2025 MSCN Film Music Festivals Academy

Festivals Mentorship Programme

A Mentoring and Career Acceleration Programme

In collaboration with Soundtrack_Cologne (Germany), Soundtrack_Zurich (Switzerland), Festival du Film d’Aubagne (France), Krakow Film Music Festival (Poland), Harpa Film Music Days/Berlin International Film Festival (Germany)

What is the MSCN Film Music Festivals Academy mentorship programme?

It is an online-based mentorship programme for emerging media music professionals that culminates in a networking event at a major European film music festival.

How does it work?

The first part of the programme aims to support mentees to look at their abilities and experience as a platform to build professional aspirations on, gaining confidence in their own skills and potentials, while also identifying technical and creative weaknesses to work on. Four live online group sessions and two live online 1-2-1 mentorship sessions focus on the following:

·      Assessing your skills and aspirations

·      Identifying your distinctive sound and style

·      Putting it together: designing a professional image and demo

·      Staying creative: putting the right energy into your projects

The second part of the programme is all about applying these new processes by building healthy interpersonal skills to begin building your professional networks and applying these at festivals and events. The people you meet in this industry will want to know more than just what you can do, but who you are. Four live online group sessions and two live online 1-2-1 mentorship sessions focus on the following:

·      Interpersonal skills: how making contacts works

·      Networking: building groups of contacts and how to use them

·      Next-level skills: what will the industry be looking for?

·      Presentation and preparation on the festival “stage”

Group sessions will include take-home practical work as well.

For selected participants, the final part of the programme involves an in-person event at one of the MSCN participating major European film music festivals. Your work will be presented in a screening and/or public event, which industry professionals can attend and make contacts!

How long will the programme take?

The MSCN Film Music Festivals Academy begins in January and ends after the film music festival, usually taking place around April to July of that year (with exception of Soundtrack_Zurich, which takes place in the autumn).

Mentees receive 8 90-minute group sessions via Zoom and 4 45-minute 1-2-1 Zoom sessions, in addition to a hosted group event at a film festival.

Group sessions using Zoom software take place approx. fortnightly (every two-weeks).

Mentees will also be working on the take-home practical work, and of course, their own projects as well.

15 hours of online group and 1-2-1 mentoring is a small investment of your time for the cultivation of your great talents!

What will I receive upon completion?

You will receive massive amounts of written and verbal feedback throughout the programme, and upon the completion of the programme you will receive a completion certificate. That’s fair to say you will also have a good number of contacts from your introductions at the film music festival you attend which can help kick-start your career!

Great! But how will this help my career?

Making your talent known to the right industry professionals, in the right way, is one of the most important steps a composer can take to becoming a professional. MSCN Film Music Academy specifically puts talents and personalities in the showcase at these festivals by coordinating events that aim to do just that. By mentoring your work through sessions and 1-2-1 guidance focussing on honing technical and inter-personal skills, you can better present yourself as an emerging and aspirational professional.

You can read more about the mentoring philosophy here.

How do I apply?

To apply, submit one newly composed work to a brief, and one example of your best work, either as a streaming audio or video file, with the duration of each work of no longer than 5-minutes in length. The works must be submitted along with payment of a non-refundable application fee of 50 Euros. Application will open soon, so in the meantime, please submit your expression of interest here.

All applications will be considered, and regardless of whether you choose to attend the full programme, you will receive helpful, substantial feedback on your application works.

How much does the programme cost?

The fee for participation in the 4-month mentorship programme is 350 Euros, which includes all mentorship sessions and 1-2-1’s. The programme is limited to 8 participants, in order to best concentrate on each person’s development. A limited contingent of those MSCN participants will be offered a place at one of the partner European film music festivals, with an additional fee of 250 Euros. Selected participants will be responsible for any additional personal travel and accommodation costs (if applicable) at the festival.