Facing Monsters Wins AACTA & ASSG Award

XB Studios is thrilled to announce that it has won two major awards this week for the documentary "Facing Monsters", which tells the story of Kerby Brown, a slab wave surfer, whose connection with the ocean runs as deep as his love for his family. Xoe Baird, along side Dialogue Editor and Mixer Ric Curtin and Location Sound Record Jeremy Ashton, was awarded Best Sound for a Documentary at both The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards (AACTA) Awards and The Australian Screen Sound Guild (ASSG) Awards.

The film, which explores the life of a surfer who faces the challenges of big wave surfing, was praised for its powerful storytelling and evocative sound design. These awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire sound team, who worked tirelessly to bring this exciting story to life.

"Facing Monsters" has already received critical acclaim and has been widely praised for its thrilling and emotional portrayal of the surfer's lifestyle and his relationship with the ocean. The film has been hailed as a powerful and important work that will help to showcase the beauty and danger of big wave surfing.

“It’s such an honour to receive such prestigious recognition for Facing Monsters. I think Kerby’s passion for the ocean really transcends through the film and I couldn’t have designed the waves without his amazing input. It’s a beautifully slow and meditated film that deals with some really dark subjects like addiction. “

Also winning sound awards at both the AACTA’s and ASSG’s was the TV series “Mystery Road” which XB Studios did ADR for.

Ric Curtin (Dialogue / Re-recording Mixer), Rick Rifici (Cinematographer), Jeremy Ashton (Location Sound Mixer & Drone Operator), Trevor Hope (Mystery Road - Production Mixer), Xoe Baird (Sound Effects Editor)

Ric Curtin, Jeremy Ashton, and Xoe Baird accepting the AACTA on stage

Xoe Baird accepting the award for Facing Monsters at the Australian Screen Sound Guild Awards


AACTA & ASSG Nominations for Facing Monsters

It's been a big week for industry award nominations, with the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) and the Australian Screen Sound Guild (ASSG).

FACING MONSTERS has been nominated for both an AACTA and an ASSG award for Best Sound in a Documentary.

PIECES has been nominated in the ASSG awards for Best Sound in an Independent Feature Film.

Also nominated was MYSTERY ROAD: ORIGIN has been nominated for both an AACTA and an ASSG for Best Sound in a Television Series - where XB Studios recorded the WA ADR for the show.