The 41st edition of Film Fest Gent will once again shine its spotlight brightly on film music with exclusive concerts, industry panels, seminars and loads of attending international composers. The festival will launch its 41st edition on 14 October and culminate on 25 October with the World Soundtrack Awards Ceremony & Concert. The highlights of the music programme are briefly presented below.
World Soundtrack Awards Ceremony & Concert
In line with tradition, the 41st edition of Film Fest Gent will end with the World Soundtrack Awards Ceremony & Concert, the annual film music event that has now reached its 14th edition. This year’s guest of honour is Cliff Martinez, American film music composer and former drummer of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. The WSA also welcomes Dan Romer, who was crowned Discovery of 2013 for his score for ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’. Following the 41st Film Fest Gent’s focus on Cinéma français, the Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to French composer Francis Lai. In addition to the oeuvre of Lai, Jef Neve’s captivating music for the prestigious Flemish drama series about World War I, ‘In Flanders Fields’ will also be getting some deserved attention. Saturday 25 October – 20:00 @ Kuipke Ghent
Meet & Greet - World Soundtrack Awards
Prior to the WSAwards, attending press and selected fans will have the opportunity to meet with the performing artists from WSAwards. Senior editor and writer at Variety, Steve Chagollan and Music Director Dirk Brossé will be conducting the debate. After the debate there will be a more private moment with the composers (Cliff Martinez, Francis Lai, Dan Romer, Jef Neve, Bruno Coulais, Philippe Sarde, Steven Price, Gabriel Yared and many others). Saturday 25 October – 13:00 @ Monasterium Poortackere. Reservation is necessary, via sara@filmfestival.be
Film Music Industry Panels
Film Music Industry Panels will offer content-based discussions regarding current topics in the film music industry.
1. Film Music Festivals as a platform for composers - Robert Townson (Varèse Sarabande), Dirk Brossé (Music Director FFG), Aubagne Film Festival, Dan Romer (‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’)
2. Publishing Film Music & Composers’ Rights - Michael Todd & Simon Greenaway (ASCAP), Rick Clark (SilvaScreen), Emmanuel Chamboredon (Milan Records), Johann Johannsson (composer – ‘For Ellen’), Cyril Morin (composer - The Human Resources Manager)
3. Do’s and don’ts of Film Music Promotion - Doreen Ringer-Ross (BMI), Cliff Martinez (composer – ‘Drive’, ‘Solaris’), Beth Krakower, Ray Costa, Chandler Poling (publicists)
4. Is the Future of Film Scoring in jeopardy? (Steve Chagollan of Variety with Daniel Pemberton (composer – ‘The Counselor’), Steven Price (composer – ‘Gravity’)
Thursday 23 October from 13:00 until 17:00 @ Kinepolis. Reservation is necessary, via sara@filmfestival.be
Concert Rota/Fellini
In conjunction with a major exhibition at Caermersklooster Provincial Cultural Centre, Film Fest Gent is shining a light on the world of Federico Fellini with various events. On Thursday 23 October, Bijloke Music Centre is hosting the Concert
Rota/Fellini with symphonic music from the director of ‘La Dolce Vita’ and ‘La Strada’, performed by the Brussels Philharmonic and conducted by Dirk Brossé. Thursday 23 October - 20:00 @ Bijloke Music Centre
Film Music Seminar
The focus of the 41st Film Fest Gent – Cinéma français – will also be the theme of the film music seminar. With French author, scriptwriter and critic Thierry Jousse, and composers Bruno Coulais and Philippe Sarde. Martine Huvenne will be moderating the event. Friday 24 October – from 9:30 until 16:30 @ Kinepolis. Reservation is necessary, via sara@filmfestival.be
Chaplin’s The Circus
Film Fest Gent is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Charlie Chaplin's ‘The Tramp’ with a family film concert of 'The Circus' performed by Prima La Musica and conducted by Music Director Dirk Brossé. All info on the centennial can be found on our website. Sunday 26 October - 15:00 @ Kuipke.
Film Fest @ Vooruit
The joint programme of Vooruit and Film Fest Gent includes several unique music events.
Goblin chief and keyboard player Claudio Simonetti has put together a new version of Goblin and will
perform the soundtrack to ‘Suspiria’ live at its screening on Saturday 18 October - 19:30.
‘Dance! Dance! Dance!’, an extraordinary film concert by Arsenal, created to tie in with their new album 'Furu', will have its world premiere on Wednesday 22 October 2014 - 20:30.
Legendary band Spandau Ballet (known from hits like ‘True’ ‘Gold’, ‘Through The Barricades’ and many more) will be giving an exclusive live set in Vooruit during Film Fest Gent. After the screening of the drama documentary ‘Soul Boys of the Western World’, featuring only archive footage, the band will take over the scene for their first performance ever in Ghent on Thursday 23 October - 20:00. Screener via tine@september.be.
Legowelt is presenting a shortened, more visually oriented version of ‘Aguirre der Zorn Gottes’ (Werner Herzog, 1972) for which he will provide a live soundtrack with synthesizers on Friday 24 October - 20:00.
The 41st Film Fest Gent runs from 14 until 25 October 2014. All info can be found on www.filmfestival.be.
The 14th World Soundtrack Awards & Concert will take place on 25 October 2014 at Kuipke in Ghent. Tickets are available on the website www.worldsoundtrackawards.com.
