On March 7, 2024, a pre-Academy Awards party called "The Creative Irish and introduces people in the entertainment world in Ireland to those in the US" will take place at the Santa Monica offices of JJ Abrams and Katie McGrath's Bad Robot production firm.

"We're delighted to honour Richie – not only is he creatively exceptional but he is also beloved in the industry as someone who has always remained connected to his colleagues and friends in the film and animation industries in Ireland," said US-Ireland Alliance founder Trina Vargo in a statement.

The 2010 film Avatar brought the Dublin-born VFX Supervisor his first Oscar for Best Achievement in Visual Effects.

He won his second Oscar in 2023 for Avatar: The Way of Water's Best Achievement in Visual Effects.

Baneham moved to Los Angeles in 1994 to work in conventional animation after completing his studies at Ballyfermot College of Art & Design.

He switched to computer graphics while working on The Iron Giant, and he has received recognition for his work as an animation supervisor on The Return of the King and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.

His other credits include from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and Alita: Battle Angel.

Three people are usually honoured at the Oscar Wilde Awards; additional honorees will be revealed in the future.