Libby Villa and Wayne Pashley of Big Bang Sound Design take home 2025 Sydney UNESCO City of Film Award

Acclaimed sound studio founders Libby Villa and Wayne Pashley have been named the recipients of the 2025 Sydney UNESCO City of Film Award.

The award was presented to Libby Villa and Wayne Pashley by Head of Screen NSW, Kyas Hepworth at the 72nd Sydney Film Festival Closing Night Gala at the State Theatre.

Libby and Wayne are co-owners of Big Bang Sound Design, a Sydney-based post-production sound facility, and have delivered immersive award-winning soundtracks for feature films, including Mad Max: Fury Road, Elvis, The Great Gatsby, The Lego Movie, and Happy Feet.

The $10,000 cash prize, which was first established in 2016, is presented annually by Screen NSW, under the auspice of Sydney UNESCO City of Film, to trailblazing NSW-based screen practitioners, whose work stands for innovation, imagination and high impact.

Previous recipients of the award are Debbie Lee (2024), Chris Godfrey (2023), Caitlin Yeo (2022), Karina Holden (2021), Blackfella Films (2019), Warwick Thornton (2018), Leah Purcell (2017) and Lynette Wallworth (2016).

Kyas Hepworth, Head of Screen NSW said:

“Screen NSW is delighted to present the 2025 Sydney UNESCO City of Film Award to Libby Villa and Wayne Pashley of Big Bang Sound Design, in recognition of their distinguished careers and commitment to the film industry.

“Libby and Wayne bring over 35 years of experience, creativity and commitment to the industry, with their feature film credits spanning Australian and international films, for which they have received many accolades, reinforcing the critical role of sound in storytelling.

“Their incredible work is an inspiration to the creative community, particularly the next generation of storytellers whom they continue to nurture.”

Libby Villa and Wayne Pashley, Big Bang Sound Design said:

“We are incredibly honoured and humbled to receive the 2025 Sydney UNESCO City of Film Award. To be recognised in a city that celebrates such a rich, diverse storytelling community truly means a lot. This award is very much a shared one.

“We want to thank the incredible collaborators, artists, and crew we’ve had the privilege of working with, especially our Big Bang Sound family. Your creativity, care, and commitment are what make the work meaningful, and we feel lucky every day to be part of this exceptional community.

“We are especially thankful that this recognition highlights the role of sound in storytelling. Sound is such a powerful, yet often invisible part of how we connect to a story. It builds emotion, shapes space, and brings depth to what we see on screen. It’s a joy to see that contribution acknowledged. A huge thank you to Screen NSW, and Sydney UNESCO City of Film for this honour, and for your ongoing support of creative voices in film. We are deeply grateful.”

 

About Libby Villa

Libby Villa is a Sydney-based Supervising Sound Editor and Post-Production Sound Coordinator, with over 35 years of experience in the field.

As co-owner of the bespoke sound studio Big Bang Sound Design, alongside her partner Wayne Pashley, Libby has contributed her expertise to major films including The Lego Movie (Warner Bros), Mad Max: Fury Road (George Miller), Elvis (Baz Luhrmann), and Eden (Ron Howard).

In 2022, Libby and Wayne were jointly honoured with the NSW Cinema Pioneers of the Year award and the Australian Screen Sound Guild’s Syd Butterfield Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising their outstanding contributions to sound post-production in Australia.

About Wayne Pashley

Wayne Pashley is a Sydney-based Supervising Sound Editor, Sound Designer, and Re-recording Mixer whose feature film credits span both Australian and international productions.

In a 30-year collaboration with director Baz Luhrmann, Wayne has worked on films including Strictly Ballroom, Australia, and the award-winning The Great Gatsby and Elvis, for which he received Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards for Best Sound.

A multi-award-winning sound professional, Wayne’s accolades include multiple Australian Screen Sound Guild and Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) awards, six AACTA Awards, and the Best Artistic Contribution award from the Montreal World Film Festival. His work on George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road earned global acclaim, contributing to the film's 2016 Academy Awards for Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing.

Wayne’s contribution to the cinematic experience—particularly in shaping immersive soundscapes—was once again recognised in 2023 when his work on Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis received both BAFTA and Academy Award nominations for Best Sound.

In 2022, Wayne and his partner, Libby Villa - co-owner of Big Bang Sound Design - were jointly honoured with the NSW Cinema Pioneers of the Year award and the Australian Screen Sound Guild’s Syd Butterfield Lifetime Achievement Award, acknowledging their exceptional contributions to sound post-production in Australia.

About Big Bang Sound Design

Big Bang Sound Design is a Sydney-based post-production sound facility founded by acclaimed Supervising Sound Editor and Re-recording Mixer Wayne Pashley and Supervising Sound Editor and Post-Production Sound Coordinator Libby Villa. Specialising in feature film sound design, editorial, and mixing, the studio has delivered immersive, award-winning soundtracks for major titles such as Mad Max: Fury Road, Elvis, The Great Gatsby, The Lego Movie, and Happy Feet.

With expertise spanning dialogue editing, ADR, Foley, sound effects design, and final mix, Big Bang combines creative innovation with technical precision. Recognised with multiple AACTA, MPSE, and ASSG awards, the team brings over 35 years of industry experience to every project, and was jointly honoured with the Syd Butterfield Lifetime Achievement Award and named NSW Cinema Pioneers of the Year in 2022.

Photo credit: 2025 Sydney UNESCO City of Film Award recipients Wayne Pashley and Libby Villa of Big Bang Sound Design. Supplied by Sydney Film Festival.