‘Sinners’ Takes Top Honors at MPSE Golden Reel Awards

Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” emerged victorious at the 73rd annual Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Awards, held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on Sunday.

The film’s sound teams were recognized for their Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Dialogue / ADR and Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing – Feature Motion Picture.

The Golden Reel Awards celebrate excellence in sound editing, sound design, music editing, and foley artistry across film, television, and gaming.

In the feature film category, “Frankenstein” scooped the award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Effects / Foley, while in the animated feature genre, “Zootopia 2” claimed the top spot.

The results of the Golden Reel Awards have set the stage for a competitive Oscar race in the sound category. Both “Sinners” and “Sirat” have been nominated for sound at the Oscars, which combines sound editing and mixing. Other notable winners in the sound community include “F1” and “KPop Demon Hunters,” which were honored by the Cinema Audio Society and the Bafta ceremony respectively.

In the realm of television, “Adolescence,” “Alien: Earth,” and “Murderbot” were acknowledged for their exceptional sound editing work.

The event also saw the presentation of two honorary awards: Kathleen Kennedy received the Filmmaker Award, while supervising sound editor Mark Mangini was honored with the Career Achievement Award.

During her acceptance speech, Kennedy emphasized the importance of sound in storytelling, stating that it helps to ground the narrative, convey character emotions, and take the audience on a cinematic journey. She also discussed her upcoming project, “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” highlighting the significance of characters like Grogu (Baby Yoda) who can emote without speaking.

Comedian Patton Oswalt hosted the evening, marking his fourth time as the host of the Golden Reel Awards. The event was presided over by MPSE president David Barber, bringing together the sound community to celebrate their achievements.

The full list of winners from the Golden Reel Awards showcases the diverse talent and creativity within the sound editing industry, with each award recognizing the outstanding contributions of sound professionals across various mediums.