2026 MPSE Golden Reel Awards: Nominees Announced, Honoring Excellence in Sound Editing
Published: 2026/01/15 05:47:14
The Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) have unveiled the nominees for the 73rd annual golden Reel awards, recognizing outstanding achievement in sound editing across film, television, and gaming. The nominations, announced Monday, highlight the crucial role sound plays in storytelling and immersive experiences, with several shortlisted titles also vying for Best Sound at the upcoming Academy Awards.
This year’s nominations showcase a diverse range of projects, from blockbuster action films to intimate documentaries and innovative video games. the awards celebrate the artistry and technical skill of sound editors, designers, mixers, and foley artists who craft the sonic landscapes that bring stories to life.
Film Nominations: A Showcase of Cinematic Sound
The feature film categories are especially competitive, with titles like F1, Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, One Battle After Another, sinners, and Wicked: For Good leading the pack. These films represent a broad spectrum of genres and sound design approaches, demonstrating the versatility of the craft.
F1, a high-octane racing drama, is recognized for its immersive soundscape that captures the speed and intensity of the sport. Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning continues the franchise’s tradition of groundbreaking sound design, delivering thrilling action sequences. One Battle After Another and Sinners showcase nuanced sound editing that enhances their respective narratives, while Wicked: For Good promises a magical sonic experience.
The awards also recognize excellence in international features, with nominations for Belén, Dong Ji Rescue, Sirât, and Sound of Falling.These films demonstrate the global reach and artistry of sound editing.
Television Soundscapes: From Drama to Animation
The television categories highlight the increasingly refined sound design in episodic content. Adolescence, The Pitt, Severance, and Stranger Things are among the nominees, representing a range of genres and platforms. Severance, known for its unsettling and atmospheric sound design, is a strong contender, while Stranger Things continues to impress with its nostalgic and immersive soundscapes.
Beyond Film & TV: Recognizing Game Audio and Student Talent
The MPSE Golden Reel Awards also honor the vital contributions of sound editors in the video game industry. Battlefield 6, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, dispatch, and Ghost of Yōtei are nominated for their innovative and immersive audio experiences. These games demonstrate the power of sound to create compelling and engaging gameplay.
Furthermore,the Verna Fields Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Student film recognizes the next generation of sound artists,showcasing promising talent from film schools around the world.
Honorary Awards: Celebrating Industry Leaders
In addition to the competitive categories, the MPSE will present two prestigious honorary awards. Kathleen Kennedy, the renowned film producer, will receive the 2026 Filmmaker Award, recognizing her commitment to supporting and championing sound artistry. Mark Mangini, a highly respected supervising sound editor, will receive the Career Achievement Award, honoring his decades of contributions to the field.
Full List of Nominations
Here’s a thorough breakdown of the nominations across all categories:
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Broadcast Animation
* A Breath Before Dying – Netflix
* Love, Death + Robots: “400 Boys” – Netflix
* Marvel Zombies: Episode 1 – Disney+
* Rick and Morty: “Summer of All Fears” – Cartoon Network
* Star Wars: tales of the Underworld: “Friends” – Disney+
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Broadcast Long Form Dialog/ADR
* Adolescence: Episode 2 – Netflix
* The Pitt: “7:00PM” – HBO max
* Severance: “Cold Harbor” – Apple TV+
* Stranger Things: “Sorcerer” – netflix
* Task: “Vagrants” – HBO Max
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Broadcast Long Form Effects/Foley
* Andor: “Who Are You?” – Disney+
* Alien Earth: “Neverland” – FX
* The Last of Us: “Through the Valley” – HBO Max
* Pluribus: “Pirate Lady” – Apple TV+
* Stranger Things: “Sorcerer” – Netflix
Outstanding Achievement in sound Editing – Broadcast Short Form
* The Bear: “Scallop” – FX
* Murderbot: “All Systems Red” – Apple TV+
* only Murders in the Building: “LESTR” – Hulu
* Side Quest: “Fugue” – Apple TV+
* The Studio: “The Golden Globes” – Apple TV+
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Animation
* Bad Guys 2 – DreamWorks Animation
* Elio – Disney Pixar
* KPop Demon Hunters – Netflix
* Zootopia 2 – Walt Disney Animation Studios
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Documentary
* Becoming Led Zeppelin – Sony Pictures
* Deaf President Now! – Apple original Films
* I Was Born this Way – Jungefilm
* It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley – HBO Max
* Viktor – Netflix
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature International
* belén – Amazon Prime
* Dong Ji Rescue – Seventh Art Pictures
* Sirât – Neon
* Sound of Falling – Mubi
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Dialogue/ADR
* Bugonia – focus Features
* F1 – Apple Original Films
* Frankenstein – Netflix
* One Battle After Another – Warner Bros.
* Sinners – Warner Bros.
Outstanding achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Effects/Foley
* Anemone – Focus Features
* F1 – Apple Original Films
* Frankenstein – Netflix
* One Battle After Another – Warner bros.
* Sinners – Warner Bros.
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Non-Theatrical Animation
* Diary of a Wimpy Kid: “The Last Straw” – Disney+
* Invincible: ”I Thought You’d Never Shut Up” – Amazon Prime
* Predator: Killer of Killers – Disney+
* Transformers: EarthSpark: “Legacy of Hope” – Paramount+
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Non-Theatrical Documentary
* 100 Foot Wave – HBO Max
* The Beatles Anthology: Episode 9 – Disney+
* Billy Joel: And So It Goes: Part 1 – HBO Max
* John Candy: I Like Me – Amazon Prime
* Love + War – National Geographic
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Non-Theatrical Feature
* Beast of War – Bronte Pictures
* The Gorge – Apple TV+
* The Hand That rocks the Cradle – Hulu
* Star Trek: Section 31 – Paramount+
Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing – Broadcast Long Form
* Andor: “What a Festive Evening” – Disney+
* Étoile: “The Hiccup” – Amazon Prime
* The Last of Us: “Through the Valley” – HBO Max
* Severance: “Cold Harbor” – Apple TV+
* Stranger Things: “Sorcerer” – Netflix
Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing – Broadcast Short Form
* The Bear: “soubise” – FX
* Love, Death + Robots: “400 Boys” – netflix
* Only Murders in the Building: “The House Always…” – Hulu
* The Studio: “The War” – Apple TV+
* Wolf King: “The Rise of the Wolf” – Netflix
Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing – Documentary
* The Beatles Anthology: Episode 9 – Disney+
* Becoming Led Zeppelin – Sony Pictures
* Billy Joel: And So It Goes: Part 1 – HBO Max
* It’s never over, Jeff Buckley – HBO Max
* Stans – Paramount Pictures
Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing – Feature Motion Picture
* KPop Demon Hunters – Sony Pictures Animation
* Mission Impossible: The Final reckoning – Paramount Pictures
* One Battle After Another – Warner Bros.
* Sinners – Warner Bros.
* Wicked: For Good – Warner Bros.
Outstanding achievement in sound Editing – Game Dialogue/ADR
* Battlefield 6 – Electronic Arts
* Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Sony Interactive Entertainment
* Ghost of Yōtei – Sony Interactive Entertainment
* Mafia, The old Country – Hangar 13
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Game Effects/Foley
* Battlefield 6 – Electronic Arts
* Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – Sony Interactive Entertainment
* Dispatch – AdHoc Studios
* ghost of Yōtei – Sony Interactive Entertainment
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Student Film (Verna Fields Award)
* Carb Pot – Beijing Film Academy
* Damned – Savannah College of Art and Design
* Dancing Spiders Play Jazz in Nooks – University of Michigan
* A Darker Place: Cases from the DCA – Chapman University
* El Corazón – National Film & Television School
* Moksha – The Netherlands Film Academy
* oneiros – National Film & Television School
* They Made You Into a Weapon and Told You to Find Peace – National Film & Television School
Looking Ahead
The 2026 MPSE Golden Reel Awards promise to be a celebration of the artistry and innovation in sound editing. As the industry continues to evolve,the importance of sound in storytelling will only grow,and the MPSE will continue to recognize and honor the talented professionals who shape our sonic experiences. The winners will be announced at the gala ceremony in Los Angeles on March 8th.
