The Cinema Audio Society (CAS) has set the date and timetable for the 2026 Student Recognition Award. The Student Recognition Award recognizes individuals with exceptional and demonstrated passion in the Audio field.
Timeline
2026 CAS Student Recognition Award Timeline:
01. Application Forms Available
02. Entry Applications Due Online
03. Final Nominees Announced
Final Nominees for the Student Recognition Award will be announced on the CAS Website on Tuesday, December 15, 2026
04. Final Nominee Interviews Due
Final Nominee interviews are due by Saturday, January 23, 2027
05. 2026 SRA Winner Announced
Criteria
Eligibility
Students must be enrolled in good standing at an accredited college or university during any school term between January 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026. Students at US or International institutions are eligible provided the school is accredited. All application materials must be submitted in English. Applicants cannot compete for more than 2 years consecutively. Student applications must be accompanied by a recommendation from a professor or instructor.
Selection Criteria
The CAS Student Recognition Award is given to an individual based on their enthusiasm and demonstrated potential in the field of sound mixing and/or sound recording, their academic accomplishments and the recommendation of a professor or instructor at the student’s educational institution. It is not an award for excellence based on a specific student project. This award is intended for those students who have aspirations of pursuing a career in sound mixing and not for those seeking a career in sound editorial or film-making.
From the eligible applications received, finalists will be selected. The finalists will then be required to submit a five-minute video example of their work, accompanied by a short explanation of the submission and their role(s) in its creation. We will also request a simple five-minute (maximum) video to introduce yourself to the judging panel.
Application Requirements
Students must submit the following materials online:
A. Unofficial transcript (please highlight and explain relevant coursework).
B. List of projects in which you were the primary person responsible for production and/or post-production sound mixing.
C. Either written or video application
D. A recommendation letter from an instructor or professor.
Please note: Once you have completed and submitted portions A. thru C. of your application, a link will automatically be sent to your professor (via the email provided) for them to submit their recommendation. We highly recommend that you follow up with your professor regarding their receipt of this link! Applications without recommendations will be considered incomplete.
** Shortly after submitting your application and required documents, you will receive an email confirmation that your materials have been received.
Applications and all accompanying documents must be submitted no later than Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at 5:00 pm PT. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
Additional Information
The CAS Student Recognition Award winner will be announced at the 63rd Cinema Audio Society Awards on March 6, 2027. The finalists will be invited to attend the Awards celebration as the guests of CAS. All travel expenses are the responsibility of the student nominees.
The Student Recognition Award and $5000 will be presented to the winning student. All finalists will receive gift bags with a variety of outstanding tools of the trade contributed by top audio manufacturers. Any tax liability related to the cash award or gift bag is the responsibility of the student. The CAS will cover shipping charges up to $300 USD.
All submitted materials become the property of the CAS and no materials will be returned. By submitting their materials, the applicant agrees to any usage by the CAS for educational and/or promotional purposes.