The History of Sound is a 2025 period romance film directed by Oliver Hermanus and written by Ben Shattuck, who adapted his short stories "The History of Sound" and "Origin Stories". It follows the relationship between two men, played by Paul Mescal and Josh O'Connor, who meet in 1917 while attending the New England Conservatory of Music, and after World War I travel together recording folk songs of their countrymen in rural Maine in the winter of 1920. The History of Sound had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 21, where it competed for the Palme d'Or. It was released in the United States by Mubi on September 12.

Infobox

Directed by

Oliver Hermanus

Screenplay by

Ben Shattuck

Based on

"The History of Sound" and "Origin Stories" by Ben Shattuck

Produced by

Sara Murphy Andrew Kortschak Lisa Ciuffetti Thérèsa Ryan-Van Graan Oliver Hermanus Zhang Xin

Starring

Paul Mescal Josh O'Connor Chris Cooper

Cinematography

Alexander Dynan

Edited by

Chris Wyatt

Production companies

Closer Media Film4 Tango Entertainment Storm City Films End Cue Fat City

Distributed by

Mubi (United States and Canada) Universal Pictures and Focus Features (International)

Release dates

May 21, 2025 (2025-05-21) (Cannes) September 12, 2025 (2025-09-12) (United States) January 23, 2026 (2026-01-23) (United Kingdom)

Running time

128 minutes

Countries

United States United Kingdom

Language

English

Box office

$1 million

Tables

· Reception › Accolades

Cannes Film Festival

Award

Cannes Film Festival

Date of ceremony

24 May 2025

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
Cannes Film Festival	24 May 2025	Palme d'Or	Oliver Hermanus	Nominated
Cannes Film Festival	24 May 2025	Queer Palm	Oliver Hermanus	Nominated
Miskolc International Film Festival	13 September 2025	Emeric Pressburger Prize	The History of Sound	Nominated