Peer Raben Music Award

20280

In 2024, SoundTrack_Cologne 21 presents once more, the PEER RABEN MUSIC AWARD for the best music in a short film and cordially invites film composers* and filmmakers* to submit their short films with their original compositions.

First presented in 2009, the Award commemorates the great German film composer Peer Raben.

price of 1,500 euros, donated by the Peer Raben Estate, will be given to one film score with innovative and dramaturgically coherent use of music and sound in relation to narration.

Submission deadline was on April 10, 2024, 10:00am CEST.

The award gala will take place on Friday, July 05, 2024.

Regulations PEER RABEN MUSIC AWARD at SoundTrack_Cologne 21, 2024:

1. General Conditions
Prized will be the best soundtrack for a short film. There is a 15-minutes limit on duration, but not on the form, theme or genre of the film. The film music must have mainly been written for the film. If the selection committee does not accept a film for the competition, it has the option to be placed in one of the extra screenings.

2. Submission criteria:

  • Films with a maximum length of 15-minutes (incl. end credits) in all industry standard formats.
  • Short films whose production was completed after January 1, 2023 or that premiered after January 1, 2023.
  • There are no restrictions regarding country of production, genre, or content; however, the film must be predominantly scored with original music.
  • The nominees should be present at the screening of the films and will be presented to the audience and the jury during the competition screening. The award ceremony will take place during the official gala on July 5th, 2024.

2. Organiser and Date
SoundTrack_Cologne is held by Televisor Troika GmbH. The festival will take place in Cologne from July 02 - 05, 2024.

3. Entry Requirements

a) The film has to be submitted via the online form provided by SoundTrack_Cologne.

b) The applicant gets sent an automatic entry form to the provided email address. The applicant has to send the signed entry form to SoundTrack_Cologne by E-mail, fax or mail to one of the following addresses:

E-mail: peerraben@soundtrackcologne.de

Fax: +49-(0)221-9318449

Shipping address:

SoundTrack_Cologne
c/o Televisor Troika GmbH
Trajanstraße 27
D-50678 Köln
Germany

Without the signed entry form the submission is not complete and will not be considered by the jury!

The deadline is April 10, 2024, 10:00am CEST.

c) Each entry requires a unique entry and a completed and signed entry form. Use a separate entry form for each film.

d) The running time of the film may not exceed 15 minutes.

e) All short films whose production was completed after January 1st, 2023, or which had their premiere after January 1st, 2023, are eligible for submission. These conditions are subject to change by the organizer.

f) The film should be mostly accompanied by original music.

g) Works cannot be withdrawn from the competition after submission.

h) Works can only be submitted once. Submitting the same film in the following year is not accepted - regardless if the work was selected for the short list or if it still fits the timeframe mentioned in e).

4. Preview Copy / Entries
a) The preferred option is entering the preview copy digitally via online link, preferably with the option to download the file. There is a field in the application form to fill in the URL. Please make sure that download and/or viewing link remain active till at least July 6th, 2024 and any required password is not changed. Additionally we ask you to provide an access to the preview copy that does not require further registration. If applying via link the signed application form is to be sent digitally to peerraben@soundtrackcologne.de.
b) If the original language of the film is neither German nor English, subtitles in one of those languages are necessary. In the absence of subtitles a film script in German or English must be enclosed during the selection process. If the film is selected, the screening print has to have English or German subtitles.
c) Preview material will remain in the festival archive.

5. Selection
The selection committee will view the submissions that reached the festival office by April 10, 2024, 10:00am CEST. All entrants will be notified of the selection results in time. The results will be sent by E-mail only. Please send your submission as soon as possible and do not wait until close to the deadline. This will support the selection process. Thank you.

6. Screening Print / Accepted Film Formats
The screening print, only requested after the selection process, can be one of the following formats: DCP, DVD, BluRay-Disc and digital file (e.g. high quality prores). The video format has to be PAL only (no NTSC, SECAM or similar). If the original language of the film is neither German nor English, subtitles in one of those languages are required.

7. Postage
Costs for submitting materials, viewing copy and screening copy are to be paid by the submitter [Submissions with insufficient postage will not be accepted]. Return expenses for the screening-print will be covered by the festival. Submissions from abroad must read in German: “Nur für kulturelle Zwecke – keine kommerzielle Nutzung. Empfänger ist Selbstverzoller” (For cultural purpose only, no commercial value –  Independent Custome Clearance by the recipient). Submitted viewing copies (DVD screeners) from non EU-member states must be accompanied by a „pro forma invoice“ stating a value of max. 20 US$. In the event of accruing custom fees such fees shall be charged to the submitter. Submitted viewing copies (DVD-screeners) will not be returned!

Shipping address:

SoundTrack_Cologne
c/o Televisor Troika GmbH
Trajanstraße 27
D-50678 Köln
Germany

8. Further Remarks

a) Screening prints will be insured during the festival time at their print value. Any claims for replacement due to damage are to be submitted not later than 10 days after the festival.

b) The submitter has to confirm, that the composer agrees with the submission and the participation in the competition und that s/he is willing to participate in the Award Ceremony if s/he is nominated.

c) We will make every effort, but we cannot promise to invite all the filmmaker whose films have been selected. We will also provide information about private accommodations or low cost hotels.

9. Declaration of Agreement
With their signature, the participants and rights holders in the submitted work declare their consent to participation in the competition and their agreement to the rules and regulations in the version here present. There is no right of appeal. All matters in doubt will be decided by the festival management according to international guidelines. The German version of these rules and regulations is binding.

10. Online Form
Please fill in all mandatory fields truthfully and completely. Wrong details or entries like “blank blank blank”, “Please request this at …”, links to websites or similar entries will automatically lead to a disqualification of the submission!

11. The entry form is to be printed, signed and sent to SoundTrack_Cologne (see §3b).

If there are any questions or problems, please check our FAQ or contact us any time via peerraben@soundtrackcologne.de

FAQ • PEER RABEN MUSIC AWARD

Before you can log in, you have to confirm your e-mail address. Make sure you have a valid e-mail address. The confirmation email could also be in your spam folder. If you can not log in despite confirming your e-mail address, try to use your last name as the username instead of your e-mail address (initial letter in capital).

Yes, your film must have a maximum length of 15 minutes including all credits.

Yes, we accept re-scored films if they fulfil our conditions of participation. You have to be in hold of all rights of the film.

Yes, your film will be eligible for submission with re-interpreted soundtracks.

No, unfortunately we do not accept soundtracks without image.

Yes, you can submit as many films as you want.

If you want to submit more than one film, please submit the films one by one. It is not possible to submit multiple films in one single submission step.

Regulations §3e:
Only short films whose production was completed after January 1st, 2023, or which had their premiere after January 1st, 2023, are eligible for submission.

Regulations §3h:
Films can only be submitted once: If you already submitted your film for the last edition of the PEER RABEN MUSIC AWARD at SoundTrack_Cologne, it will not be considered if submitted again - regardless of the selection status in the previous edition of the PEER RABEN MUSIC AWARD.

Yes, in general you are free to submit VR films, but if it would be chosen for the short list, we can only show it in a standard format with beamer or on an LED screen.

Nothing, the submission is free of charge.