In a unique collaboration between Australia’s music and film sectors, Sounds Australia will welcome a delegation of acclaimed international screen music professionals to the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) later this month.
This first-of-its-kind program from Sounds Australia and MIFF will provide avenues of connection and collaboration between the two industries, with the aim to have more Australian music featured in international film productions and create more opportunities for our world-leading composers.
Three renowned screen music professionals will be in Australia for a week of immersive events, curated networking, and a deep dive into our vibrant Australian music scene.
- Billie Mind (Germany), known for her evocative work as Sound Developer/Editor on Sound of Falling, which earned the Jury Prize at Cannes and showcases her distinctive approach to emotionally resonant storytelling.
- Bridget Samuels (UK), music supervisor for the hauntingly beautiful Urchin, and The Zone of Interest, where her curatorial precision and inventive direction were central to the film’s immersive and unsettling soundscape. Her portfolio also includes the Emmy-winning drama Echoes of the Deep.
- Chaibovon Seelukwa (Thailand), whose recent work as a supervisor and composer on A Useful Ghost has garnered international attention
“MIFF aims to build a dynamic, connected screen culture and industry,” said the festival’s Artistic Director, Al Cossar, “and we’re so thrilled to be partnering with Sounds Australia for an initiative that will bring incredible collaborators from MIFF’s Bright Horizons International Film Competition – some of the biggest films in the program, and some of the most anticipated and internationally celebrated titles of the entire cinema-going year – to Australia, to meaningfully connect them with local industry and audience, and to open up new possibilities for Australian composers and musicians.”
Australian music can be heard throughout the MIFF program. 44 Australian screen composers have worked on films being screened this year, highlighting the depth of talent in our country. These composers follow an incredible legacy: from Burkhard Dallwitz’s score in The Truman Show to Lisa Gerrard’s pieces in Gladiator, and the cultural phenomenon that is Bluey, Australian music has connected with audiences around the world for decades.
The right sync moment can also resonate well beyond the screen: high-charting songs from triple j’s recent Hottest 100 Of Australian Songs like ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ by INXS, ‘Untouched’ by The Veronicas and The Temper Trap’s ‘Sweet Disposition’ have all featured in international films and television series. Sounds Australia is investing significantly in this space with the goal of seeing more Australians musicians and composers benefit from similar opportunities.
“This trade mission is a strategic opportunity to connect Australia’s world-class music talent with the global screen industry,” said Esti Zilber, Executive Producer at Sounds Australia. “We’re proud to showcase the depth of our composer sector and give our guests a firsthand experience of the vibrant venues, cultural landmarks, and creative spaces where the next generation of screen music is being shaped.”
The Melbourne International Film Festival takes place from August 7 – 24. To see this year’s program, visit miff.com.au.
Sounds Australia’s activity at MIFF is supported by the ASEAN-Australia Centre.
Photo: Tim Herbert, Melbourne International Film Festival 2023