On October 8 and 9, Varaždin will host a two-day event as part of the International Sound & Film Music Festival (ISFMF) to mark the founding of the Film & Media Sound Academy, an educational program specialized in film sound, which will partly be conducted at the University North.
This significant event was announced at a press conference on Thursday, October 3, 2024, by the Mayor of Varaždin, Dr. Neven Bosilj, Marijana Knezoci (CEO at DreaMaker Productions), Robert Geček (University North), Raymond Rojnik (Director of the Varaždin Concert Office), and Jelena Toth (Director of the Varaždin Tourist Board).
Mayor Dr. Neven Bosilj expressed his gratitude to Željko Glaser and Professor Robert Geček for proposing the project to the city: “We wholeheartedly accepted the idea because Varaždin is the only city in Croatia recognized by UNESCO as a City of Creative Music, and this project exemplifies the connection between music, high-quality sound, and the film industry. I hope this idea will continue to grow, as the University North is actively developing a study program where students will be taught by Oscar and Emmy winners. I also hope that in the future we will establish Varaždin as a film center.”
As mentioned, under the project “Oscar Winners in Varaždin,” the city will officially welcome Mark Ulano and Stuart Wilson, recipients of the prestigious Oscar® award, Roland Vajs, a three-time Emmy Award winner, and Robert Townson, one of the world’s leading film music producers.
Mark Ulano is a renowned production sound mixer known for his Oscar-winning work on Titanic and nominations for films such as Inglourious Basterds, Ad Astra, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. His collaboration with Quentin Tarantino spans over 29 years, during which he worked on films like The Hateful Eight and Django Unchained. Ulano has also served as president of the Cinema Audio Society multiple times and is deeply involved in the sound design community.
Stuart Wilson is an Oscar and BAFTA-winning sound designer for the film 1917 and has been nominated for these prestigious awards seven times. He has collaborated with many of the greatest directors of our time, including Steven Spielberg, David Cronenberg, Bernardo Bertolucci, JJ Abrams, Wes Anderson, Bong Joon Ho, Michael Winterbottom, Fernando Meirelles, and Sam Mendes. His work encompasses major studio projects such as Star Wars, James Bond, Harry Potter, The Batman, and Beetlejuice, as well as artistic films like Macbeth by Justin Kurzel, Maria-Antoinetta by Sofia Coppola, and 24 Hour Party People by Michael Winterbottom.
Roland Vajs is a sound designer who has been nominated for an Emmy Award six times and has won three Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on Boardwalk Empire, The Night Of, and Free Solo. He is known for his work on films such as Free Solo, Manchester by the Sea, Boardwalk Empire, Lust, Caution, and Chocolat. He has worked with numerous directors, artists, and producers, including Ang Lee, Martin Scorsese, Michael Moore, and Larry Clark.
The Film & Media Sound Academy was created through a strategic collaboration between DreaMaker Productions, the Croatian Academic and Research Network – CARNET, Alchemy Group Co. from Japan, and the University of North. This international project brings together the best of the best – leading sound designers, all recipients of the most prestigious film awards: OSCAR, BAFTA, and EMMY. A key partner in the project is the multinational company Google, which proudly supports the academy under the “Google for Education” initiative.
The event will also feature the concert Cinema Morricone: An Intimate Celebration, which will take place on Tuesday, October 8, starting at 8:00 PM at the Croatian National Theatre in Varaždin. World-renowned flutist Sara Andon and pianist Simone Pedroni will perform a program dedicated to legendary composer Ennio Morricone. The audience will embark on a journey through some of Morricone’s most famous and beloved works, including Cinema Paradiso, The Mission, Once Upon a Time in America, and The Untouchables. The program is curated by Robert Townson, one of the world’s leading film music producers, and spans over six decades of Morricone’s career, including music from his iconic westerns such as Once Upon a Time in the West.
On Wednesday, October 9, starting at 12:00 PM, the University North in Varaždin will host a panel discussion on film sound, aimed at students. The panel will be moderated by Dr. Robert Geček from the University North, and renowned guests will participate. This event will provide a unique opportunity for students to learn from some of the world’s best sound engineers, recipients of prestigious awards.
