Castro (Barbie, 9-1-1) will receive the Humanitarian Award for his commitment to community, education and creating opportunities for others through culinary arts. Reilly (American Horror Story, Obi-Wan) is set for the President’s Award, recognizing exceptional contributions to the property craft by a professional outside the traditional property master role. The Lifetime Achievement Award will go to Wilkinson (Titanic, eight Harry Potter films), celebrating a remarkable career spanning more than four decades and some of the most iconic films in British and international cinema. Read more about them below.
“The MacGuffin Awards are about recognizing the people whose creativity, generosity and dedication help define our craft, both on set and beyond it,” PMG President Jeffrey Johnson said. “Luis, Trish and Barry each represent a different and invaluable part of what makes the property community so special. Their careers and contributions reflect the skill, ingenuity and spirit that we are proud to celebrate.”
The MacGuffin Awards honor the creative excellence and impact of prop masters across film, television, commercials and more.
Here are mini-bios on the 2026 career honorees, provided by the Property Masters Guild:
Luis Castro, Humanitarian Award
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Luis Castro moved to California at 15 and developed a passion for the culinary arts. He earned an Associate of Arts degree in Culinary Arts & Restaurant Management from Los Angeles Trade–Technical College and spent more than 25 years in the food industry as an executive chef, private chef, culinary instructor and restaurant owner.
Over the past decade, Castro has transitioned into food styling for film and television. A member of IATSE Local 44 since 2021, his credits include This Is Us, Westworld, 9-1-1, Bel-Air, Paradise and Barbie.
In 2024, Castro founded Imagine Cookin, an in-home cooking class company serving neurodivergent individuals of all ages. The program uses culinary education to build confidence, independence, creativity and life skills while introducing students to potential careers in the culinary arts. Now employing eight people and serving 50 students, Imagine Cookin reflects Castro’s commitment to creating opportunities and empowering others. He also volunteers to advocate for authentic Latinx representation within the industry.
Trish Reilly, President’s Award
A lifelong love of cooking and a deep familiarity with the motion picture industry have shaped Trish Reilly’s career as a food stylist. Born in Montreal and raised in Toronto, Reilly moved to California as a teenager, inspired by her mother’s passion for cooking. Her connection to production also began early through her husband, key grip Dan Reilly. She started her career assisting on commercial shoots before quickly establishing herself as a skilled and inventive food stylist.
Reilly works at the intersection of props and food, creating inventive and often unconventional culinary elements for the screen. Her credits include Obi-Wan, Rebel Moon and The Orville, as well as the gruesome culinary creations of Grotesquerie and drinkable blood for American Horror Story.
Her work regularly calls for ingenuity, precision and close collaboration with Property Masters and production teams, whether creating paleo dog food for an actor or an apple pie with no apples. Her creativity, passion and unwavering commitment to perfection have made her a distinctive and valued contributor to the property craft.
Barry Wilkinson, Lifetime Achievement Award
Barry Wilkinson retired following more than 40 years in the property department, during which he worked on more than 70 films, serving as Property Master on many. His credits include Titanic, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, two James Bond films, including GoldenEye, and all eight of the original Harry Potter films.
In recognition of his extraordinary career, Wilkinson received the BAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award and was presented to Queen Elizabeth II at a reception honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to British film.
Throughout his career, Wilkinson collaborated with some of the industry’s most celebrated filmmakers and performers, including James Cameron, Steven Spielberg, Marlon Brando, Bruce Willis, Robert Mitchum and Julie Andrews. His four decades of work span some of the most influential productions in British and international cinema, leaving a lasting legacy within the property department and the wider filmmaking community.
