Muss es immer Saxofon sein?

Annette Gentz, Katja Lucker, Malakoff Kowalski, Jenni Zylka (Mod.)

Few cinematic clichés have proven as persistent as this one: two people meet for the first time, their eyes lock – and suddenly a saxophone swells on the soundtrack, leaving the audience in no doubt about what they are supposed to feel. Film music, after all, is one of those art forms that often only becomes noticeable when it tries too hard – when it illustrates emotion too bluntly instead of allowing it room to unfold on its own.

Yet film music remains one of the most fascinating intersections of composition, dramaturgy, and sound art. It can heighten a scene, undermine it, or make it legible in an entirely new way. It creates atmosphere, memory, and rhythm. What separates functional film music from truly outstanding scores? How is the work of composers changing in an era shaped by streaming platforms, arthouse cinema, and international series production? And why is music in film discussed so much less frequently than images?

These questions will be explored by four guests who know film music from very different perspectives.

Combining contemporary composition, pop music, theatre, and film, Malakoff Kowalski belongs to a generation of composers who understand film music as an independent narrative layer. Most recently, the composer and pianist scored Fatih Akın’s new film »Geister«.

Annette Gentz is one of the most influential international agents working with film composers today. Through her agency, she represents some of the genre’s most renowned figures. Her long-time client Hauschka received his first Academy Award nomination in 2017 and ultimately won the Oscar in 2023. Few people have a deeper understanding of the global structures and networks that shape the film music industry.

With Katja Lucker, Managing Director of Initiative Musik, the conversation also turns towards structural and cultural policy questions. Beginning in 2027, the newly established Film Music Residency at Villa Aurora in Los Angeles will offer a programme designed to strengthen international connections for German composers and foster exchange between the film and music industries.

The discussion will be moderated by Jenni Zylka. A journalist, author, and film expert, she spent many years working in various capacities for the Berlinale and has long been committed to supporting emerging German and international filmmakers. Few are better equipped to connect cultural policy, industry insight, and a passion for cinema.