AWARDS FILMMAKER OF THE YEAR
Music videos have always been a creative proving ground for filmmakers – a space where emotion, rhythm and imagery collide, and where visual language can be pushed beyond conventional storytelling. This category awards work that doesn’t just accompany a track, but amplifies it and gives it a visual identity of its own. Braedin Toth’s entry for Hollow Coves’ song On the Way is a perfect expression of what the category represents. Rooted in personal connection and shaped by lived experience, it blends cinematic travel imagery with a strong sense of mood and movement, translating the MUSIC VIDEO WHERE SOUND BECOMES VISION
to Soundcloud in 2014, and I was making edits to their songs by 2015. “The road trip was something I dreamed of since I was in high school. There was no real plan, just head south to see and film as many cool places as possible. I had lots of footage that would fit perfectly to the song. A couple late nights later and we had a music video that would eventually reach over seven million people. It was a huge project for me because I could finally bring to life visually what their music made me feel.” It shows how music videos can be personal, cinematic and instinctive, using image, pacing and atmosphere to visualise a feeling. The creative translation of sound into story is exactly what this category exists to celebrate.
band’s sound into something deeply visual and emotionally resonant. Toth’s relationship with Hollow Coves stretches back over a decade, a history that informs the authenticity of the work. During the pandemic, he restored a 1974 VW van and later embarked on a long- imagined road trip down the west coast from Vancouver to California, filming freely with no fixed destination. So, when the band approached him to make a music video inspired by the film Into the Wild , the footage was already there. Toth, whose business promises creative solutions for adventurous brands, says: “Their music has been part of my journey as a filmmaker from the beginning. They posted their first album from their bedroom in Australia
SOUND HEAR THE DIFFERENCE
For decades, Sennheiser has been synonymous with professional sound capture, earning the trust of filmmakers who rely on consistent, high-quality audio in demanding conditions. Its range spans everything from broadcast- grade XLR shotguns and compact on- camera microphones to more flexible wireless systems built for fast-moving productions. Sennheiser’s wireless solutions in particular have become a mainstay across documentary, commercial and narrative filmmaking, valued for their reliability, intuitive operation and clean transmission. Beyond microphones, Sennheiser supports filmmakers with a complete ecosystem that includes monitoring headphones, wind protection, reporting equipment, USB podcasting tools and specialist solutions for immersive and VR audio. Sennheiser kit is engineered to perform when it matters, whether capturing dialogue, ambience or unscripted moments.
Sound is not merely a finishing touch. At its best, it builds atmosphere, shapes rhythm and pulls the audience in deeper. The sound category honours filmmakers and audio specialists who understand what we hear is as powerful as what we see. We want to see work where sound has been treated with intent – from pristine dialogue capture and confident location recording to immersive sound design and carefully judged mixes. Whether you built a subtle, cinematic soundscape or overcame challenges in unpredictable environments, we want to experience projects where audio elevates. We’re looking for storytelling via sound – atmospheres that position the viewer inside a moment, mixes that feel purposeful and creative choices that enhance emotion, not distract from it. The approach can be invisible or bold, naturalistic or stylised; what matters is control, clarity and impact.
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