Along with the annual Empire Awards that were presented by Empire magazine for best in acting, directing and film there have been honorary awards which weren't always presented on a consistent annual basis. As of the 19th Empire Awards three honorary awards are currently handed out: Empire Hero Award, Empire Inspiration Award and Icon Award.
The Contribution to Cinema Award was an honorary Empire Award that was presented by Empire magazine only once at the 5th Empire Awards in 2000, to Industrial Light & Magic, in honour of significant contributions to cinema.
| Year | Winner | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 (5th) | ||
| Industrial Light & Magic | [1] | |
The Outstanding Contribution To British Cinema Award also known as the Best Brit Award[2] was an honorary Empire Award that was presented by Empire magazine to honour a British star[3] company or franchise with significant contributions to British cinema. The award was presented at the 10th and 11th Empire Awards in 2005-2006 and was handed out to Working Title Films with Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan accepting the reward[4] [5] and to The Harry Potter films[6] respectively. The award was rewarded again at the 13th, 14th and 15th Empire Awards in 2008-2010 with its name changed to Outstanding Contribution To British Film and was handed out to Shane Meadows,[7] Danny Boyle[8] and Ray Winstone[9] respectively and again during the 18th Empire Awards in 2013 with its name changed that year to Outstanding Contribution and handed out again to Danny Boyle.[10] [11]
| Year | Winner | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 (10th) | ||
| Working Title Films | ||
| 2006 (11th) | ||
| The Harry Potter films | ||
| 2008 (13th) | ||
| Shane Meadows | ||
| 2009 (14th) | ||
| Danny Boyle | ||
| 2010 (15th) | ||
| Ray Winstone | ||
| 2013 (18th) | ||
| Danny Boyle | ||
The Independent Spirit Award was an honorary Empire Award that was presented by Empire magazine starting with the 7th Empire Awards in 2002 and ending with the 10th Empire Awards in 2005, with awards handed out to Alejandro Amenábar,[12] Michael Winterbottom and Andrew Eaton,[13] Roger Corman[14] and Kevin Smith[15]
| Year | Winner | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 (7th) | ||
| Alejandro Amenábar – writer, director and Scorer of The Others | ||
| 2003 (8th) | ||
| Michael Winterbottom and Andrew Eaton – director & producer of 24 Hour Party People | ||
| 2004 (9th) | ||
| Roger Corman | ||
| 2005 (10th) | ||
| Kevin Smith | ||
The Lifetime Achievement Award was an honorary Empire Award that was presented by Empire magazine from the establishment of the Empire Awards in 1996 until the 11th Empire Awards in 2006, with no award handed out during the 10th Empire Awards. At the 9th Empire Awards in 2004 the award was called Career Achievement Award . The award was handed to honour an individual with a long and distinguished career [16]
| Year | Winner | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 (1st) | ||
| Mike Leigh | [17] | |
| 1997 (2nd) | ||
| Freddie Francis | [18] | |
| 1998 (3rd) | ||
| Dennis Hopper | [19] | |
| 1999 (4th) | ||
| Bob Hoskins | [20] | |
| 2000 (5th) | ||
| Michael Caine | ||
| 2001 (6th) | ||
| Richard Harris | [21] | |
| 2002 (7th) | ||
| Christopher Lee | [22] | |
| 2003 (8th) | ||
| Dustin Hoffman | [23] | |
| 2004 (9th) | ||
| Sigourney Weaver | [24] | |
| 2006 (11th) | ||
| Tony Curtis | ||
The Movie Masterpiece Award was an honorary Empire Award that was presented by Empire magazine at the 4th Empire Awards in 1999 and at the 5th Empire Awards in 2000 to films which were considered a masterpiece achievement.
| Year | Director | Film | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 (4th) | |||
| William Friedkin | The Exorcist | ||
| 2000 (5th) | |||
| Oliver Stone | JFK | ||
The Legend Award was an honorary Empire Award that was presented by Empire magazine at the 17th Empire Awards in 2012 and 18th Empire Awards in 2013, with awards handed out to Tim Burton[25] and Helen Mirren[26] respectively.
| Year | Winner | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 (17th) | ||
| Tim Burton | ||
| 2013 (18th) | ||
| Helen Mirren | ||
| 2014 (19th) | ||
| Tom Cruise | ||
| 2015 (20th) | ||
| Ralph Fiennes | ||
| 2016 (21st) | ||
| Alan Rickman | ||
| 2017 (22nd) | ||
| Patrick Stewart | ||
| 2018 (23rd) | ||
| Steven Spielberg |