2026 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 a live online 1-2-1 mentorship session focus on the following:

Session 1: Assessing your skills and aspirations

Session 2: Identifying your distinctive sound and style

Session 3: Putting it together: designing a professional image and demo

Session 4: 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 a live online 1-2-1 mentorship session focus on the following:

Session 5: Interpersonal skills: how making contacts works

Session 6: Networking: building groups of contacts and how to use them

Session 7: Next-level skills: what will the industry be looking for?

Session 8: Presentation and preparation on the festival “stage”

Group sessions will include take-home practical work as well. An additional 90-minute Festival Preparation Session via Zoom in June will keep mentees prepared for Soundtrack_Cologne.

In-person events will take place at two major European film music festivals: Music&Cinema Marseille (30.03. - 04.04.2026) and Soundtrack_Cologne (14.07. - 17.07.2026) where mentees can present their demos, screen a short film examples at a programmed film festival event, and undertake matchmaking with directors. Accreditation for both festivals is included in the MSCN fee.

A limited contingent (usually 2 - 4) of MSCN participants will be offered a fully-funded two-week festival residency with the Regards Croisés programme at Music&Cinema Marseille, including composing for an orchestral cine-concert at the festival, with all travel and accommodation expenses paid.

Your work will be presented at screening events at major European film music festivals in front of important industry professionals! A valuable opportunity to make career contacts!

How long will the programme take?

The MSCN Film Music Festivals Academy makes its selections in December. Each applicant will receive a 60-minute 1-2-1 session via zoom to discuss their application and create a customised mentoring plan for the coming year.

The group mentoring and 1-2-1 sessions take place from January until April, in which you will receive 8 90-minute group sessions 2 45-minute 1-2-1 via Zoom. Each participant is also assigned a mentor, and will receive regular guidance, support and feedback on their demos, skillsets and networking from them throughout.

Mentees will present their demos, short film examples at a programmed film festival event, and undertake matchmaking with directors and producers at two film music festivals: Music&Cinema Marseille (30.03. - 04.04.2026) and SoundtrackCologne (14.07. - 17.07.2026). Accreditation for both festivals is included in the MSCN fee (a €200 value!). An additional 90-minute festival preparation session via Zoom in June will keep mentees prepared for Soundtrack_Cologne.

MSCN FMFA provides mentees with the best of both worlds: online mentoring, and in-person contact with mentors and the world’s best film music professionals at festivals!

With more than 15 hours of online group and 1-2-1 mentoring included, the MSCN FMFA is a small investment 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. Applications for the 2026 programmes are now open here! The deadline for applications received is 1st December 2025. Only 8 participants will be selected for the 2026 FMFA programme.

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 6 month mentorship programme is €450, which includes all mentorship sessions and 1-2-1’s, and matchmaking and two festival screening events (at Music&Cinema Marseille and Soundtrack_Cologne). Festival accreditation at both festivals is included (a €200 value!), although each participant is responsible for their additional personal travel and accommodation costs (if applicable) at the festivals.

The programme is limited to 8 participants, in order to best concentrate on each person’s development.

A limited contingent (usually 2 - 4) of MSCN participants will be offered a fully-funded two-week festival residency with the Regards Croisés programme at Music&Cinema Marseille, including composing for an orchestral cine-concert at the festival, with all travel and accommodation expenses paid. An administrative fee to MSCN of €250 applies to the residency.

Application to the Film Music Festivals Mentorship Programme requires a one-time €50 application fee, which includes a 60-minute 1-2-1 session via zoom to discuss their application and create a customised mentoring plan for the coming year.

The application deadline is 1st December 2025 and can be made here.

FMFA Complete programme 10% discount

We are also offering a 10% discount for the Complete FMFA Mentorship Programme, including the 2026 FMFA Mentorship Programme AND the 2026 Budapest Summer Film Music Conducting Workshop (details soon).

Please indicate your interest on the checkbox in your application. The discount applies to the combined programme fees, and does not require more than one application fee! (an additional €50 is saved! ).