"One of the 20 Great Film Festivals for First-Time Moviemakers." Moviemaker Magazine, June 2022.
"One of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World!" Moviemaker Magazine, Sept 2016 and July 2019.
"The best-curated film festival in the Twin Cities, Sound Unseen focuses on movies with musical themes, often pairing them with filmmaker appearances and live music." Chris Hewitt, St. Paul Pioneer Press Nov. 2015
In the fall of 1999, Sound Unseen introduced itself as a unique, cutting edge “films-on-music” festival in Minneapolis / St. Paul. In the ensuing years it has established itself as one of the premiere niche festivals in the country, and more importantly as an important and vital part of the regional cultural scene. Now in its 24th year, the festival has expanded to include year-round programming and special presentations including world and regional premiere screenings such as Anvil! The Story of Anvil!, Filmage: The Story of Descendents/ALL, Out Of Time: The Material Issue Story, Listening To Kenny G, Mavis, The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead, All I Can Say, Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records, Sound of Metal, Zappa, The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?, and Meet Me In The Bathroom. Starting in 2020 Sound Unseen started offering a version of the festival in Austin, TX and has grown in both attendance and screenings each year since.
While bringing the best in documentaries, short films, and music videos it also showcases rare concert footage, interactive panels, and live music events. As part of its year-round presence, Sound Unseen offers a successful monthly screening series and special events throughout the Twin Cities and Austin, TX as well as virtual screenings available globally. This diversity in content separates Sound Unseen from the typical outdoor mega concerts and film festivals. What began as an underground film festival with only a handful of attendees has now become a well respected and known brand that has a loyal following and continues to program an exciting, unexpected, and consistent array of music, film, fashion, and art.
Sound Unseen has received press coverage in major local media including The Minneapolis Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Austin Chronicle, and Twin Cities Gay Scene, radio stations The Current, MPR, KFAN, and KUTX, and television news segments on NBC, FOX, and CBS. National media mentions have included Rolling Stone, Moviemaker Magazine, Paste Magazine, and USA Today.
There will be a prize awarded to the winning film in competition (competition films are selected by Sound Unseen staff members). There will be a three to five person jury with five to nine films in competition. The winning film will be announced during the festival.