Call for composers in search of a film project

WSA Matchmaking in 2018
News 11 Jul 2023
During the upcoming edition of the WSA Film Music Days (19 - 21 october 2023), Film Fest Gent will again organise the Belgian version of the Third Character initiative. This initiative is organised yearly in collaboration with MCM (Festival International Music & Cinema Marseille) and FIFF Namur (Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur). Composers who are looking for a film project can rely on FFG, MCM and FIFF Namur to find a match with a suitable film director.

About Third Character

Third Character is an initiative developed by MCM and Sacem. The project aims to facilitate meetings between composers of film music and directors or producers who are working on a film project for which a composer has not yet to be selected. FFG and FIFF Namur alternately organise a Belgian version of the project each year. This way, the film festivals want to establish a collaboration between directors, producers and composers. The collaborations born out of these meetings will have the opportunity to apply for financial support for the soundtrack through authors’ rights organisations Sabam or Sacem (only for members).

Matchmaking

How exactly does the matchmaking process work? Directors and producers can submit the scenario or a specific scene of a film project for which shooting has not yet started and a composer has not yet been chosen. The material will be sent to the selected composers, who will make a few demos based on the vision and expectations of the director and producer concerning the atmosphere or style of the soundtrack.

Practical information

The meetings between the directors, producers and the composers will take place during the WSA Film Music Days (19 - 21 October 2023). During these meetings, the composers will pitch their demos and approach. After a discussion, the director-producer duo will decide whether or not they want to start a collaboration with one of the composers.

Conditions & timeline

  • What are the requirements for the composers?

    In order to participate, composers should be a member of the World Soundtrack Academy or of authors’ rights organisations Sabam/Sacem.

    Materials (in English), deadline for submission 15 August:

    • A short motivational letter, including genre interests

    • A recent picture of the composer

    • A short biography

    • A selection of demos (FLAC, ALAC of MP3) or a link to online demo material

  • What is the timeline?

    Timeline

    • 15 August: deadline submission materials

    • September: composers receive the script and musical guidelines

    • 19 - 21 October: encounters in Ghent, where composers will pitch music written specifically for the film projects/selected scenes

This call is now closed. Composers who submitted their materials, can contact Uma (uma@filmfestival.be) with any potential questions.