Director and Producer Rob Hardy, whose work includes “The Quad”, “Vampire Diaries” and “Stomp the Yard,” will be honored in Atlanta Thursday by the African American Film Critics Association.

The 6th annual SYNERGY event honors people in film and television who have contributed to the growth of the industry in Georgia and the Southeast.

“In the industry, he’s a big deal,” said Gil Robertson, president and co-founder  of AAFCA. “Rob Hardy has generated countless millions in box office receipts for work that he’s done, by and large, in the Atlanta marketplace. He has really contributed to the stats that make Georgia one of the top production destinations in the world. He believes in Georgia and its people.”

Gov. Nathan Deal recently announced that during the 2017 fiscal years, a record $2.7 billion was spent by film and television production in Georgia.

More than 300 projects were shot in the state in the last year, including "The Walking Dead" and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2."

Hardy, who lives in Atlanta, made his network television directorial debut with the Emmy- winning show “ER”.

Black Enterprise Magazine listed him among the Top 40 Entertainers under 40 in 2008 and he has continued to rise in the industry.

The invite-only event will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Bobbcat Films in Atlanta.

Previous AAFCA SYNERGY Award recipients include Tirrell Whittley and Nick Nelson, principals of the media marketing company, Liquid Soul; Charles Humbard, founder and president of UPtv; Roger Bobb, executive producer of the popular sitcoms, “Rickey Smiley Show” and “Mann and Wife”; Brett Dismuke and Eric Tomosunas, principals of Swirl Films; and Mark Swinton, producer at Tyler Perry Studios.