Rick Baker, the makeup artist who transformed Michael Jackson into a werewolf for Thriller and created some of Hollywood's most iconic creature designs, will receive the Vision Award at this year's Locarno Film Festival.
According to Deadline Hollywood, Baker will receive the award at the festival's Piazza Grande on August 12.
Baker designed the grotesque transformations in An American Werewolf in London, the monstrous Professor Klump in Eddie Murphy's The Nutty Professor, and countless other Hollywood films. His work on Michael Jackson's Thriller music video defined the form. The 1983 video redefined what a music video could be, and Baker's practical makeup effects were central to Jackson's transformation from smooth crooner to undead creature of the night.
The Locarno Film Festival, one of Europe's most prestigious cinema events, recognises Baker's decades of work pushing the boundaries of makeup artistry on screen. His influence on horror, comedy, and genre filmmaking is visible throughout Hollywood's biggest moments.
At a time when CGI dominates, this award acknowledges the tactile, hands-on craft that Baker has mastered. Practical effects remain unmatched for creating genuine scares and laughs.
