Kate Hudson and Jimmy Kimmel expressed their gratitude for the publicity side of the entertainment business as they accepted special honors at the 2026 ICG Publicists Awards held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills Friday afternoon.
“Making movies is an extraordinary process; it doesn’t end when we wrap,” said Song Sung Blue Oscar nominee Hudson as she accepted the award for Motion Picture Showperson of the Year. “We are also tasked with bringing that magic to audiences, and publicity is a huge part of that. I’m the showperson and you’re the ship.”
Kimmel, who was presented with the President’s Award, a rare honor only handed out in the case of extraordinary circumstances, provided a pre-recorded acceptance speech thanking the guild for the recognition in light of his suspension last September following remarks about Donald Trump and the murder of Charlie Kirk.
“The reason I’m here is to thank you for 23 years of partnership and support,” Kimmel stated. “I would like to dedicate this to those of you who work so hard to shine a light on everyone other than yourselves.”
The late-night talk show host also personally thanked his long-time publicist Lewis Kay, whom he’s worked with since 1998, before joking, “I’ve never caused him any problems at all.”
Noah Wyle had the distinction of being named Television Showperson of the Year, highlighting his work as an actor and a producer on The Pitt.
“I am so proud to have brought a television show with John [Wells] back to this city that I love, a 15-episode show that employs hundreds and hundreds of artisans and artists, and showcases their talents to the world,” Wyle said in his remarks. “This town has weathered great changes before, and in fact that is what brought these guilds and unions into existence, the belief in the power of collective, the strength in our solidarity and primacy of our creativity.”
The Pitt also received the Maxwell Weinberg Award for Television Publicity Campaign, the organization’s top TV prize. On the film side, the Maxwell Weinberg Award for Motion Picture Publicity Campaign went to Sinners.
Other distinguished honors went to Cynthia Swartz, who received the Bob Yeager Award for Community Service, and Pamela Golum, who was presented with the Henri Bollinger Award for Special Merit.
See the full list of winners below.
Les Mason Award for Career Achievement in Publicity
Carri McClure, Unit Publicist
Chrissy Quesada, Sony Pictures (WINNER)
Claire Raskind, Unit Publicist
Gina Soliz, Warner Bros. Pictures
Kimberly Wire, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Publicist of the Year Award
Michelle Alt, Paramount Pictures (WINNER)
Frankie De La Vara, Walt Disney Studios
Katie Lovick, Sony Pictures
Liza Nedelman, Warner Bros. Pictures
Danielle Roque, Paramount Pictures International
International Media Award
Jason Di Rosso, The Screen Show, ABC Radio Network, Australia
Elaine Guerini, Valor Econômico, Brazil
Cleide Klock, Freelancer, Brazil
Ali Plumb, BBC Radio, United Kingdom (WINNER)
Gill Pringle, Freelancer, United Kingdom/Australia
Press Award
Erik Davis, Fandango
Angelique Jackson, Variety
Kevin McCarthy, On Film…With Kevin McCarthy (WINNER)
Jazz Tangcay, Variety
Kara Warner, Freelancer
Excellence in Unit Still Photography Award – Motion Picture
Justin Lubin
Atsushi Nishijima (WINNER)
Macall Polay
Stefania Rosini
JoJo Whilden
Excellence in Unit Still Photography Award – Television
Jessica Brooks
Brian Douglas
Jake Giles Netter (WINNER)
Elizabeth Morris
Erin Simkin
