SoundTrack_Cologne 22 · 8–11 July 2025 · COMEDIA Theater Cologne

news

Jun 27

photo: © Almut Elhardt

The program for this year's 22nd SoundTrack_Cologne offers an impressive lineup with over 60 events tailored to the needs of the European film and media music industry.

Networking is a central focus: Alongside organized matchmaking formats and speed matchings, two daily receptions provide a relaxed atmosphere to connect with other participants. Key themes of the main stage panels include Composing for Films, Composing for TV-Series, Composing for Games, and Case Studies, highlighting renowned composers. Dozens of additional events address current and practical topics like sync, business, craftsmanship, and media music policy. The AI MusicCon focuses on the challenges and opportunities of AI and hands-on know-how with 16 events in one day. University meetings and competitions emphasize education and emerging talent. Evenings of cinema and concerts add a cultural touch.

SoundTrack_Cologne concludes on Friday night at the WDR Sendesaal with a dazzling award ceremony, where the WDR Funkhausorchester performs music by ten of this year’s SoundTrack_Cologne speakers.

How to attend?

You will find all accreditation options on the festival homepage:
https://www.soundtrackcologne.de/tickets/passes/

The festival location COMEDIA Theater is in the lively Südstadt area – lots of cafes, eateries, restaurants and not far from Rhine. The next tram station is Chlodwigplatz, the line 16 goes directly from Hauptbahnhof in 15min.

photo: © Almut Elhardt

Here are some actionable steps if you're attending or interested:

Join networking events: Participate in matchmaking, speedmatchings and receptions to expand your contacts.
Attend focus sessions: Choose sessions that align with your interests, like composing or AI in music.
Engage with Track Check: Send in your own music to be checked by music sups
If you're a student or emerging talent, consider joining the AcadeMeet, where the academic media music scene is coming together.
Attend music supervisor panels: Understand how music sups find composers and music for sync jobs and try to speak to them in person
Learn from the best and brightest – Part 1: Becoming super successful comes with a price tag – listen to advice from composers like Jongnic Bontemps who scored the latest installment of the Transformers franchise.
Learn from the best and brightest – Part 2: Case studies will help you to understand the terms and usances of the industry in different countries.

photo: © Almut Elhardt

photo: © Soundtrack Cologne

Composing for Video Games

Wednesday, July 9th and Friday, 11th, 2025

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. SoundTrack_Cologne spotlights 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 as a special highlight, SoundTrack_Cologne offers a concert of Games music by and with Paul Wolinski on Wednesday, 9. July.

Dutch Pieter Schlosser’s masterclass on Friday, 11. July is a (Destiny 2 · Gears of War 2 & 3) hands-on experience.

Composing for Film

Thursday, July 10th, 2025

The featured panelists for this year are four exceptional composers whose recent work continues to push the boundaries of film music: Multi-award-winning Michael Abels is SoundTrack_Cologne’s Career Achievement Award honouree 2025 (Get Out · Us · Nope). He brought the scent of today’s New Music into film. The other three are Amine Bouhafa (The Man Who Sold His Skin · Hotel Destino), the 2025 German Film Award winner Dascha Dauenhauer (Kein Tier. So Wild · Islands) and Jongnic Bontemps (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts · World’s Best).

photo: © Eric Schwabel

photo: ©Soundtrack_Cologne

photo: © Anthony Press

Composing for TV Series

Friday, July 11th, 2025

Television series rely heavily on music to build atmosphere, shape emotional arcs, and bring stories to life. 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).

High profile Film- and TV Case Studies

Wednesday, July 9th and Friday, July 11th, 2025

SoundTrack_Cologne will feature five high-profile case studies with composers and creative teams behind acclaimed films and TV series.

The programme opens with a deep dive into Amazon's world wide hit series MAXTON HALL, featuring composers Julian Erhardt and Victoria Hillestad, music supervisor Regina Reis, and Dennis Grimm, Senior Music Executive for Central Europe at Amazon MGM Studios.

In cooperation with HARPA Nordic Film Composers Award, STC22 will also present a case study with HARPA Award winner 2025 Kåre Vestrheim, who will talk about his work on the Norwegian drama series MAKTA.

The team behind REMBETIS - DIE GEISTERJÄGER will explore how they brought this series to life through music. The panel includes Jasin Challah (composer, showrunner, actor and director) and co-composers Claudio Pagonis and Reinhard Schaub.

A case study on the film KÖLN 75 will feature composers Stefan Rusconi and Hubert Walkowski, music supervisor Martin Hossbach, and producer Sol Bondy.

The case study series continues on Friday, July 11th, with a session in cooperation with Filmtonfrauen, featuring composer Peter Albrecht, sound designer and engineer Rachel Oker, and sound mixer Marc Lehnert. They will discuss about the creative and technical challenges of working on the film VENA.

Reality Check – Hands-on workshops for your success

The topics are as diverse as your job: Working with agents, How much should I take, PR Workshop, Hiring and being hired - Collaborating with other composers, Transfering music from midi to orchestra, Film music sound design, Productivity hacks/workflow optimisation, Transitioning from college to the real world, Workshop production music, Music supervisors introduce themselves.

For all information about Soundtrack_Cologne 22 and registration please visit the website below!

visit soundtrackcologne.de