In horror, sound is more than background……….it’s the heartbeat of terror. A single whisper can raise goosebumps, a distant scrape can freeze you in place, and silence… can be the loudest scream of all.

Now, African sound artists, audio storytellers, and creative visionaries have a chance to make the world listen and shiver.

The Sundance Collab x Dolby Creator Lab Horror Soundscape Challenge 2025 is officially open for submissions, inviting creators to craft a soundscape for the chilling new found-footage horror film, Project MKHEXE.

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What’s at Stake?

Winner Receives:

• Their work featured on Sundance Collab as part of the Dolby Creator Lab Series
• Sundance Collab Winner Course Package (Value: $930)

Two Runners-up Receive:

• Their work featured on Sundance Collab as part of the Dolby Creator Lab Series
• Sundance Collab Runners-up Course Package (Value: $540)

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The Challenge: Crafting the Sound of Fear

This is not about composing a musical score; it’s about building an atmosphere so haunting that it lingers long after the credits roll.

You’ll choose one of two provided scenes from Project MKHEXE and design a soundscape using:

• Atmosphere – The sonic environment that sets the mood
• Foley – Realistic sound effects that make the scene breathe (or choke)
• Environmental Textures – Layers of sound that tell the story without a single word

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About Project MKHEXE

Officially, it was a deep-earth geological survey.
Unofficially, it was a covert mission to study a bio-acoustic anomaly in a remote, abandoned mine.
When the research team vanished, a recovery unit was sent in.
What they found—or what found them—remains a mystery, pieced together only through fragmented data logs and harrowing audio-visual recordings.

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Deadline

Submissions close Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PT.

SUBMIT HERE

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Why African Creators Should Enter

Africa’s storytelling tradition is rich with oral history, folklore, and sound-driven narratives. From the rhythmic chants of West African griots to the eerie night sounds of the savannah, our continent has always understood the power of sound to move, unsettle, and haunt.

This challenge is a chance to bring that heritage to a global stage—merging tradition with cutting-edge Dolby technology.

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Createpreneur Tip: Think beyond jump scares. The most terrifying sounds are often the ones that feel too real. Draw from your environment, your culture, and your imagination.

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Will your sound be the one that Sundance audiences can’t forget?
Step into the darkness, and let your creativity echo.