Dolby creates audio, video and voice technologies that transform entertainment and communications in the cinema, in mobile devices, at home and at work. The company is launching a new Dolby Award for Best Sound with the National Film and Television School (NFTS) to recognise excellence in sound mixing, sound editing and sound design in a student short film. The winner will have the opportunity to present their next feature film at Dolby's Dolby Atmos screening room in Soho where many established filmmakers showcase their movies.
The competition is open to the NFTS Sound Design students graduating in 2014, whose short films will be judged by a jury of Dolby's own sound consultants. All of the entered films will be showcased to industry sound professionals at the state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos screening room in Soho, London, on 9 April where the winner will be announced and presented with the prize.
At this event, Avid Technology, Inc - a leading specialist in video and audio production technology including digital non-linear editing systems, management and distribution services - will announce the winner of the new Avid Award for Excellence in Sound Design 2014. The winner will receive an Avid Artist Mix, MBox Pro and Pro Tools 11 along with a pro plugin activation voucher for their choice of Avid AAX plugin. This bundle represents over £2000 of Avid software and hardware.
"This collaboration with NFTS and Avid celebrates new and exciting talent across the film industry. We hope that the Dolby Award for Best Sound will showcase how innovative sound mixers and editors are using sound to transform the art of storytelling to create the best possible entertainment experience," said Andy Dowell, Dolby regional director, Northern Europe.
Simon Caton, Avid UK professional audio manager, said, "Avid are delighted to support the National Film and Television School and the Sound Design for Film and TV course. We have a long-standing relationship with the NFTS and their alumni and are proud to play our part in the success of their students past and present. Through the sponsorship of this award we look to recognize the achievements of the NFTS and to assist one of their highest achieving graduates in their transition to the professional world of film and television."
The announcement comes hot on the heels of NFTS Sound graduates winning their 12th Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) Golden Reel Award. The Verna Fields Award for Sound Editing in a Student Film was presented to Sound Designer Ting Li Lim for her graduation animation Robomax (directed by Moayad Fahmi). In addition, alumnus Simon Chase was the supervising ADR editor on Captain Phillips which won the award for Sound Editing in a Feature Film.
The Verna Fields Award for Sound Editing in a Student Film is a prestigious accolade that has been won by the NFTS 12 times since 1996 making it consistently the best in the world for sound editing and the only UK school nominated for an award.
NFTS head of sound Chris Pow said, "We are thrilled to win our 12th Golden Reel student award; the NFTS sound courses are now undeniably the best in the world. The School has had long-standing associations with Dolby and Avid whose systems and software our students use regularly. We are delighted that our students' talent is being recognized with these new awards, which will help launch their careers."
(Jim Evans)
