As part of the "Composing for Film - Day", SoundTrack_Cologne 22 is proud to welcome four exceptional composers whose recent work continues to push the boundaries of film music: Amine Bouhafa, Dascha Dauenhauer, Jongnic Bontemps and Michael Abels.
As part of the "Composing for Film - Day", SoundTrack_Cologne 22 is proud to welcome four exceptional composers whose recent work continues to push th (...)
As part of the "Composing for Film - Day" at SoundTrack_Cologne 22, taking place on Thursday, July 10, our guest composers will reflect on the essential role that music plays in shaping a film’s emotional landscape, rhythm, and narrative depth. Scoring for film is more than composition, it is a craft that requires a deep understanding of storytelling, character, and cinematic language. Through examples and personal insights, our speakers will explore how they translate visual worlds into sound and how music becomes a powerful protagonist in the filmmaking process.
We are proud to welcome four exceptional composers whose recent work continues to push the boundaries of film music: Amine Bouhafa (The Man Who Sold His Skin · Hotel Destino), the 2025 German Film Award winner Dascha Dauenhauer (Kein Tier. So Wild · Islands), Jongnic Bontemps (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts · World’s Best), and our Career Achievement Award honouree, the multi-award-winning Michael Abels (Get Out · Us · Nope).
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Composing for Films
Thursday 10. July 2025 · COMEDIA Theater, Roter Saal
10:30 - 11:30
Amine Bouhafa
The Man Who Sold His Skin · Hotel Destino
Workshop · Discussion
12:00 - 13:00
Dascha Dauenhauer
No Beast. So Fierce (Kein Tier. So Wild) · Islands - winner of the German Film Prize 2025
Workshop · Discussion
14:30 - 15:30
Jongnic Bontemps
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts · World’s Best
Workshop · Discussion
16:00 - 17:30
Michael Abels
Nope · Us · Get Out
Conversation with the Career Achievement Award Winner
Sixteen composers and sound designers from fourteen nominated entries are in the running for this year’s EUROPEAN TALENT AWARD. The winners will be announced at the festive awards ceremony on July 11th at the WDR Funkhaus.
Sixteen composers and sound designers from fourteen nominated entries are in the running for this year’s EUROPEAN TALENT AWARD. The winners will be an (...)
Sixteen composers and sound designers from fourteen nominated entries are in the running for this year’s EUROPEAN TALENT AWARD. Some of them collaborated in teams, others worked individually on their submission. The winners will be announced at the festive awards ceremony on July 11th at the WDR Funkhaus.
The EUROPEAN TALENT COMPETITION provides a platform specifically for emerging talents in film music and sound design.
Participants had the choice to either compose the original score or to create the sound design for the short film "BLOOM" (directed by Michael Dämmig) - or to re-score the film in a collaborative team of composer and sound designer.
The nominees (in alphabetical order):
Jamie Alpherts (Score), Jakob Altmann (Score), Luis Cantú (Score), Melanie Gäb (Sound design), Michael Kaspar (Score), Stefan Kiechle (Score), Aaron Kolbl (Sound design), Benjamin Alan Kubaczek (Score and Sound design), Robert Landskron (Score), Felix Lopp (Score), Gabriel Massé (Sound design), Xiangming Niu (Score), Samuel Pfeil (Score), Vincent Roy (Sound design), Sam van Stempvoort (Sound design), and Lucia Vité (Score).
The competition screening will take place on Friday, July 11th at 10:30 at ODEON Cinema. To buy the tickets for the screening, click here.
The nominees and their new scores for “BLOOM” will be presented to audience and jury by Yati Durant.
The winner of the WDR FILMSCORE AWARD will have the opportunity to record an original composition of 7 – 9 minutes length with the WDR Funkhausorchester – for many young composers, this could be their first opportunity to record with a large orchestra and the beginning of filling out their film-scoring calling card.
The winner for the best SOUND DESIGN will receive a 5.1 cinematic mix down in the prestigious sound mixing studio TORUS POST.
Find out more information about our nominees and the jury members.
READ MORE!
SoundTrack_Cologne vergibt in Zusammenarbeit mit der Initiative Musik drei Stipendien an FLINTA-Komponistinnen aus Deutschland für SoundTrack_Cologne 22.
SoundTrack_Cologne vergibt in Zusammenarbeit mit der Initiative Musik drei Stipendien an FLINTA-Komponistinnen aus Deutschland für SoundTrack_Cologne (...)
Laut dem Europäischen Observatorium für das audiovisuelle Schaffen lag der Anteil von Frauen unter den aktiven Komponist*innen in audiovisuellen Fiction-Formaten und TV-Filmen in Europa zwischen 2019 und 2023 bei lediglich 10 %. Im selben Zeitraum machten Komponistinnen nur 12 % der Musikschaffenden in europäischen Kinofilmen aus. Auch wenn dies einen leichten Anstieg im Vergleich zu den Jahren 2015–2018 darstellt (6 % bzw. 8 %), spiegelt es nach wie vor eine deutliche Unterrepräsentation von Frauen in der audiovisuellen Musikbranche wider.
Um zu einer gerechteren Teilhabe von Flinta (Frauen, Lesben, intergeschlechtlichen, nicht-binären, trans und agender Personen) in der Film-, TV- und Videospielmusik beizutragen, vergibt SoundTrack_Cologne in Zusammenarbeit mit Initiative Musik drei Stipendien an Flinta*-Komponist*innen aus Deutschland.
„Der Einstieg in die Filmmusik ist für viele FLINTA-Komponist:innen nach wie vor mit unsichtbaren Hürden verbunden – es fehlt an offenen Ausschreibungen, tragfähigen Netzwerken und gezielter Förderung, etwa durch Mentoringprogramme oder Stipendien. Selbst wer sich erfolgreich etabliert, bleibt häufig strukturell benachteiligt. Mit den STC22-Stipendien will die Initiative Musik genau hier ansetzen: Chancen schaffen, Sichtbarkeit ermöglichen – und so mehr Geschlechtergerechtigkeit fördern." – Katja Lucker, Geschäftsführerin Initiative Musik
Das Stipendium umfasst die Akkreditierung zur Konferenz, die Übernahme der Reisekosten innerhalb Deutschlands sowie die Unterbringung in Köln für drei Tage.
Die Stipendien richten sich in erster Linie an Komponist*innen für Film, Fernsehen und Medien, sind aber auch offen für Musiker*innen, Tontechniker*innen, Sounddesigner*innen, Musikproduzent*innen und Music Supervisor*innen.
Idealerweise haben die Bewerber*innen bereits Musik für mindestens eine Film-, Fernseh-, Videospiel-, Radio- oder Theaterproduktion komponiert und entsprechende praktische Erfahrung gesammelt.
Bewerbungsschluss: 23. Juni 2025 - 10:00 Uhr MESZ
Um sich zu bewerben, füllen Sie bitte das Formular aus:
Nine composers are nominated for the PEER RABEN MUSIC AWARD. The winner will be announced at the festival awards ceremony on 11th July at the WDR Funkhaus.
Nine composers are nominated for the PEER RABEN MUSIC AWARD. The winner will be announced at the festival awards ceremony on 11th July at the WDR Funk (...)
Nine composers are nominated for the PEER RABEN MUSIC AWARD. The winner will be announced at the festival awards ceremony on 11th July at the WDR Funkhaus.
The PEER RABEN MUSIC AWARD honors the Best Original Music in a Short Film. The winner receives a prize money of 1,500 euros. First presented in 2009, the award commemorates the great German film composer Peer Raben.
Nominated are eight film scores from award-winning festival highlights of the international short film scene with an innovative and dramaturgically coherent use of music and sound in relation to the narrative. This year's selection includes prestigious winners such as "Bunnyhood," which premiered at Cannes and won third prize in La Cinéf category, and "Ordinary Life” / “Futsu no seikatsu”, which won the Silver Bear Jury Prize for Short Films at the 2025 Berlinale.
The nominees:
The competition screening will take place on Wednesday, July 9th at 18:30 at Odeon cinema. To buy tickets for the screening, click here.
The surreal "Abyssness" tells the story of a farmer who discovers a black hole in his field and turns it into a profitable garbage disposal business. In the sacred jungles of Oussouye, "ALARBA" brings us into the sacred jungles of Oussouye for an intimate portrait of friendship and tradition. "As I Was a Tree" explores themes of identity and perception through a surreal odyssey of self-discovery. The Cannes-awarded "Bunnyhood" follows Bobby, whose innocent world is disrupted by an unexpected hospital trip that reveals her mother's deception. "Detlev" presents a darkly comedic character study of isolation and ritual. In the dystopian "INSTINCTS," Inès and Adrien become fugitives in a future where abortion is criminalized. The Berlinale Silver Bear winner ("ORDINARY LIFE" / “Futsu no seikatsu” contemplates how daily routines repeat yet never remain the same. "Woodland" follows a magical forest creature desperately trying to save its dying forest and nature through music with a fragile flower flute.
The nominees and their films will be presented to audience and jury under the moderation by André Feldhaus (composer).
Here you can find more information about our nominees and the jury members:
This year, four dedicated panels at the conference will explore how composers approach the unique challenges and creative possibilities of scoring for TV series, offering insights into their artistic process and their latest work.
This year, four dedicated panels at the conference will explore how composers approach the unique challenges and creative possibilities of scoring for (...)
SoundTrack_Cologne is honored to announce the featured panelists for this year’s "Composing for TV Series" panels, taking place on Friday, July 11th, 2025.
Television series rely heavily on music to build atmosphere, shape emotional arcs, and bring stories to life. This year, four dedicated panels at the conference will explore how composers approach the unique challenges and creative possibilities of scoring for TV series, offering insights into their artistic processes and recent work.
The panels will feature in-depth discussions on scoring for some of the most exciting recent productions. Featured guests include Anthony D'Amario & Edouard Rigaudière, whose score for Log Out won Best Original Score at Séries Mania 2025; Jack Halama (Who Is Erin Carter? · Rivals); Drum & Lace (Red, White & Royal Blue · Dickinson); and Högni Egilsson (Katla · King and Conqueror).
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Friday 11. July 2025 · COMEDIA Theater, Probebühne
10:30 - 11:30
Anthony D'Amario and Édouard Rigaudière
Log Out - winner of the Best Original Score at Séries Mania 2025
Workshop · Discussion
12:00 - 13:00
Jack Halama
Who Is Erin Carter? · Rivals
Workshop · Discussion
14:30 - 15:30
Drum & Lace (Sofia degli Alessandri-Hultquist)
Red, White & Royal Blue · Dickinson
Workshop · Discussion
16:00 - 17:00
Högni Egilsson
Katla · King and Conqueror
Workshop · Discussion
SoundTrack_Cologne is proud to announce that the Career Achievement Award of its twenty-second edition will go to composer Michael Abels. Best known for his groundbreaking scores for Jordan Peele’s films Get Out, Us and Nope.
SoundTrack_Cologne is proud to announce that the Career Achievement Award of its twenty-second edition will go to composer Michael Abels. Best known f (...)
SoundTrack_Cologne is proud to announce that the Career Achievement Award of its 22nd edition will be presented to composer Michael Abels, best known for his groundbreaking scores for Jordan Peele’s films Get Out, Us and Nope. Abels will attend STC22 on July 10th and 11th, 2025.
On Thursday, July 10th, Michael Abels will engage in an in-depth conversation about his acclaimed career in the film industry with journalist Daniel Kothenschulte (Frankfurter Rundschau). The following evening, on Friday, July 11th, Abels will be honored with the Career Achievement Award during a special ceremony, where the WDR Funkhausorchester will perform a selection of his most iconic film compositions.
Michael Abels is a Pulitzer Prize-winning composer – honored for his opera Omar – whose scores have redefined expectations in both cinema and concert music. His score for Us received the World Soundtrack Award, the Jerry Goldsmith Award, a Critics Choice nomination, and was named "Score of the Decade" by The Wrap. His music for Nope was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Original Score.
In 2023, Abels composed the score for the Disney+ series Star Wars: The Acolyte and co-wrote the original song "The Power Of Two" with Grammy-winners Victoria Monét and D’Mile. Beyond to his screen work, Abels is an acclaimed concert composer. His works have been performed by the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the Kronos Quartet, and many others. Recent commissions include Emerge for the National Symphony, the guitar concerto Borders for Grammy-nominated artist Mak Grgic, and Unbound, a symphonic tribute to Olympic champion Jesse Owens. His upcoming projects include commissions for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, New World Symphony and the Detroit Symphony.
As co-founder of the Composers Diversity Collective, Abels is a leading voice for the increased representation of composers from diverse backgrounds in the film, television, and gaming industries. In 2024, he served as commencement speaker at USC’s Thornton School of Music, inspiring a new generation of artists to follow in his footsteps.
Join us in Cologne as we celebrate Michael Abels’ remarkable contributions to film music and beyond.
Submit your music to a given scene, get expert feedback, and receive practical improvement tips from renowned composer Pieter Schlosser at the Videogame Cutscene / TV Series Scoring workshop at the 22nd edition of SoundTrack_Cologne.
Submit your music to a given scene, get expert feedback, and receive practical improvement tips from renowned composer Pieter Schlosser at the Videoga (...)
Do you want to sharpen your scoring skills for video games and television? Submit your music to a given scene, get expert feedback, and receive practical improvement tips from renowned composer Pieter Schlosser at the Videogame Cutscene / TV Series Scoring workshop at the 22nd edition of SoundTrack_Cologne.
This hands-on session is designed to help you enhance your workflow for efficiency and speed, so you can focus more on creativity. You’ll gain real-world skills to write additional music for a specific in-game cutscene or TV episode by receiving detailed critiques of your cue, with a focus on musical cohesion, thematic integration, and professional delivery standards.
The workshop will centre around a scene from the Disney TV series Secrets of Sulphur Springs. Before the session, you’ll receive a scene, spotting notes, and pre-existing cues to study. This material will help you understand the tone, instrumentation, and style you should aim to match when scoring the scene on your own.
During the workshop, you’ll get direct feedback on your cue, focusing on tone, thematic consistency, instrumentation, and technical delivery (including stem prep and file naming). Pieter will also share the final version of the cue used in the show, offering you a unique opportunity to compare and discuss.
This is your chance to get hands-on experience with the creative and professional standards expected of composers working in real-world TV or video game production environments.
Attendance will be limited to 15 participants (who submit their work) and 5 observers (don’t submit their music). All participants should purchase a STC accreditation and pay additionally the workshop fee.
Active participants: €95
Observer: €45
Music has become a crucial narrative force in modern video games, shaping worlds, deepening emotional engagement and bringing stories to life. At SoundTrack_Cologne 22, we spotlight the creative minds behind some of the most compelling game scores.
Music has become a crucial narrative force in modern video games, shaping worlds, deepening emotional engagement and bringing stories to life. At Soun (...)
Music has become a crucial narrative force in modern video games, shaping worlds, deepening emotional engagement, and bringing stories to life in ever more complex, interactive ways. At SoundTrack_Cologne 22, we spotlight the creative minds behind some of today's most compelling game scores. This year, five panels and one masterclass will delve into the artistry, challenges, and innovations of renowned composers: BAFTA-nominated Olivier Derivière (A Plague Tale: Innocence & Requiem · Streets of Rage 4), Paul Wolinski (No Man's Sky -with 65daysofstatic- · Wreckage Systems), Venus Theory (Avowed · Ground Branch), Ivor Novello Award-winning duo The Flight (Alien: Isolation · Assassin’s Creed Shadows) and Pieter Schlosser (Destiny 2 · Gears of War 2 & 3).
And as a special highlight, we’re also offering a concert of Games music by and with Paul Wolinski (See below for more details).
Composing for Video Games
Wednesday 9 July 2025 · COMEDIA Theater, Probebühne
Moderator: Helge Borgarts
10:30 – 11:30
Olivier Derivière
A Plague Tale: Innocence & Requiem · Streets of Rage 4
Workshop - Discussion
12:00 – 13:00
Paul Wolinski
No Man's Sky (with 65daysofstatic) · Wreckage Systems
Workshop - Discussion
14:30 – 15:30
Venus Theory
Avowed · Ground Branch
Workshop - Discussion
16:00 – 17:00
The Flight
Alien: Isolation · Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Workshop - Discussion
17:00 – 17:30
Olivier Derivière, Paul Wolinski, Venus Theory and The Flight
Games Roundtable with Helge Borgarts
674FM Konzertraum
19:00 - 20:30
Game Music Composer Concert with Paul Wolinski
Performance
Friday 11 July 2025 · COMEDIA Theater, Die Zwei
Moderator: Helge Borgarts
14:30 – 15:30 / 16:00 - 17:00
Pieter Schlosser
Destiny 2 · Gears of War 2 & 3
Masterclass (a registration form for this event will be sent in a separate newsletter in the coming weeks)
Composers and sound designers, the submission deadline for the ETC is April 15th, 2025 10:00 am CEST. Hurry up and apply to the WDR FILMSCORE AWARD and SOUND DESIGN creating the score or the sound design for the short film "BLOOM".
Composers and sound designers, the submission deadline for the ETC is April 15th, 2025 10:00 am CEST. Hurry up and apply to the WDR FILMSCORE AWARD an (...)
Attention composers and sound designers: The submission deadline for the EUROPEAN TALENT COMPETITION is less than three weeks away. Don’t miss your chance to apply for the WDR FILMSCORE AWARD and the EUROPEAN TALENT AWARD in SOUND DESIGN by creating the score or sound design for the short film BLOOM (directed by Michael Dämmig).
Submission deadline is April 15th, 2025 10:00 am CEST.
Contestants may either compose the score or create the sound design for the short film and may also work together in a team with another composer or sound designer. Sound designers in particular are encouraged to submit sound-only projects!
The twelve finalists will be presented with their work to the audience and jury during the SoundTrack_Cologne competition screening. The award ceremony will take place during the official Gala on Friday, July 11th, 2025.
The recipient of the WDR FILMSCORE AWARD will have the opportunity to record an original composition, lasting 7 to 9 minutes, with the WDR Funkhausorchester. For many young composers, this may be their first experience working with a full orchestra, providing a valuable opportunity to build their film-scoring portfolio.
The winner for the best SOUND DESIGN will receive a 5.1 cinematic mix down in the prestigious sound mixing studio TORUS POST.
The contest is open to all current students in sound, music, and/or composition at European film or music schools, regardless of age, as well as young European creatives up to the age of 30.
After the online registration you may download the short film and start your project.
Short film “BLOOM” (Germany, 2023, 3:53 min.)
Directed by: Michael Dämmig
Life isn‘t equally sunny for all: Karl, a tree less fortunate than the trees around him, finds a chance for social acceptance in a fallen mango. But thanks to a cheeky little monkey, Karl realizes what truly makes him happy.
SUBMIT NOW!
Composers and filmmakers don’t miss the chance to submit your short films that stand out for their original compositions to the PEER RABEN MUSIC AWARD. Submission deadline is April 15th, 2025 10:00 am CEST.
Composers and filmmakers don’t miss the chance to submit your short films that stand out for their original compositions to the PEER RABEN MUSIC AWARD (...)
Composers, filmmakers and distributors don’t miss the opportunity to submit your short films with distinctive original compositions for the PEER RABEN MUSIC AWARD. The submission deadline is April 15th, 2025, at 10:00 AM CEST.
This prestigious award, honoring the renowned German composer PEER RABEN, offers a prize of 1,500 euros. It recognizes a film score that demonstrates innovation and makes a significant, cohesive contribution to the narrative through music and sound.
Conditions to apply:
To apply, click the button below and fill out the submission form:
SUBMIT NOW!
Filmmakers, producers, and distributors, you still have time to submit your film for this year's SEE THE SOUND festival (9-13 July 2025)! Submission deadline is April 7th, 2025 10:00 am CEST.
Filmmakers, producers, and distributors, you still have time to submit your film for this year's SEE THE SOUND festival (9-13 July 2025)! Submission d (...)
Filmmakers, producers, and distributors, you are still on time to submit your film for this year's SEE THE SOUND festival (9-13 July 2025)!
Submission deadline is April 7th, 2025 10:00 am CEST.
Whether it’s a documentary, feature film, short, or music video, we welcome all works that bring music and sound to life such as biopics about musicians or bands, documentaries about concerts, portraits of composers, portraits of bands or music videos.
Submission criteria
The competition for Best Music Documentary will be held among the selected documentaries. The winner will receive 2,500 euros.
Submit Now!
