'The Plague' by Charlie Polinger Triumphs at Cannes: Best Sound Creation Award 2025
- Kimberly Porter
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Charlie Polinger’s Debut Earns Top Honors for Sonic Excellence in "Un Certain Regard"
Charlie Polinger’s debut feature, The Plague, has been awarded the prestigious Best Sound Creation Award 2025 at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, under the official sponsorship of the City of Cannes and as part of the celebrated "Un Certain Regard" selection. The award, now in its sixth edition, is presented by a jury led by director Gérard Krawczyk and recognizes outstanding achievement in cinematic sound that elevates the artistic, semantic, and narrative experience for audiences.
The Plague stood out among its peers for its masterful use of sound, which the jury unanimously praised for its immersive power and narrative depth. The film’s sound design, crafted by composer Johan Lenox, weaves together glitchy, disorienting electronic elements and distorted vocals, mirroring the protagonist’s psychological turmoil and the oppressive atmosphere of the all-boys water camp where the story unfolds. The opening sequence—a slow-motion underwater shot accompanied by the muted splashes of swimmers—immediately sets an unsettling tone, drawing viewers into a world where every sound amplifies the tension and dread experienced by the young characters.
The film’s narrative, centering on 12-year-old Ben’s struggle with social acceptance and bullying, is deeply enhanced by its aural landscape. Polinger’s direction leans heavily on sound to convey the unspoken anxieties and emotional isolation of adolescence. Moments of casual cruelty are punctuated by oppressive silences and sudden, jarring audio cues, while underwater scenes use muffled acoustics to evoke both beauty and suffocation. This approach not only intensifies the film’s horror elements but also transforms the familiar setting of a summer camp into a surreal, nightmarish environment.
The Best Sound Creation Award, organized in partnership with the NGO La Semaine du Son and supported by UNESCO, honors films that exemplify the importance of sound in cinematic storytelling. Since its inception in 2017, the award has highlighted directors who push the boundaries of audio artistry, and Polinger’s win this year signals a new benchmark for immersive sound in film. 'The Plague' by Charlie Polinger Best Sound Creation Award 2025
The 2025 jury, including journalist Emmanuelle Gaume and singer-songwriter Martin Luminet, commended The Plague for its “haunting and innovative soundscape,” which they agreed was integral to the film’s emotional impact and narrative clarity. Their decision reflects a growing appreciation for the role of sound in shaping cinematic experiences, especially in films that tackle complex psychological themes.
For Charlie Polinger, The Plague marks a remarkable entrance into feature filmmaking. The film’s critical success at Cannes, particularly in the realm of sound, underscores Polinger’s keen understanding of how audio can be wielded not just as a technical tool, but as a vital storytelling device. By transforming the anxieties of adolescence into a visceral, auditory experience, Polinger has set a new standard for sound-driven cinema.
The Plague’s victory at Cannes is not only a testament to its technical brilliance but also a celebration of the power of sound to deepen our connection to the stories we see—and hear—on screen.