Cinematic Worlds: Immersive Sound & Film — DCIFF 2026 Seminar

Join Sandro Kereselidze from ARTECHOUSE and audio expert Cheryl Ottenritter from OTT House Audio for an exploration of spatial audio and immersive sound design. Topics include the technical foundations of immersive audio formats (Atmos, Auro-3D, DTS:X), creative possibilities: using height channels and object-based audio for storytelling, workflow considerations: monitoring, mixing, and quality control for immersive formats, accessibility of immersive sound for independent filmmakers, installation and experiential audio beyond traditional cinema, and the future of spatial audio in virtual reality, gaming, and emerging platforms. Whether you're a sound professional ready to expand into immersive mixing or a filmmaker curious about next-generation audio, the Cinematic Worlds: Immersive Sound & Film seminar provides both inspiration and practical guidance for creating truly cinematic sonic experiences.

PANELISTS:
Sandro Kereselidze is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of ARTECHOUSE, an experiential, technology-driven art company producing groundbreaking 21st-century art experiences. His vision for redefining how art is experienced has positioned ARTECHOUSE as a pioneer in immersive and experiential art in the United States and internationally. Under Sandro's creative direction, ARTECHOUSE has become a leading platform for prominent artists including Refik Anadol, Daito Manabe, fuse*, Zach Lieberman, NONOTAK, and Adrien M. & Claire B. Collaborating with these artists and its in-house production team, ARTECHOUSE has produced more than 22 major exhibitions, 10 live shows, and 130 AR experiences, attracting over 1.1 million visitors worldwide. These projects have been featured by outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, National Geographic, CNN, and The Washington Post. ARTECHOUSE has also built partnerships with organizations including the Society for Neuroscience, Pantone Color Institute, and the United Nations Foundation. Prior to ARTECHOUSE, Sandro co-founded Art Soiree in 2009, producing over 200 experiential arts events annually in Washington, DC and laying the groundwork for a permanent technology-focused art space. Since opening its first location in 2017, ARTECHOUSE has expanded to Washington, DC, New York City, and Miami Beach, as well as a mobile app, with Sandro continuing to pursue global expansion.

Cheryl Ottenritter, CAS, MPSE, is a Sound Designer and Re-Recording Mixer, Ott House Audio. Cheryl has over twenty years of audio post experience. With her love of music, she earned degrees in Jazz Studies and Theory & Composition at Auburn University. Since, she has been honored to mix in the most prestigious audio studios on both coasts, working on projects for PBS, National Geographic, Smithsonian Channel, and Discovery Channel. In 2006, Cheryl, with her business partner & husband John Ottenritter, launched Ott House Audio, now one of the premiere audio studios. Recent credits include the winning Laws of The Lizard, The River And The Wall and Hidden Pacific. Cheryl specializes in mixing for Dolby Atmos and has a niche specialty of mixing for installed immersive sound experiences. She considers innovation and creative collaboration the cornerstones of her craft. When not at her mix board, Cheryl is playing the piano or reading a book. She lives in Kensington, Maryland with her husband and two daughters.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher DC Independent Film Festival (DCIFF)