Badalona, 22 October 2025
The FILMETS Badalona Film Festival, the longest-running short film festival in Spain, has presented its honorary award, the Venus of Honour, to American sound mixer Michael Minkler, winner of three Academy Awards for Black Hawk Down, Chicago and Dreamgirls.
The award ceremony took place during the first of this year’s FILMETS Talks, one of the highlights of the festival’s 51st edition. Before the presentation, the festival’s artistic director —and fellow sound mixer— Marc Orts joined Minkler in reviewing his outstanding career and recalling his collaborations with filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, Oliver Stone, and Ridley Scott. Minkler also spoke about possible upcoming projects, including Tarantino’s long-awaited next film, joking that it might even be Kill Bill 3. Despite having four films currently in development, he criticized the state of the industry: “I’ve got plenty of energy and I don’t know when I’ll stop, but Hollywood has changed a lot — there are fewer films being made, and with smaller budgets. Maybe I’ll have to say: enough.”
The festival’s Venus of Honour was presented to him by Xavier Casanovas, general director of Badalona Comunicació, the public entity that organizes the festival. Casanovas reminded the audience that “we must not forget that sound in cinema, in short films, and in any audiovisual work represents 50% of what reaches the audience. Too often we don’t give it the importance it deserves, when sound, just like image, is an essential part of a film’s success.”
Michael Minkler is one of Hollywood’s most acclaimed sound mixers, with a career spanning more than four decades. A three-time Academy Award winner and recipient of numerous international accolades, he has worked on iconic films such as Black Hawk Down, Chicago and Dreamgirls. Born into a legendary family of sound professionals, he continues the legacy of his father, Lee Minkler, and his uncle, Bob Minkler, both Academy Award winners. His mastery of final mixing has set the standard for quality in the global film industry. His passion for sound storytelling transforms every scene into an immersive experience, and his unique blend of technical expertise and artistic sensitivity has made him a true master of his craft. His charisma and generosity have also made him an inspiration for new generations of sound professionals.
The 51st edition of the FILMETS Badalona Film Festival runs until 27 October 2025. Tickets and full information about the programme and complementary activities are available on the festival’s official website: festivalfilmets.cat
