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Ioan Allen, a creator of the Dolby Stereo film program, receives medal from the Festival de Cannes, marking 50 years of Dolby's work in feature films

Following half a century of technical collaboration, the Festival’s Louis Lumière auditorium will also be equipped with Dolby Atmos immersive audio for 2025

Credit photo: Joachim Tournebize

Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: DLB), a leader in immersive entertainment experiences, announced that at the 77th edition of the prestigious Festival de Cannes, Ioan Allen, Senior Vice President at Dolby, was awarded a Festival de Cannes Medal by Thierry Frémaux, General Delegate of the Festival de Cannes and Managing Director of the Institut Lumière. The recognition illustrates Dolby's commitment to cinema and its association with the Festival de Cannes, one of the world's most prestigious and influential events. 

In addition, Dolby announced the famous Louis Lumière room in the Palais des Festivals - which hosts the official Festival de Cannes preview screenings - will be transformed to incorporate Dolby Atmos immersive sound for 2025, for the 78th edition of the Festival. This represents a major investment, born entirely by SEMEC, the operating company of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes. 

During this year’s Festival de Cannes, Allen received the aforementioned award on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at noon, during a private ceremony at the Salon des Ambassadeurs in the Palais des Festivals. During the ceremony, Allen, who joined Dolby in 1969 and worked closely with founder Ray Dolby, accepted the medal in recognition of Dolby's technical investment and film industry expertise over 50 years.  

Allen is best known for developing the Dolby Stereo film program. He has received five scientific and technical awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, including an Oscar.  

The Festival’s recognition of Allen this year also follows an award and honorary medal the Festival bestowed to Ray Dolby two decades ago, which remains on display at Dolby’s Soho Square office in London. 

After the ceremony, Thierry Frémaux welcomed ten eminent members of Dolby Laboratories for lunch, including: 

Anais Libolt, Director Broadcast and Content, Europe

Arkin Kol, Senior Director Commercial Partnerships and Sales, Europe  

Fritz Deininger, Senior Director of Cinema Sales (EMEA, India, Central Europe)

Nick Watson, Director, Content Relations, Europe

Thierry Frémaux said: "We are delighted to have Dolby as one of our technical partners for half a century.  For us, it's a real guarantee of know-how and excellence."

Ioan Allen added: "Receiving this distinction is a great honor and renews our commitment to the Festival de Cannes and the world of cinema in general."

Dolby has renewed its technical partnership with the Festival de Cannes for the next three years. 

Key figures on Dolby and cinema 

• In 2024, Dolby celebrates 50 years of involvement in the film industry. Indeed, the 1974 film Callan, the first feature film to be released with a Dolby soundtrack, was presented at the Festival de Cannes that year. Since Dolby was founded, more than 40,000 feature films to-date have made use of the company’s technology. 

• More than 7,500 cinemas worldwide are equipped with Dolby Atmos sound, and over 2,950 films have been or will be screened in this format. 

• Dolby Cinema®, which combines Dolby Vision HDR technologies and Dolby Atmos immersive sound, offers the ultimate cinematic experience. More than 600 films have been or will be screened in Dolby Vision® and Dolby Atmos. 

• In France, 300 cinemas are equipped with Dolby Atmos, making the country the European leader and fourth worldwide in terms of the number of cinemas equipped. The country also boasts 12 Dolby Cinema theaters. 

About Dolby Laboratories 

Dolby Laboratories (NYSE: DLB) is based in San Francisco with offices around the globe. From movies and TV shows, to apps, music, sports, and gaming, Dolby transforms the science of sight and sound into spectacular experiences for billions of people worldwide. We partner with artists, storytellers, developers, and businesses to revolutionize entertainment and communications with Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, Dolby Cinema, and Dolby.io. For more information about Dolby Laboratories, please visit the following website: http://www.dolby.com

Dolby, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, Dolby Cinema, Dolby.io and the double-D symbol are trademarks or registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.