan Alexander, USA Today, and the International Media Award was bestowed upon Yuko Yoshikawa, Reuters Japan correspondent. The Bob Yeager Award for community service was given to Elaine Lazelle, Walt Disney Studio Senior Publicist.

Legendary comedian/actress Lily Tomlin received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Sally Field. Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films, was presented the Motion Picture Showmanship Award by Michael Keaton (Spotlight), while John Landgraf, CEO of FX Networks, received the Television Showmanship Award from award-winning writer, director and executive producer Ryan Murphy. 

THE WINNERS OF THE 53rd ANNUAL ICG PUBLICIST AWARDS ARE:

Maxwell Weinberg Award for Best Publicity Campaign for a Motion Picture:

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

Maxwell Weinberg Award for Best Publicity Campaign for a Television Program:

EMPIRE

Excellence in Unit Still Photography for Motion Pictures Award:

BARRY WETCHER

Excellence in Unit Still Photography for Television Award:

CHUCK HODES

Les Mason Award, the highest honor publicists can bestow on one of their own:

MURRAY WEISSMAN (posthumously)

Bob Yeager Award for community service:

ELAINE LAZELLE, Walt Disney Studio Senior Publicist

Press Award:

BRYAN ALEXANDER, USA Today

International Media Award:

YUKO YOSHIKAWA - Reuters Japan