MacGillivray Freeman's award-winning giant screen river film Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk 3D was nominated by the Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) for a prestigious Golden Reel Award for "Best Sound Editing" in the Special Venue category, it was announced by MPSE last week. 

Nominees for the 56th Annual Golden Reel Awards were selected by MPSE member panels.  The awards will be presented on February 21 at an awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

The Grand Canyon Adventure sound editing team includes supervising sound editor Andrew DeCristofaro, sound designers Tim Walston and Michael Payne, supervising dialogue editor John Stuver, ADR editor Nancy Nugent Title, music editor Steve Wood, field recordist and dialogue editor Robert Walker, foley editor Patrick Cusack, foley mixer Nerses Gezalyan, and foley artists Jeffrey Wilhoit and James Moriana.  Other crew include composers Steve Wood and Stefan Lessard, re-recording mixers Ken Teaney and Todd Orr, and recordist Robert Althoff.

"Good sound editing is key to a film's emotional impact, especially for giant screen films where the visceral, you-are-there experience drives the audience's enjoyment of the film," said Stephen Judson, the film's co-writer and editor and VP of Production and Post-Production at MacGillivray Freeman Films.  "Andrew and his team's brilliant sound work and Ken and his team's dynamic mixing on Grand Canyon Adventure bring the whitewater rafting experience to life and make the visuals even more exciting for the audience."

"We wanted audiences to feel like they are literally on the river hearing the splash of the rapids and the waterfalls and the crickets at night," said Andrew DeCristofaro.  "The giant screen medium is already a heightened form of entertainment; our work makes it even more so."

Grand Canyon Adventure is narrated by Robert Redford and features songs and music by Dave Matthews Band.  Set on the iconic Colorado River, Grand Canyon Adventure takes viewers on an unforgettable river journey while calling attention to global freshwater issues. 

Now in its 12th month of release, Grand Canyon Adventure has played in more than 55 theatres worldwide after opening in March 2008.  It is the winner of the 2008 GSCA Best Cinematography Award and the 2008 GSCA Special Achievement in Filmmaking Award and is nominated for a VES Award for Outstanding Special Effects.  The film has grossed more than $11 million dollars worldwide and is one of the top-grossing 15/70 films of 2008.  

Grand Canyon Adventure is produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films and MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation in association with Museum Film Network, Reynders McVeigh Capital Management, and Waterkeeper Alliance.  It is presented by Teva and supported by Kohler Co.  The film is directed by Greg MacGillivray and produced by Greg MacGillivray, Mark Krenzien, and Shaun MacGillivray.

Upcoming giant screen films from MacGillivray Freeman Films include Van Gogh: Brush With Genius (February 9, 2009), Arabia 3D (February 2010, working title), To the Arctic 3D (February 2011, working title), and Return to Everest 3D (February 2012, working title).

MacGillivray Freeman Films is the largest, most experienced independent producer and distributor of giant screen 70mm films in the world.  Throughout the company's 40-plus year history, its films have won numerous international awards including two Academy Award nominations and two film inductions into the IMAX Hall of Fame.   In 1998 the company's hit film Everest achieved unprecedented box office success for a large format film and is currently the highest grossing giant screen film of all time.  

In 2004, company president Greg MacGillivray and his wife Barbara founded the MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation to fund and produce educational giant screen films and companion educational programming focusing on science, the environment, world culture and natural heritage locations. MacGillivray Freeman films are known for their artistry and celebration of science and the natural world.  

For more information, please contact:
Lori Rick, MacGillivray Freeman Films
949-494-1055, lrick@macfreefilms.com

See Also: MacGillivray Freeman's "Grand Canyon Adventure" Nominated for VES Award for Outstanding Visual Effects