Women* Film Composer Class für Frauen in der Medienmusik
Do., 16. bis Sa., 18.07.2026 · COMEDIA Theater
Frauen sind in der Filmmusik nach wie vor deutlich unterrepräsentiert. Laut dem European Audiovisual Observatory waren Komponistinnen zwischen 2019 und 2023 lediglich mit 10 % in audiovisuellen Serienepisoden und TV-Filmen in Europa vertreten (in Deutschland sogar nur 6 %) - und mit 12 % bei europäischen Spielfilmen. Im Vergleich zu den Jahren 2015–2018 (6 % bzw. 8 %) bedeutet dies zwar eine leichte Verbesserung, dennoch bleibt die Unterrepräsentation von Komponistinnen in der audiovisuellen Industrie gravierend.
Als Antwort auf diese Zahlen führt die SoundTrack_Cologne bereits zum fünften Mal die Women* Film Composer Class (WFCC) durch. Es ist das einzige Veranstaltungsformat dieser Art in der deutschen Medienmusikbranche, das sich gezielt an komponierende FLINTA* in Film und TV richtet.
Die WFCC ist ein dreitägiger Intensivkurs (16.-18. Juli).Ausgewählte Programmpunkte von SoundTrack_Cologne, darunter die Matchmaking-Sessions, sind Bestandteil des WFCC-Programms.
Musikalische Fähigkeiten, außergewöhnliche Kreativität und kompositorisches Handwerk sollten die Teilnehmerinnen bereits mitbringen. Die Women* Film Composer Class setzt dort an, wo künstlerische Ausbildungen oft enden:
Im Mittelpunkt stehen daher die beruflichen Kompetenzen, die auch für eine erfolgreiche Karriere entscheidend sind – u.a. Networking, Selbstvermarktung und PR, GEMA, Verwertungsketten sowie die Planung von Postproduktionsprozessen. (Das vollständige Programm finden Sie hier)
Die WFCC richtet sich vor allem an Film-, TV- und Medienkomponistinnen, aber auch an Musikerinnen, Tonmeisterinnen, Musikproduzentinnen, Musiksupervisorinnen, Filmmusikagentinnen, Musikverlegerinnen. Angesprochen sind FLINTA*-Komponistinnen, die idealerweise bereits ihre ersten Filme, TV-Programme, Computerspiele, Hörspiele, Theaterstücke vertont und einige Erfahrungen gesammelt haben.
Die Zahl der verfügbaren Plätze ist auf 12 begrenzt.
Sie sind automatisch für die beiden Matchmaking-Veranstaltungen von SoundTrack_Cologne qualifiziert und erhalten Einladungen zu allen Netzwerkveranstaltungen des Festivals.
Teilnahme:
Die Teilnahmegebühr beträgt 145 EUR inkl. Mwst. und umfasst das komplette Programm von SoundTrack_Cologne und der Women* Film Composer Class. Bereits akkreditierte Festivalteilnehmerinnen können die Differenz nachzahlen oder eine anteilige Rückerstattung beantragen.
Diese Ausgabe der WFCC wird von der Initiative Musik unterstützt. Daher erhalten die Teilnehmerinnen eine Erstattung von bis zu 200 € für Reise- und Übernachtungskosten nach erfolgtem Besuch der WFCC.
Die Veranstaltungen finden auf Deutsch und teilweise auf Englisch statt. Teilnahmeberechtigt sind in Deutschland ansässigeFLINTA*-Personen.
Was macht die WFCC in diesem Jahr so besonders?
Ein besonderes Highlight der diesjährigen Ausgabe: Nach Abschluss des Sommerkurses erhalten die Teilnehmerinnen vier einstündige Mentoring-Sitzungen (verteilt auf drei Monate) mit Mentoren und Mentorinnen.
Anmeldeschluss ist der 6. Juli 2026 um 10:00 Uhr (MESZ).
Die Women* Film Composer Class 2026 ist ein Projekt von SoundTrack_Cologne und wird unterstützt von Initiative Musik, GEMA, DEFKOM, Composers Club und Enterprises Sonor.
Freya Arde is a film composer, guitarist and music producer known for her original scores for more than thirty film and television productions across genres including family features, documentaries, and dramas.
Freya Arde is a Berlin based film composer, guitarist and music producer known for her original scores for more than thirty film and television productions across genres including family features, documentaries, and dramas. Her music often blends classical composition with experimental guitar textures and electronic processing to create immersive soundscapes.
Her latest works include the scores for the documentary Riefenstahl by Andres Veiel and the Belgian coming of age feature Everyone’s Sorry Nowadays by Frederike Migom which premiered at Berlinale 2026.
As a solo artist, she released works for chamber instrumentations like Moon Window (Deutsche Grammophon, 2021) and her debut album E C H O (2025) which was described as “a masterclass in dynamic storytelling” (Cageriot).
Film Scoring in Germany vs. Europe: Production Practices Compared
Festivaldirector SoundTrack_Cologne and Producer TelevisorTroika GmbH
Michael P. Aust
Festivaldirector SoundTrack_Cologne and Producer TelevisorTroika GmbH
Business graduate (Dipl.-Kfm.) Michael P. Aust is a German curator, organiser of cultural events and film producer born in 1965. His focal point of interest lies in the intersectionality of art forms, especially in the relationship of music and moving pictures. He heads the filmmusic festival and conference SoundTrack_Cologne that he founded in 2004 – with 850 accreditations Europe’s leading filmmusic industry event – as well as SoundTrack_Zurich since 2020. Parallel from 2014-2019 he was festivaldirector of Braunschweig International Filmfestival that grew to 28.000 admissions under his direction.
Aust has worked in the film industry for more than 25 years with producer credits for 21 feature films and feature-length documentaries, including “101 Reykjavik”, “Stumbling Block”, “Low Lights”, “Parallax Sounds Chicago”, “Eva Hesse” and “The Sound of Cologne”, focusing on music and art. His directorial debut “Can and Me”, co-produced by WDR, will hit the cinemas in autumn 2022. Michael curates exhibitions and festivals e.g. DuKunst Media Art Festival 1992, Klangvisionen sound art exhibition 1994, StadtKlangNetz conference on cultural education 2007-2014, European Film Music Day at Cannes Film Festival 2009-2016, the highly successful The Art of Pop Video exhibition (MAKK Cologne 2011, Odessa Art Center 2012, Liverpool FACT 2013), Next Level Conference on video games 2012, PLAY!CGN exhibition and conference on video games in art 2013, Digital Distri-bution conference 2014, BIFF Film Criticism LAB: on the Future of Film Criticism 2015, Hostile Sisters - Interdependencies of Theatre and Film conference 2016, FxM Film meets Music Festival 2018+19. His latest project is the 30-month Re-Educating Digitisation funded by Erasmus+.
He is a voting member of the German Film Academy, Filmbüro NW and of the World Soundtrack Academy and Board Member of KulturNetzKöln and MusicFilmFestivalNetwork. He is Managing Director, Owner and Producer at TelevisorTroika GmbH, a Cologne-based company established in 1993 for film production, art events and public relations in arts.
Her music clients include record labels, publishers, managers, producers, DJs and artists all of whom value the tailored advice she can give across the whole range of music industry contracts and related intellectual property matters. Her film clients include mostly authors and composers etc. Because of her wide experience in music and music law she is often involved in clearing music rights for films national as well as international. She provides composers and musicians of the music for German and international film productions and co-productions, feature films, TV-series and TV-movies with all the necessary legal advice for the film project and the neighbouring fields - like exploiting soundtracks etc. In addition she works for a foundation as a musical advisor and legal representative for music matters, as well as for independent film productions as external legal advice.
She has worked on the music side of productions including the films Pina, Perfect Days, Maria, Anselm, Treasure and the series The Empress and others. In supporting film music composers in contractual and organisational matters, she has supervised the projects September 5, Golda, Sterben, Tatami,Kein Tier so wild, Der Held vom Bahnhof Friedrichstrasse, 22 Bahnen and the series The Swarm, Das Netz among others. She is also a regular representative of composers in various German TV formats such as Tatort and Kleines Fernsehspiel and negotiates contracts with international streamers for series, feature films, TV series and documentaries. She is a member of the World Soundtrack Academy in Gent, Belgium and of the European Filmacademy.
Helge Borgarts is a composer and audio director. He is programme manager for games music at SoundTrack_Cologne. His references include work for the developers CRYTEK, DECK13, SPITFIRE AUDIO, STEINBERG, STRATOTAINMENT and PHENOMEDIA.
Helge Borgarts is a German composer. Working in the games industry for more than 17 years, he was involved in more than 40 projects as a composer and/or producer. He produced and contributed music to the game Tiger & Chicken, which was awarded Best Mobile Core Game at the German Developer Awards. With Thomas Stanger he founded the brand BOWS TO HYMNS and scored trailers for developers and publishers like CRYTEK, STRATOTAINMENT or HIGGS GAMES, wrote library demos for companies like SPITFIRE AUDIO, STEINBERG or Orchestral Tools and provided music for SPM or WARNER/CHAPPELL.
His latest works include the scores for the games The Surge 2, Atlas Fallen - Reign of Sand and Drova - Forsaken Kin. He is the program manager for games music at the renowned festival and conference for music in film and media Soundtrack_Cologne and a regular speaker and lecturer at events and universities. Since 2021 he is audio director and composer at DECK13 INTERACTIVE.
Clémentine Charuel wrote the music for many films including the feature Cherry by Sophie Galibert (Nominated for U2C Music Young Talent Award in 2025), the feature film Meurtres à Mont-de-Marsan by Jean-Marc Thérin (France 3) and many more films. Her style, at the crossroads of classical and experimental music, allows her to explore rich and varied soundscapes that enhance emotion and storytelling.
As part of the music team of more than thirty major films, Clémentine has a deep knowledge of every role in the making of film music. She is now composing the score of the feature film My Happy Family directed by Alkim Özmen and attended the CASA CINE residency during the Festival de Cannes 2025.
In 2024, Clémentine became a member of the Académie des César in France, and was commissioned an overture for orchestra by the Orchestre Cologne. She has also been part of several juries such as Music & Cinema Marseille Festival 2025, Paris Conservatory’s film music class 2025 and the Sesame Composer Pass from La Maison du Film in 2024.
Milena Fessmann is a music supervisor, radio host, producer and DJ. Since 1997, she has been working for Radio Eins/RBB with her own weekly show called "Free Falling".
Since 1991, Milena Fessmann has worked as a full-time DJ (2001-2014 Radio Eins After Work Lounge, Trompete/Berlin, European Film Awards 2015 etc.) and has worked for various radio stations. Since 1997 she works for Radio Eins/RBB with her own weekly show called "Free Falling".
In 1989 she founded CINESONG and has been working as a music supervisor on more than 500 films and series.
She is moderator of several national events and panels such as the "Cartoon Movie Award"/Postdam 2002-2008, Reeperbahn-Festival 2014-23, c/o pop Cologne 2014-2024 and many more. Milena Fessmann teaches music supervising and copyright clearing at film schools such as DFFB Berlin and is advisory board member of the World Soundtrack Academy and Member of the European Filmacademy.
She founded a film production company called SUGAR TOWN Filmproduction Gmbh & Co.kg in 2011. Its first project was The Potential of Noise- Conny Plank by Stephan Plank and Reto Caduff. Fessmann is executive-producer of When Hitler stole Pink Rabbit, directed by award-winning director Caroline Link, and is co-producer of Prince of swans, as well as a few more. Her newest documentary project Just do it- She-punks from 1977 until now about female punk and the new wave in german speaking territory from 1979-89 is currently in pre-production.
Corinna C. Poeszus is a senior business executive with over 30 years of experience in music, digital media & film production, as well as the advertising and TV entertainment industries.
Senior Media and Music Consultant - Mediaconsulting4u
Corinna C. Poeszus
Senior Media and Music Consultant - Mediaconsulting4u
Corinna C. Poeszus is a senior business executive with over 30 years experience in the music, digital media & film production, advertising and tv entertainment industries driven by the power of passion and an open mind and the desire to think outside the box. Corinna is a successful Leader and Manager with more than 18 years of experience in leading teams to their goals. Her experience is well rounded with an in-depth understanding of international media business management & operations, product branding, online marketing, social media, CRM, planning and controlling of marketing, monitoring, marketing & comms, monitoring of strategic marketing activities, B2B as well as B2C. Her professional career took her from Polygram via Endemol Entertainment to Bertelsmann and Universal Publishing, Bavaria Media and many more.
Corinna C. Poeszus ist eine erfahrene Führungskraft mit über 30 Jahren Erfahrung in den Bereichen Musik, digitale Medien und Filmproduktion, Werbung und TV-Entertainment. Sie ist angetrieben von der Kraft der Leidenschaft und Offenheit, über den Tellerrand hinaus zu denken. Corinna ist erfolgreiche Managerin mit mehr als 18 Jahren Erfahrung, ihre Teams zu Zielen zu führen. Ihre Erfahrung zeichnet sich durch ein tiefgreifendes Verständnis der internationalen Medien, Business Management & Operations, Produkt-Branding, Online-Marketing, Social Media, CRM, Planung und Controlling von Marketing, Monitoring, Marketing & Kommunikation, Überwachung von strategischen Marketing-Aktivitäten - sowohl B2B als auch B2C.
Ihre beruflichen Stationen führten sie von Polygram über Endemol Entertainment zu Bertelsmann und Universal Publishing, Bavaria Media und viele weitere Stationen.
Seit 2020 Hörgeräte Expertin bei audibene Gmbh speziell für Menschen, denen Musik, Konzerte und musizieren wichtig sind.
1972 born in Kassel 1993-1996 Studies Media Culture and Theatre, Cologne University 1996-1998 Professional education Film lab technician, Hadeko/ ProCine Neuss
Since 1998 Postproduction Supervisor e.g. for X Filme, Pandora, UFA, Bantry Bay, btf, brainpool, Filmservice Babelsberg, Constantin, Kordesfilm...
Selected projects:
„Whale Rider“
„Deutschland 09“
„Colonia Dignidad“
„Iron Sky“
„Jesus liebt mich“
„How To Sell Drugs Online (Fast)“
„Gunpowder Milkshake“
„Bonn”
„Liebes Kind”
„Riefenstahl”
„Alte Liebe”
2000-2001 Project manager ARRI Cologne 2006-2008 Branch manager of Cinepost labs in NRW Lecturer e.g. Kölner Filmhaus, ifs, Intern. FrauenFilmFestival, Filmakademie Ludwigsburg… Translation of specialist book „Film Technology in Post Production" (D. Case) to German
Film Scoring in Germany vs. Europe: Production Practices Compared
As a Sync Creative, they develop catalogs, respond to briefs, and oversee the creation of original music for audiovisual projects, working closely with composers and clients from initial concept to final delivery.
Alongside their work in synchronization, they are also active in publishing as an A&R, where they support composers and songwriters in developing their projects and collaborations. They additionally manage artists and co-runs a record label, maintaining a close connection to emerging scenes and contemporary music practices.
Their work is driven by a strong sensitivity to the relationship between sound and image, with a focus on crafting coherent musical identities for visual projects and fostering meaningful collaborations between artists and visual creators.
10:30-11:30 · DIE ZWEI • COMEDIA
Pitching, Vorbereitung Matchmaking, Acceptance Speech with Valerie Dobbelaere, Strike a ScoreAdd to your calendar: GoogleOutlook
12:00-13:00 · DIE ZWEI • COMEDIA
Selbstvermarktung, Webpräsenz, Social Media, Festivals with Valerie Dobbelaere, Strike a ScoreAdd to your calendar: GoogleOutlook
Selbstvermarktung, Webpräsenz, Social Media, Festivals
17:00-18:00 · DIE DREI • COMEDIA
Filmmusikverlag mit Luisa Prinz, Verlagsleiterin Artists & Repertoire Enterprises SonorAdd to your calendar: GoogleOutlook
Filmmusikverlag
mit Luisa Prinz, Verlagsleiterin Artists & Repertoire Enterprises Sonor
10:30-11:30 · DIE ZWEI • COMEDIA
Call my Agent with Rosalie Vogel, Bellemeute; Anna Stokes, Manners Faber; Valerie Dobbelaer, Strike a ScoreAdd to your calendar: GoogleOutlook
Call my Agent
with Rosalie Vogel, Bellemeute; Anna Stokes, Manners Faber; Valerie Dobbelaer, Strike a Score
Wie entsteht Filmmusik unter unterschiedlichen Produktionsbedingungen in Europa? Und welchen Einfluss haben nationale Produktionskulturen, Budgets und internationale Zusammenarbeit auf den kreativen Prozess – und letztlich auf den Sound eines Films?
Das Panel beleuchtet, die unterschiedlichen Arbeitsweisen des Film Scorings in Europa. Während manche Produktionenstark durch Zeitpläne, Budgets und effiziente Abläufe geprägt sind, scheint in anderen der kreative Schaffensprozess der Komposition stärker den Takt vorzugeben. Dabei geht es um die Frage, wie sich künstlerische Freiräume mit den Anforderungen effizienter Abläufe und Abstimmungsprozessen in Einklang bringen lassen.
Aus verschiedenen Perspektiven entlang des Produktionsprozesses geben die deutsche Filmmusikkomponistin Freya Arde, die französische Komponistin Clémentine Charuel, Music Supervisorin Milena Fessmann sowie die Postproduction Supervisorin Anne Urban, Einblicke in ihre Arbeit, kreative Prozesse und Produktionsrealitäten.
Moderiert wird das Panel von Katja Lucker, Geschäftsführung der Initiative Musik. Das Panel findet auf Englisch statt.
16:00-18:00 · DIE DREI • COMEDIA
GEMA: Alles rund um Filme und Serien. Anmeldung, Herstellungsrechte, Dokumentation, Monitoring und GEMA Online Services mit Jens Kindermann, GEMA Music SupervisionAdd to your calendar: GoogleOutlook
GEMA: Alles rund um Filme und Serien. Anmeldung, Herstellungsrechte, Dokumentation, Monitoring und GEMA Online Services
10:00-11:00 · DIE DREI • COMEDIA
Workshop: Postproduktionsabläufe und deren Planung mit Anne Urban, Postproduction SupervisorAdd to your calendar: GoogleOutlook
Workshop: Postproduktionsabläufe und deren Planung
12:30-13:30 · DIE DREI • COMEDIA
Mehr als Komponieren: Die Herausforderungen von Games-Music-Workflows mit Helge BorgartsAdd to your calendar: GoogleOutlook
Mehr als Komponieren: Die Herausforderungen von Games-Music-Workflows
14:30-16:00 · DIE DREI • COMEDIA
Sync-Aufträge weltweit und deren Verwertungsketten mit Corinna C. Poeszus, Mediaconsulting4UAdd to your calendar: GoogleOutlook
Sync-Aufträge weltweit und deren Verwertungsketten
