Josh Simmonds

Biography:

Josh Simmonds is a Melbourne-based visual effects supervisor at Framestore. He began his journey in animation and VFX roles in London and Sydney before joining Iloura (which later became Method Studios) in 2004. During his tenure there, he took on roles such as lighting technical director before evolving into a supervisory capacity. In his career, Josh has earned acclaim for his work on both auteur projects and large-scale studio productions. Notably, he contributed to The Ballad of Buster Scruggs by the Coen Brothers and the locally produced Judy & Punch, where he served as on-set VFX supervisor. One of his most celebrated achievements during this period was his instrumental role in creating the epic "loot train battle" sequence in the Game of Thrones episode "The Spoils of War" (2017). This work earned him the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Award for Best Visual Effects or Animation. Throughout 2021, Josh was the VFX supervisor on several high-profile releases: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), Candyman (2021), and The Tomorrow War. His contributions reflect his ability to navigate both superhero tentpoles and nuanced horror films with equal skill. He continued this trajectory by overseeing visual effects for the Baz Luhrmann biopic Elvis (2022), another major undertaking under Method Studios (now part of Framestore). Josh's recognition extends beyond Australian awards. His work on Elvis earned the AACTA Award for Best Visual Effects or Animation in December 2022—an achievement shared with a team that included Tom Wood, Fiona Crawford, Julian Hutchens, and Adam Hammond. He was also nominated in 2022 for a Visual Effects Society (VES) Award in the category of Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature for Candyman. In addition, Josh's involvement in the Game of Thrones episode "The Spoils of War" (2017) earned him and the team the 2017 AACTA Award for Best Visual Effects or Animation.