LOS ANGELES - The 73rd Annual MPSE Golden Reel Awards are set to take place on Sunday, March 8th at the the Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, where they will recognize artistry and innovation in sound editing. Kathleen Kennedy will be presented with the 2026 MPSE Filmmaker Award, bestowed annually to a filmmaker of distinction, while supervising sound editor Mark Mangini will receive the Career Achievement Award for his prolific career in sound editing.
“The Motion Picture Sound Editors are thrilled to honor Kathleen Kennedy with this year's 2025 Filmmaker Award,” states MPSE president David Barber. “Her pioneering work has inspired, supported and influenced countless filmmakers worldwide. Kathleen's legacy defies generational constraints. Through the stories she has brought to the screen, her impact on art and culture will endure—entertaining, educating, and moving future generations."
Mark Mangini, Barber adds, "stands among the true giants of sound. His career spans six decades and is a masterclass in creativity, innovation and emotional resonance. Mark’s work continually pushes the boundaries of what sound can achieve in storytelling. He is a visionary artist, a dedicated collaborator, and an inspiration to sound editors worldwide. This award is a testament to the indelible mark he has made on the art and craft of sound."
Nominations for The Golden Reel Awards will be announced on January 12th.
Kathleen Kennedy is a recipient of the Academy’s prestigious 2018 Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award and an eight-time Academy Award-nominee. She is one of the most successful and respected producers in the film industry today. As president of Lucasfilm, she oversees the company’s three divisions: Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound.
Kennedy was the producer of Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), the highest-grossing domestic feature of all time, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the number one-grossing movie in 2016. She went on to produce Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), as well as Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). She has also executive produced a number of live action Star Wars series, including the Emmy Award-winning The Mandalorian and Andor. Kennedy is currently producer on the upcoming Ahsoka Season 2, The Mandalorian and Grogu, and Star Wars: Starfighter.
Over the course of her career, Kennedy has produced or executive produced more than 70 feature films, collectively garnering 120 Academy Award nominations and 25 wins. Among her credits are Jurassic Park, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, The Sixth Sense, the Back to the Future trilogy, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Gremlins, The Goonies, Poltergeist, Schindler’s List and The Color Purple.
Mark Mangini is a two-time Academy Award–winner and six-time nominated sound designer and re-recording mixer. His work has also earned Emmy, BAFTA and MPSE honors. His 170-plus film credits include Dune; Mad Max: Fury Road; Blade Runner: 2049; Star Trek I, IV & V; The Fifth Element, Poltergeist and Gremlins. His first job was in the sound department of Hanna Barbera Studios, and he later founded and ran Weddington Productions, a successful Hollywood post production sound company, for 25 years. Today he works at Formosa Group in Hollywood, continuing his work as a supervising sound editor, sound designer and re-recording mixer. He is a member of AMPAS, MPSE, SAG, SMPTE and ASCAP.