Laia Casanovas

Biography

Laia Casanovas is a Spanish supervising sound editor and sound designer known for her work on some of the most acclaimed films in modern Spanish cinema. A specialist in post-production sound, she is recognized for her ability to sculpt immersive, emotionally resonant sonic worlds that often blur the line between reality and abstraction. In January 2026, Casanovas made history as a member of the first all-female team nominated for the Academy Award for Best Sound. She received the nomination for the film "Sirāt" (2025), directed by Óliver Laxe. As the Supervising Sound Editor, she was the architect of the film's complex post-production soundscape, taking the raw "direct sound" captured by Amanda Villavieja and weaving it into a hypnotic, trance-like audio experience that mirrored the protagonist's journey through the Moroccan desert. She shares the nomination with Villavieja and re-recording mixer Yasmina Praderas. The trio also won the European Film Award for Best European Sound Designer in late 2025. Critics praised Casanovas's design work for balancing the film’s punishing environmental noise (sandstorms, wind) with its rhythmic, electronic musical elements. Prior to her international breakthrough, Casanovas was already a highly respected figure in the industry. She earned a Goya Award nomination for her work on Pedro Almodóvar’s "Parallel Mothers" (2021) and served as a sound editor on the Goya-winning film "Las niñas" (2020). She is also an educator, teaching sound design at various film schools in Barcelona.