Krakow FMF 2025 – FMF Audiovisual Forum

Thu 29/5/25 – Audiovisual Forum | THURSDAY – Potocki Palace

https://fmf.fm/programme/audiovisual-forum-day-1

 

10:00 | SECTION: PROFESSIONALS |  Eclipsa Audio – Delivering Immersive Audio to Everyone

Host: Jan Skoglund – Alliance for Open Media

In this talk we present Eclipsa Audio, a new open immersive audio format designed for interoperability and extensibility, offering numerous benefits. Creators can have more freedom to create immersive audio experiences, without being constrained by expensive tools. Consumers can have more choice in terms of the immersive audio content and great user experience on any device.

The panel will be in English without translation into Polish.

11:30 | SECTION: PROFESSIONALS | Part I: London Contemporary Orchestra: Realising the Composer’s Vision Through Collaboration | Part II: Immersive Thinking in Composition

Host: Katia Sochaczewska, Hugh Brunt

London Contemporary Orchestra’s co-Artistic Director and co-Principal Conductor, Hugh Brunt, joins Katia Sochaczewska for a conversation exploring the LCO’s creative process and its collaborations with some of the most dynamic and innovative voices in modern film scoring.

In the second part, Hugh and Katia will pose the question: how do Spatial Audio formats affect the compositional process? They will introduce their collaborative ECHO project – a resource featuring Volker Bertelmann’s composition – designed to help explore the full potential of immersive formats.

The panel will be in English without translation into Polish.

13:30 | SECTION: PROFESSIONALS | SPACe SyncCamp – Listening Session

Host: Marek Hojda

This unique session will present the results of the work of 15 composers from the Czech Republic, Iceland, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia and Poland, who took part in the SPACe SyncCamp, held between 23 and 29 May in Zakopane. During four intensive days of creative work, the composers created original works for selected film scenes, trailers and commercials.

The creative process took place under the supervision of four experienced music supervisors: Josh Rabinowitz (USA), David Leon (USA), Anna Malarowska (Poland) and Lena Obara (Germany), who provided the participants with briefs and actively supported them in their work. Composer mentor was Glen Gabriel – a Swedish composer who works in Hollywood on a daily basis.

We invite you to listen together to works that were created at the intersection of different sensibilities, cultures and experiences – in a real professional context, in collaboration with audiovisual professionals.

The panel will be in English without translation into Polish.

15:30 | SECTION: PROFESSIONALS | Productivity Hacks for Composers

Host: Christoph Zirngibl, Florian Sonnleitner

 

Productivity Hacks for Film Composers is a practical panel led by composer Christoph Zirngibl together with his assistant, music supervisor Florian Sonnleitner. They will share proven strategies for streamlining film music production, including cuesheet administration, file management, teamwork, and delivery processes, empowering participants to enhance both creative output, collaborative efficiency and work-life balance.

The panel will be in English without translation into Polish.

 

Co-organizers of the FMF Audiovisual Forum: ZAiKS Authors’ Association, SPACe – Polish Audiovisual Composers Association, Commercial Audio

 

The FMF Audiovisual Forum is co-financed by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund – a state special-purpose fund.

Fri 30/5/25 – Audiovisual Forum | FRIDAY – Potocki Palace

https://fmf.fm/programme/audiovisual-forum-day-2

9.30 | The Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Krakow | IMMSANE Café

Host: Yati Durant, Mateusz Bień

The International Media Music and Sound Arts Network in Education holds its IMMSANE Cafés in collaboration with leading international film music festivals. Its purpose is to engage regional partners, institutions, students and industry professionals within these informal meetings over coffee, discussing collaborations and informing colleagues about current IMMSANE International activities they can participate in. This platform of engagement at festivals provides a unique opportunity especially for professionals that frequent those festivals – or perhaps are interested in, or unable to participate in our regional assembly (Soundtrack_Cologne) or International Congress events.

The format of IMMSANE Café at Krakow Film Music Festival 2025 involves the generous support of Prof. Mateusz Bień and the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków. This edition takes place at the Academy, in-between the FMF Audiovisual Forum events taking place there, on Friday, 30 May 2025.

The next IMMSANE International Congress takes place in Bangalore and Mumbai, India from 4 to 8 February 2026. www.IMMSANE.com

11:30 | SECTION: PROFESSIONALS | Scoring the Vision: Why Directors and Composers Need Music Supervisors

Panelists: Josh Rabinowitz, Anna Malarowska, David Leon, Martin Phipps

Host: Lena Obara

In many European countries, including Poland, film directors still often overlook the role of a music supervisor — relying instead on editors, composers, or themselves to manage music in their productions. This panel brings together four experienced international music supervisors, a director, and moderator Lena Obara to explore two essential topics:

 

How to collaborate effectively with composers – what supervisors expect from them, what makes for a successful creative partnership, and how to deliver music that truly serves the story.

 

Why directors should consider hiring music supervisors – how they can lift creative and logistical burdens, ensure legal clarity, enhance the emotional impact of scenes, and help directors stay focused on their core vision.

This conversation aims to inspire Polish filmmakers to consider music supervision not as a luxury, but as a creative and practical asset that can elevate the storytelling power of their films.

The panel will be conducted in English without translation into Polish.

13:00 | SECTION: PROFESSIONALS | Human vs. Machine: Protecting Music Authorship, Creative Integrity and Discoverability in the Age of AI

Panelists: Dr. Christopher Kuhn – sureel.ai, Maciej Janik – przedstawiciel ZAiKS, David Leon, Wojtek Urbański, Michał Hytroś

Host: Josh Rabinowitz

ENG: As generative AI continues to transform creative workflows in film, music, and games, urgent questions arise: how do we protect the rights of human composers, and how do we ensure their work remains both relevant and discoverable?

This panel brings together legal experts, sync professionals, and a new generation of creators to explore:

– how platforms like Sureel.ai aim to protect and monetize creative rights in the AI era;

– why many music supervisors actively avoid AI-generated, public domain, and sampled music in commercial licensing;

– and how young filmmakers and composers are experimenting with AI tools while maintaining artistic authorship and creative control.

The panel will be conducted in English without translation into Polish.

14:30 | SECTION: PROFESSIONALS | Collaboration Between Film Producers and Composers – How to Work Together to Benefit the Film?

Panelists: Agnieszka Kurzydło, Maciej Zieliński, Krzysztof A. Janczak

The panel will be in Polish without translation into English.

16:00 | SECTION: PROFESSIONALS | Bettermaker – Do It Better! Hybrid Mix Presentation on Bettermaker Equipment

Host: Marek Walaszek

A demonstration of hybrid mixing and mastering using Bettermaker equipment – a brand creating solutions with music engineers and producers in mind.

The panel will be conducted in English without translation into Polish.

16:00 | the clock room of the Potocki Palace | SECTION: PROFESSIONALS | Composing for Film and Copyright Law – How to Protect Your Creative Work and Interests?

Host: Aleksandra Sewerynik

The panel will be conducted in Polish.

 

Co-organizers of the FMF Audiovisual Forum: ZAiKS Authors’ Association, SPACe – Polish Audiovisual Composers Association, Commercial Audio

 

The FMF Audiovisual Forum is co-financed by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund – a state special-purpose fund.

Sat 31/5/25 – Audiovisual Forum | SATURDAY – Fabryczna Conference Centre

https://fmf.fm/programme/183

12:00 | The Jan A.P. Kaczmarek Award – FINDING NEVERLAND | Synergia 1 hall | Fabryczna Conference Centre

open presentations by the finalists

The Jan A.P. Kaczmarek Award – FINDING NEVERLAND is a way of honouring the memory of the eminent Polish composer of theatre and film music, Oscar® winner, master and mentor for successive generations of creators. The programme is intended to create professional opportunities at an early stage of one’s career, as well as to bring the various film industries together around the common goal of supporting and enabling valuable creators to enter the job market in music and film-related professions. The winner of the Award will receive a grant of PLN 20,000 to compose a track for their next film project.

The Winner will be selected from among the Finalists who will present their compositional portfolios and tell about their professional plans by the Award Council, consisting of:

– Robert Piaskowski – Krakow Film Music Festival Artistic Director;

– Agata Grabowiecka – Orchestra of the Capital Royal City of Krakow Sinfonietta Cracovia Director;

– Joanna Łapińska – Polish Film Festival Artistic Director;

– Monika Kochanowicz – composer, representing the Society of Authors ZAiKS, Founder of the Award;

– Łukasz Targosz – composer, Deputy Chairman of the Board of SPACe – Society of Polish Audiovisual Composers;

– Maria Sadowska – director, representing the Directors’ Guild of Poland;

– Leszek Dawid – director, representing the Directors’ Guild of Poland;

– Stanisław Zaborowski – producer, Vice-President of the Chamber of the Polish Producers Alliance (KIPA);

– Agnieszka Dziedzic – producer, representing the Producers Guild of Poland.

12:30 | SECTION: FILM MUSIC LOVERS | Meet & Greet: Gabriel Yared | Harmonia hall | Fabryczna Conference Centre

Host: Dirk Brossé

A meeting with one of the most outstanding film music composers of our time. Gabriel Yared has gained international acclaim for his deeply moving scores, with his Oscar-winning music for The English Patient bringing him worldwide recognition. He has collaborated with acclaimed directors such as Anthony Minghella, Jean-Jacques Annaud, and Xavier Dolan. The Q&A session offers a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes of his creative process, discover his sources of inspiration, and understand how music that moves audiences around the world is made.

The panel will be conducted in English with translation into Polish.

14:00 | SECTION: PROFESSIONALS | FMF Young Talent Award: Industry Networking & Creative Career Insights | Harmonia hall | Fabryczna Conference Centre

EXPERTS: Annette Gentz, Ray Costa, George Christopoulos, Maggie Rodford, Robert Messinger, Dirk Brossé, Hernan C. Fioravanti, Hanne Schelstraete

Host: John Konsolakis

A discussion on some of the avenues composers can use to expand their network and establish a presence in the industry. From the importance of attending festivals, to the use of promotional campaigns and curation of a purposeful online presence, as well as making choices between projects and developing a unique artistic voice, a panel with diverse perspectives inside the film scoring community offers suggestions and discusses their professional experience. The panel will culminate with the awarding of diplomas to participants of the FMF Young Talent Award Masterclasses and a closed networking session for participants of this project.

The panel will be conducted in English without translation into Polish.

 

Co-organizers of the FMF Audiovisual Forum: ZAiKS Authors’ Association, SPACe – Polish Audiovisual Composers Association, Commercial Audio

 

The FMF Audiovisual Forum is co-financed by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund – a state special-purpose fund.

Sun 1/6/25 – Audiovisual Forum | SUNDAY – Fabryczna Conference Centre

https://fmf.fm/programme/audiovisual-forum-day-4

10:00 | SECTION: PROFESSIONALS | With Gabriel Yared – Masterclass | Synergia 1 hall | Fabryczna Conference Centre

Expert: Gabriel Yared

Gabriel Yared an Academy Award-winning French-Lebanese composer known for his work on The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Cold Mountain will share his experience in music and in film music through examples played on the piano, through projections of his never seen before orchestral scores, and through film excerpts from his extensive filmography. This will be followed by a Q&A session.

When planning to participate in the event, we encourage you to familiarise yourself with the materials created by the composer, which he may refer to during the meeting – series “With Gabriel Yared”. https://www.youtube.com/@yaredgabriel

The panel will be conducted in English without translation into Polish.

 

11:30 & 12:30 | SECTION: FMF4KIDS | ‘There’s no place like a fairy tale!’ – workshop with the Animated Film Studio  in Bielsko-Biała | Synergia 3 hall | Fabryczna Conference Centre

ENTRY CARDS apply – available from 21.05 on www.kbfbilety.krakow.pl

Workshops for children aged 7-12

The workshop will be conducted in Polish without translation.

12:00 | SECTION: FILM MUSIC LOVERS | The Phenomenon of The Girl with the Needle | Harmonia Hall | Fabryczna Conference Centre

Panelists: Magnus von Horn, Frederikke Hoffmeier

Host: Kaja Klimek

The panel will be conducted in English with translation into Polish.

12:30 | DISCO Masterclass for Composers | Level Up Your Workflow. Pitch Like a Pro. Be the Partner They Trust. | Synergia 1 hall | Fabryczna Conference Centre

Host: Katrina Balcius

Ready to streamline your music workflow and showcase your work like the industry’s top composers?

Join our exclusive DISCO Masterclass – the go-to platform trusted by composers, music supervisors, and creatives across the industry.

Learn how to:

– Set up a pro composer profile with clean, accurate metadata;

– Organize and receive stems, demos, and sessions with ease;

– Build standout EPKs and project pages;

– Seamlessly share DAW sessions for remote collaboration;

– Sharpen your pitching strategy with real-time feedback and insights.

Whether you’re scoring for film, TV, or games, DISCO helps you work faster, collaborate better, and make a lasting impression.

Curious how other artists use DISCO? Watch this!

Workshop conducted in English without translation into Polish.

 

Co-organizers of the FMF Audiovisual Forum: ZAiKS Authors’ Association, SPACe – Polish Audiovisual Composers Association, Commercial Audio

 

The FMF Audiovisual Forum is co-financed by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund – a state special-purpose fund.