a c h i e v e m e n t s

Student wins Best Sound Design in a Feature Film

Daniel STRUBE, a film sound student at our department, won the Best Sound Design in a Feature Film award at the Diagonale for the film Licht, kein Licht by director Matthias van Baaren.

Jury Statement:

The sound design creates a strangely precise system of recurring sounds, such as the grinding of a coffee machine or the suction inside a car. Through mechanical sonic repetitions, the sound design evokes a feeling that is both familiar and unsettling, laying the sonic foundation for a haunting film.

The IKT extends its heartfelt congratulations!

AMADEUS 2026 - Tonstudiopreis BEST SOUND

Mischa JANISCH wins AMADEUS Award for the album Petrichor by Klangkarussell together with Nikodem MILEWSKI. Milewski was responsible for mixing and mastering for stereo, Janisch for mixing and mastering for immersive audio / Dolby Atmos. The BEST SOUND award has been presented at the Austrian Music Awards since 2013. Janisch wins it for the fifth time this year; he was also nominated for Anna Buchegger's album Soiz. The award is hosted by the Professional Association of the Film and Music Industry (FAMA), the industry representative for recording studios.

The full text of the press release can be found at the link above.

The IKT congratulates!

Alumni produces Austria's ESC-Song 2026

Elias STEJSKAL (Nono Punch) produced “Tanzschein” by COSMÓ, the winner of the Austrian pre-selection “Vienna Calling” and thus Austria’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna. He also produced the entry by Bamlak Werner, which placed third in the pre-selection.

STEJSKAL is an Austrian sound engineer, musician, and music producer. Raised in Lower Austria, he moved to Vienna to study sound engineering at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw), graduating in 2018 with a focus on recording engineering in the classical music field. He has lived and worked in Vienna ever since.

After completing his studies, his focus shifted increasingly toward pop music and cross-genre productions. This led to numerous collaborations in songwriting and production with major and indie artists, including Cosmó, Bamlak Werner, Philip Piller, Salena, Chovo, Bex, Romc, Aengl, and Line Rychart. In addition to media music for ProSieben, compositions and arrangements for orchestras, and work in the fashion industry, he has been nominated multiple times for the Amadeus Austrian Music Award.

Drawing on his classical music training, he combines elements of classical sound design with contemporary pop production. His work spans studio work, songwriting, production, and arrangement.

First Nemo, now JJ: Vienna studio makes ESC history

(article in German)

The great Austrian success at the Song Contest was no coincidence and is also based on first-class sound: The award-winning Viennese studio Sunshine Mastering of our teacher Mischa JANISCH was not only significantly involved in this year's ESC winning song Wasted Love, but also last year with Nemo's hit The Code. A small sensation.

The IKT congratulates the team.

Student wins Best Sound Design in a Feature Film

Daniel STRUBE, a film sound student at our department, won the Best Sound Design in a Feature Film award at the Diagonale for the film Licht, kein Licht by director Matthias van Baaren.

Jury Statement:

The sound design creates a strangely precise system of recurring sounds, such as the grinding of a coffee machine or the suction inside a car. Through mechanical sonic repetitions, the sound design evokes a feeling that is both familiar and unsettling, laying the sonic foundation for a haunting film.

The IKT extends its heartfelt congratulations!