@Jan Verbeek

AWARD WINNERS AT

SOUNDTRACK_COLOGNE 23

Christopher Young · Career Achievement Award

Nicolas Soulatre Varea · WDR Filmscore Award

Natalija Strahinić and Nataša Šormaz · European Talent Award Sound Design

Andrea Neri · Honorable Mention · European Talent Award - Score

Maja Zielińska · Honorable Mention · European Talent Award - Sound Desing

Ksenia Ignatenko & Leticia Goás · Peer Raben Music Award

Pauline Black: A 2 Tone Story · See The Sound Music Documentary Award

Ensemble Modern - Why We Play · Honorable Mention - See the Sound Music Documentary Award

A festive evening at the COMEDIA Theater marked the close of SoundTrack_Cologne's 23rd edition on Friday, July 17th. The Award Ceremony celebrated the winners of our competitions and honored some of the most inspiring voices in film and media music, wrapping up a gripping week filled with over 70 panels and networking sessions. Five prizes and three honorary mentions were awarded during the event, including the Career Achievement Award to composer Christopher Young, one of the most prolific and versatile voices in contemporary film music.

With the Neue Rheinische Kammerorchester conducted by Yati Durant, the ceremony featured live performances of works by this year's guests of honour: Christopher Young (Shortcut to Happiness), Mirjam Skal (Anima – Flight 111), Aisling Brouwer (Pompeii Suite), John Lunn (Downton Abbey Suite), Carsten Rocker (Tafiti: Across The Desert), Natalie Hausmann (Toivo), and Boxed Ape (Alistair Kerley & Frankie Harper Suite).

Christopher Young · Career Achievement Award

Nicolas Soulatre Varea · WDR Filmscore Award

The WDR Filmscore Award went to Nicolas Soulatre Varea. The jury, Panu Aaltio, Corinna Rottschy, Mirjam Skal, and Christoph Hundt, expressed they were "impressed by the unique instrumentation, the strong use of leitmotifs, and the excellent understanding of dramaturgy." They added: "The score made the severity of the topic of fake news tangible, and the combination of orchestral and electronic sounds created an interesting musical language."

Andrea Neri · Honourable Mention - European Talent Award – Score

The honorable mention stands out for its strong musical core, the pure and natural of its instrumentation, and a memorable ending where an archaic Latin recitation echoes through a megaphone. Congratulations to Andrea Neri.

Natalija Strahinić and Nataša Šormaz · European Talent Award Sound Design

The European Talent Award Sound Design was conferred to Natalija Strahinić and Nataša Šormaz for their work on the film FAKE NEWS. The jury praised the winning sound design for featuring "a rich and detailed soundtrack, emotional character design, and an impressive dynamic range," noting that "with its smart balance between organic and technical soundscapes, it creates a unique & dystopic sonic world that is both dark and funny at the same time."

Maja Zielinska · Honourable Mention - European Talent Award – Sound Design

"The personification of the plant and computer creates a very strong connection with the audience. Through immersive ambiences, the plant becomes the main character in a laconic and humorous way”, stated the jury by giving the honourable mention to Maja Zielinska.

Ksenia Ignatenko & Leticia Goás · Peer Raben Music Award

The Peer Raben Music Award, judged by Clémentine Charuel, Nathan Larson, Caroline Kox, and Antonio de Luca, was presented to Ksenia Ignatenko & Leticia Goás for their score for A Better You.

In their statement, the jury shared: "This work excited the jury beyond its mere musicality, sparking a conversation between us about our shared craft, about what it means to work within a community. You can hear when composers have a mission beyond fulfilling the task at hand. When they are developing an aesthetic and working toward satisfying a bigger, internal need. Operating on multiple levels, the composition does not stop at score, but extends into very carefully handled diegetic and source moments that tie the narrative together, and give a sense of a complete, encapsulated world. From electronic to vocal experimentation, with orchestral elements that vary between short iconic underscoring and intense microtonality, this is a score that transcends the boundaries of a student film, all the while embracing the risk of working within multiple genres, incorporating and shaping actors' improvisations, and recording live with real instruments."

Pauline Black: A 2 Tone Story · See The Sound Music Documentary Award

The See the Sound Music Documentary Award went to Pauline Black: A 2 Tone Story, a portrait of Pauline Black, lead vocalist of The Selecter and pioneer of the 2 Tone movement, whose fusion of punk and ska carried an unambiguous anti-racist message through the turbulent late 1970s. 

"As co-writer, Pauline reflects in this moving music documentary –full of twists and surprises– her life story, which has been shaped throughout her career by racism, inequality in the music industry and the resulting identity issues. We were deeply moved by her story and particularly appreciated the use of archival footage", expressed the jury -Sonia Gonzalez, Cécile Lacharme and Olaf Karnik- during the Award Ceremony. 

Pauline Black: A 2 Tone Story film will be screened at Odeon Cinema on Saturday, July 18 at 19:00. 

Ensemble Modern - Why We Play · Honorable Mention - See the Sound Music Documentary Award

"Thorsten Schütte's film about Ensemble Modern succeeds in portraying the complex world of contemporary music as a fascinating exploration of sound and an adventure with musical
instrument", said the jury, and added they appreciate it the film's ability to bring contemporary music closer to a wider audience. "Through its outstanding sound mix, the documentary immerses the audience in the ensemble’s work and gives a clear understanding of its sound exploration.", they concluded.