SoundTrack_Cologne is the leading congress and festival dedicated to the diverse relationships between moving image and music in Europe.

SEE THE SOUND is the supplement film program to the SoundTrack_Cologne congress. The program deals, cross-genre, with all types of moving pictures which visualise music and sound, amongst others music documentaries and artistic music films.

SEE THE SOUND combines screenings in regular cinemas with open air screenings and concerts.

SEE THE SOUND awards the price for the Best Music Documentary - if possible in the presence of the director, who will be invited to join the award ceremony. The price money is 2,500 Euros, split between the director and the production (50/50).

Regulations SEE THE SOUND – The film programme of SoundTrack_Cologne 21:

1. General Conditions
For the film programme SEE THE SOUND at SoundTrack_Cologne music documentaries, artistic films about music and musicians, short films with a focus on music and music videos can be submitted.

2. Organiser and Date
SoundTrack_Cologne is held by Televisor Troika GmbH. The festival will take place from July 02 - 07, 2024 in Cologne.

3. Entry Requirements
a) The application deadlines are: Early submissions go until March 18, 2024. Late submissions close on April 08, 2024.
b) Each entry requires a completed and signed entry form and preview tape. Use a separate entry form for each film.
c) The films must be at least 60 minutes long (except short films and music videos).
d) All films whose production was completed after January 1st, 2023 or which had their premiere after January 1st, 2023 are eligible for submission. These conditions are subject to change by the organiser.
e) The presentation on other festivals or a DVD release is no criterion for exclusion, but German premieres are preferred. There are no limitations regarding the country of production.
f) Works cannot be withdrawn after submission.

4. Accepted Film Formats
The screening print can be one of the following formats: DCP, DVD and BluRay-Disc (BluRay is preferred). The video format has to be PAL, only. If the original language of the film is neither German nor English, subtitles in one of those languages are required.

5. Preview Copy
a) The preferred option is entering digitally via online link, preferably with the option to download the file. There is a field in the application form to fill in the URL. Please make sure that download and/or viewing link remain active till at least June 1, 2023 and any required password is not changed. Additionally we ask you to provide an access to the preview copy that does not require further registration. If applying via link the signed application form is to be sent digitally to seethesound@soundtrackcologne.de.
b) Alternatively the preview copy can be sent to us on DVD (PAL), music videos as quicktime.mov. The completed form has to be attached to the DVD AND send to us via to seethesound@soundtrackcologne.de
c) If the original language of the film is neither German nor English, subtitles in one of those languages are necessary. In the absence of subtitles a film script in German or English must be enclosed during the selection process. If the film is selected, the screening print has to have English or German subtitles.
d) Preview material will remain in the festival archive.

6. Selection
The selection committee will view the preview copies that reach the festival office by April 08, 2024. All entrants will be notified of the selection results in time. The results will be sent by E-mail only. Please send your submission as soon as possible and do not wait until close to the deadline. This will support the selection process. Thank you.

7. Postage
Costs for submitting materials, viewing copy and screening copy are to be paid by the submitter (Submissions with insufficient postage will not be accepted). Return expenses for the screening-print will be covered by the festival. Submitted viewing copies (DVD-screeners) will not be returned!

Submissions from abroad must read in German: “Nur für kulturelle Zwecke – keine kommerzielle Nutzung. Empfänger ist Selbstverzoller“ (For cultural purpose only, no commercial value –  Independent Custome Clearance by the recipient). Submitted viewing copies (only DVD screeners!) from non EU-member states must be accompanied by a „pro forma invoice“ stating a value of max. 20 US$. In the event of accruing custom fees such fees shall be charged to the submitter.

Shipping address:
SoundTrack_Cologne
c/o Televisor Troika GmbH
Trajanstraße 27
D-50678 Köln
Germany

8. Further Remarks
Screening prints will be insured during the festival time at their print value. Any claims for replacement due to damage are to be submitted not later than 10 days after the festival.

9. Declaration of Agreement
With their signature, the participants and rights holders in the submitted work declare their consent to participation in the festival and their agreement to the rules and regulations in the version here present. The German version of these rules and regulations is binding. There is no right of appeal. All matters in doubt will be decided by the festival management according to international conventions.

10. Submission Fee
Due to rising numbers in submissions the festival raises submission fees to cover administrative costs as follows. The fees are related to the film length:

Early Bird Deadline: Short films 15.00 Euros, feature films 25.00 Euros
Late Deadline: Short films 30.00 Euros, feature films 40.00 Euros

The festival grants no refunds. Prices only apply for the festival’s own submission service. Submission prices via other platforms may differ.

11. Online form
Please fill in all mandatory fields truthfully and completely. Wrong details or entries like “blank blank blank”, “Please request this at …”, links to websites or similar entries will automatically lead to a disqualification of the submission!

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Ben Slotover

    I am sure it was a nice festival but I wouldn't know because there was Zero communication from the organisers. I sent messages on Social Media and by email when they selected my film, offering to help with publicity and asking for any info or feedback about my screening, but heard zero reply. They took my entrance fee and I can only assume they showed my film but I have had no communication ever from them. Will not submit again.

    October 2022