St Andrews sound engineer picks up Oscar for work on Tom Cruise blockbuster

THE work of Scots in the film industry has been recognised during the film industry's biggest award ceremony of the year.

Stirling-born former triathlete turned screenwriter Lesley Paterson was applauded for her work on All Quiet on the Western Front, with the film picking up four Oscars: best international feature film, cinematography, original score, and production design.

Paterson wrote the screenplay after she and her writing partner, Ian Stokell, acquired the rights to adapt the book 16 years ago.

Last month, she told The National that once director Edward Berger signed on to the film she knew it was going to be “something special”.

Following the ceremony, Paterson said that she was “gutted” not to win the award for best adapted screenplay but pledged to celebrate the film’s success regardless.

The 95th Oscars have taken place in Hollywood with 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' winning seven awards. Chris Burdon, who grew up in St Andrews, picked up an Oscar for Best Sound for the film 'Top Gun: Maverick' and spoke to Colin on #BBCBreakfasthttps://t.co/M7g07DE9gQ pic.twitter.com/LyWVZlKsuT

— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) March 13, 2023

However, another Scot – Chris Burdon – did pick an Oscar for best sound for his work on Tom Cruise blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick.

Burdon, who grew up in St Andrews, told the BBC he remembered watching the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire being filmed in the town when he was a student at Madras College.

He was previously nominated for his work on the Tom Hanks film Captain Phillips in 2013.