Dolby Labs, the National Film and Television School, and the best sound around

At whathifi.com we spend a lot of time assessing the sound quality of audio and video products. Of course, sound quality is dictated, in the first instance, by the quality of the recording and mastering (in the case of music) and by the way the sound has been designed and engineered (in the case of surround-sound movie soundtracks). The art of sound design is intrinsic to our enjoyment of film sound, and without effective sound design we won't hear just what clever and expensive electronics are capable of.

At the state-of-the-art Ray Dolby Theatre in Dolby Labs’ European HQ in London’s Soho Square, the National Film and Television School announced the winner of its prestigious Best Sound Design Award. Zoltan Juhasz triumphed for his wide-screen, immersive and playful sound design on a 10-minute stop-motion animation called Fishwitch.

Heard in pin-sharp surround sound, Juhasz’s audio design is a dynamic, high-intensity affair with convincing effects steering and is rich in detail. It beat six other entries on the night. Juhasz, who is the only UK university student to be offered an Intel internship in Silicon Valley this year, said “it’s a huge honour for me to be recognised by a company like Dolby.”

The Award was presented by Dolby Senior Sound Consultant (and member of this year’s judging panel) James Shannon. He said: “We’re extremely proud to be collaborating with the NFTS to recognise new and exciting talent in the world of sound for film and TV. This Award is a fantastic showcase for how sound can be used to transform the art of storytelling.”

The NFTS is a registered charity than has produced numerous highly successful graduates in its four decades. Oscar winner Nick Park (of Aardman Animation and Wallace & Gromit fame), David Yates (BAFTA-winning director of Harry Potter) and cinematographer Roger Deakins (12 times nominated for an Academy Award but, inexplicably, yet to win one) are among the most famous names. In total, NFTS alumni have won seven Oscars and more than 100 BAFTAs.

Simon Lucas is a freelance technology journalist and consultant, with particular emphasis on the audio/video aspects of home entertainment. Before embracing the carefree life of the freelancer, he was editor of What Hi-Fi? – since then, he's written for titles such as GQ, Metro, The Guardian and Stuff, among many others. 

Latest in AV
A render of a couple watching TV in a living room with green beams used to illustrate the sound coming from the soundbar and various other speakers.
Eclipsa Audio: everything you need to know about Samsung’s new Dolby Atmos rival
Samsung QN990F 8K TV with Rewind logo
A sneak peek at Samsung’s futuristic projector, OLED TV’s next evolution, a new Audiolab stereo amp and more
Sony RGB arrangement with Rewind logo
A sneak peek at Sony's next-gen TV tech, our love letter to hi-fi shops, a high-end amp tested and more
LG C5 on stand with Rewind logo
The LG C5 OLED TV tested, a world first for headphones, new hi-fi speakers and more
Pick Of The Month March 2025 5-star products on grey background
WiiM strikes again, the B&W Zeppelin Pro impresses while Technics' latest turntable earns five-stars
In For Review logo over yellow turntable system on table
In for Review: Google’s latest streamer, a Pro-Ject turntable, Cyrus' premium CD player and more
Latest in News
iFi Valkyrie in gold with a laptop
iFi's flagship iDSD Valkyrie DAC/amp teases cutting-edge tech for a sound that's worthy of Valhalla
Sony Bravia Projector 8 home cinema projector
Terrible news: Sony is about to stop selling projectors in Europe, including the UK
Audiolab 6000A MkII amplifier in silver
Audiolab upgrades its five-star 6000A amplifier with a new DAC chip, enhanced circuitry and HDMI ARC
Qobuz
Qobuz reveals average payout per stream – and claims it is higher than rivals
Sonos Beam Gen 2
Quick! This five-star Sonos Dolby Atmos soundbar has dropped close to its lowest price
The Google Pixel 9a being held horizontally at waist-height so only the back is visible.
The Google Pixel 9a launches at £100 less than the iPhone 16e with a better screen