Important prizes in the event industry are awarded at festive evening events during Prolight + Sound.
Outstanding achievements in the event industry are shown in the halls of Prolight + Sound. The jury and the board of trustees of the two prizes, ‘Opus – International Stage Award’ and ‘Sinus – Systems Integration Award’, are made up of representatives of the German Association for Media and Event Technology (VPLT), the European Association of Event Centres (EVVC) and other industry experts, as well as representatives of the trade press and Messe Frankfurt.
In addition to the jury vote, an online public vote was held for the first time in 2025 to select the future award winner. The public was able to vote for the best project online.
Opus – International Stage Award
Impressive stage presentations, entertaining TV shows, enchanting lighting effects and thrilling camera work – the Opus Award will in future honour even more impressive achievements in our industry – and will now also recognise international projects. Under the new name ‘Opus – International Stage Award’, the tradition of this renowned prize will be continued and expanded to include the special categories of ‘Event Lighting’, ‘Immersive Sound’ and ‘Camera & Image’.
The ‘Opus – German Stage Prize’ honours productions that have created special visitor experiences through the innovative use of event technology. The Opus has been honouring outstanding personalities and projects since 1995. The focus is on the technical implementation of theatre and musical productions, concerts and tours, as well as corporate events. With the Opus 2025, the spectrum is expanding and the award has been renamed the ‘Opus - International Stage Award’.
Opus prize winner 2025
Winner of the ‘Opus – International Stage Award’ 2025: Ring Cycle
A digital ‘Ring of the Nibelung’ – flora&faunavisions reimagines Wagner
This spectacular new production of Wagner's ‘Ring of the Nibelung’ combines classic opera theatre with cutting-edge technology – transforming the stage into a contemporary fantasy world with 83 musicians, 102 voices and 200 people behind the scenes.
In this groundbreaking production, motion sensors, interactive costumes and synchronised animations meet movable LED screens, motion tracking and AI-generated content. The seamless interaction of these elements creates a dynamic, visually stunning atmosphere. Particularly impressive: a 3D-scanned, seven-metre-high bonsai tree that dominates the stage design in ‘Die Walküre’.
The critically acclaimed production sets a new standard for large-scale opera productions that preserve Wagner's vision while appealing to new audiences. Leigh Sachwitz, founder of flora&faunavisions, explains: ‘We have to embrace technology and use it as a tool to create great things. If we succeed in doing so, we will also be able to reach younger audiences.’
Winner of the 2025 Opus Immersive Sound: Visitor
„Visitor“ – eine Klanginstallation von Christo Squier
The British composer and creative director Christo Squier, winner of the ‘Opus Immersive Sound’ award, has created a unique sound installation called ‘Visitor’ that translates cosmic muons into light and sound in real time. A specially developed detector translates the energy of these cosmic particles into sounds and visual effects, while eight strategically placed loudspeakers immerse the audience in an immersive soundscape.
The work blurs the boundaries between science and art in a unique way – and invites the audience to reflect on the fragility of our existence and the mystery of the invisible forces around us.
Winner of the 2025 Opus Event Lighting Award: Heaven & Dirt
Lighting design for Heaven & Dirt – B'in Live stages music visually
This year's ‘Opus Event Lighting’ Award goes to the Taiwan-based production company ‘B'in Live’ for the impressive design of the ‘Heaven & Dirt’ concert by the band deca joins. A unique circular light installation in combination with 600 movable, semi-transparent LED elements was used to symbolically implement the themes of heaven and earth. The lighting design emphasised the poetic and artistic depth of the music without overshadowing the band's natural dynamics.
The carefully orchestrated combination of light, space and sound gave the audience an intense, emotional concert experience, with the aim of giving each visitor the space to enjoy a profound musical encounter with the band.
Winner of the ‘Opus Camera & Image’ 2025: Bundesliga production by Sportcast
Outstanding camerawork – Bundesliga football production by Sportcast
Sportcast GmbH has been honoured with the ‘Opus Camera & Image’ Award for its impressive camera work in the production of the Bundesliga football. As host broadcaster, Sportcast has been providing the base feed for all Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 matches since the 2006/07 season. The company produces 617 matches per season and ensures that the images are broadcast in over 200 countries worldwide.
A dynamic and detailed picture of the game is created using a mix of standard and specialised cameras, including aerial systems, super-slow-motion cams and cinematic-look cameras. The image composition follows dramaturgical priorities in order to capture emotions, tactical details and exciting moments for the viewers. Furthermore, numerous matches are produced in UHD-HDR, which raises the visual quality of the production to a new level. By combining technical expertise with a deep understanding of the game, Sportcast makes a decisive contribution to the Bundesliga's media presence.
Sinus – Systems Integration Award 2025
Theme parks, interactive museum experiences, immersive sales rooms – the use of technology, on both a large and small scale, is virtually unlimited. The Sinus – Systems Integration Award honours outstanding creative and artistic achievements and solutions with regard to the use of technology in audiovisual installations. The prize has been awarded annually at Prolight + Sound since 2004.
Winner of the ‘Sinus – Systems Integration Award’ 2025: Open Ground Club, Wuppertal
Open Ground Club, Wuppertal
The Open Ground Club in Wuppertal is the winner of the ‘Sinus – Systems Integration Award’ in 2025.
This state-of-the-art event centre sets new standards in sustainable event technology and innovative design – a unique combination of technical excellence and creative vision. The project is backed by none other than Thomas Riedel, CEO of Riedel Communications, who is supporting the realisation of this visionary concept as an investor.
Technology meets sustainability
The centrepiece of the venue is a Funktion-One sound system with 32-inch bass speakers. All the rooms were acoustically equipped by the specialists Wax Acoustics using the concept of free-field simulation to ensure an optimal, undistorted sound experience. This is combined with energy-efficient, flexibly adaptable lighting systems and a central control platform that allows intuitive control of all AV components.
With its special facilities, the Open Ground Club has established itself as a centre for innovative and sustainable events – and shows how technical sophistication and ecology can be effectively combined.
The Jury
An independent panel of experts, including many well-known names from the industry, will assess the projects submitted and select the winners:
Iris Abel - BTR - Bühnentechnische Rundschau
Stefan Eschelbach - Deutscher Bühnenverein Bundesverband der Theater und Orchester
Ray Finkenberger-Lewin - Musikproduzent und Filmschaffender
Jürgen Kössinger - WIREWORX Gesellschaft für audiovisuelle Medien mbH
Stephan Kwiecinski - kwie.medien
Harald Prieß - Bildungswerk des Verbandes Deutscher Tonmeister GmbH
Frank Trautmann - BVFK - Bundesverband der Fernsehkameraleute e. V.
René Tumler - EVVC Europäischer Verband der Veranstaltungs-Centren e.V.
Laura van Haperen - VPLT – Der Verband für Medien- und Veranstaltungstechnik e. V.
Stefan Weil - Atelier Markgraph GmbH