61st Cinema Audio Society Awards: A Night to Remember
Introduction
The 61st edition of the Cinema Audio Society Awards, an illustrious event that recognizes excellence in sound mixing in motion pictures and television, was held at the Beverly Hilton on a glorious Saturday evening. The highlight of the evening was the film “A Complete Unknown,” directed by James Mangold, which took home the prestigious Live Action Motion Picture prize, propelling it to the forefront as the top contender for the Best Sound category at the upcoming Academy Awards.
Academy Awards: The Competition Heats Up
“A Complete Unknown” is set to compete for the coveted Academy Award against other notable films such as “Dune: Part Two,” Emilia Pérez, “Wicked,” and “The Wild Robot”. Interestingly, all these films, except for Emilia Pérez, were nominated for the Cinema Audio Society Awards. In the previous year, “Oppenheimer” had clinched the Live Action Motion Picture prize at the Cinema Audio Society Awards but was later bested by “The Zone of Interest” at the Oscars.
Other Notable Winners
The Cinema Audio Society Awards also acknowledged other noteworthy performances. “The Wild Robot” was decorated with the Animated Motion Picture award, while “Music by John Williams” took home the Documentary prize. Television series such as “Shōgun” and “The Bear” were also celebrated for their sound mixing prowess.
Special Awards
In addition to the category-specific awards, the Cinema Audio Society also presented its 2025 Filmmaker Award to Denis Villeneuve, the mastermind behind the “Dune” franchise. Sound mixer Tod A. Maitland, a six-time Oscar nominee, was honored with the Career Achievement Award, an accolade his father Dennis Maitland had received in 2009.
2025 Cinema Audio Society Awards: The Winners
The 2025 Cinema Audio Society Awards saw a diverse group of winners. Here’s a detailed roundup of the award recipients:
Motion Pictures – Live Action
“A Complete Unknown”
Production Sound Mixer: Tod A. Maitland CAS
Re-Recording Mixers: Paul Massey CAS, David Giammarco CAS
Scoring Mixer: Nick Baxter
ADR Mixer: David Betancourt
Foley Mixer: Kevin Schultz
Non-Theatrical Motion Picture/Limited Series
“Masters of the Air: S01 E05 ‘Part Five'”
Production Sound Mixer: Tim Fraser
Re-Recording Mixers: Michael Minkler CAS, Duncan McRae, Shane Stoneback
Scoring Mixer: Thor Fienberg
ADR Mixer: Sean Moher
Foley Mixer: Randy K. Singer CAS
Television Non-Fiction, Variety or Music – Series or Specials
“Beatles ’64”
Re-Recording Mixers: Josh Berger, Giles Martin
Motion Pictures – Animated
“The Wild Robot”
Original Dialogue Mixer: Ken Gombos
Re-Recording Mixers: Leff Lefferts, Gary A. Rizzo CAS
Scoring Mixer: Alan Meyerson CAS
Foley Mixer: Richard Duarte
Student Recognition Award
Guillermo Moya, Full Sail University
Television Series – Half Hour
“The Bear: S03 E03 ‘Doors'”
Production Sound Mixer: Scott D. Smith CAS
Re-Recording Mixer: Steve “Major” Giammaria CAS
ADR Mixers: Patrick Christensen, Kendall Barron
Foley Mixers: Ryan Collison, Connor Nagy
Motion Pictures – Documentary
“Music by John Williams”
Production Mixer: Noah Alexander
Re-Recording Mixers: Christopher Barnett CAS, Roy Waldspurger
Television Series – One Hour
“Shōgun: S01 E05 ‘Broken to the Fist'”
Production Sound Mixer: Michael Williamson CAS
Re-Recording Mixers: Steve Pederson CAS, Greg P. Russell CAS
ADR Mixer: Takashi Akaku
Foley Mixer: Arno Stephanian CAS
Conclusion
The 61st Cinema Audio Society Awards was indeed a star-studded affair that celebrated the best in sound mixing across various categories. With the Academy Awards just around the corner, it will be interesting to see how the winners at the CAS Awards fare at the Oscars.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cinema Audio Society?
The Cinema Audio Society is a non-profit organization that recognizes and honors outstanding sound mixing in film and television through its annual awards ceremony.
What is the significance of the CAS Awards?
The CAS Awards are highly regarded in the film industry as they acknowledge the profound impact of sound mixing on the overall cinematic experience. The awards often serve as a precursor to the Oscars, indicating potential winners in the sound categories at the Academy Awards.
Who won the Live Action Motion Picture prize at the 61st CAS Awards?
The film “A Complete Unknown,” directed by James Mangold, won the Live Action Motion Picture prize at the 61st CAS Awards.
Credit: deadline.com
