{"id":55693,"date":"2024-06-12T14:34:57","date_gmt":"2024-06-12T12:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/film-mag.net\/wp\/?p=55693"},"modified":"2024-06-12T14:34:57","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T12:34:57","slug":"inaugural-london-soundtrack-festival-in-association-with-the-bfi-takes-place-from-19-26-march-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/film-mag.net\/wp\/?p=55693","title":{"rendered":"Inaugural London Soundtrack Festival, in association with the BFI, takes place from 19-26 March 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Inaugural London Soundtrack Festival announced today, headlined by Oscar-winning <\/strong>Lord of the Rings <\/strong><\/i>composer Howard Shore<\/strong><\/p>\n

Featuring an exclusive in-conversation event with Howard Shore and filmmaker David Cronenberg about their legendary collaborations<\/strong><\/p>\n

The capital\u2019s first annual Festival dedicated to celebrating the music of film, TV and games, in association with the BFI, will take place from 19 – 26 March 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

The programme will feature live performances, panel discussions, in-conversation screenings, composer Q&As and masterclasses with some of the biggest names in film, TV and games music<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Fotografiju ustupio London Soundtrack Festival<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

A retrospective of the work of legendary composer Howard Shore<\/strong> (Lord of the Rings, The Silence of the Lambs<\/i>) joins events celebrating the work of Hildur Gu\u00f0nad\u00f3ttir<\/strong> (Tar<\/i>, Joker<\/i>), Anna Meredith<\/strong> (Eighth Grade<\/i>), Anne Dudley <\/strong>(Poldark, The Full Monty),<\/i> Harry Gregson-Williams <\/strong>(The Martian<\/i>), Stephen Barton<\/strong> (Star Trek: Picard, Star Wars: Jedi – Fallen Order, Apex Legends<\/i>), Natalie Holt<\/strong> (Loki, Obi-Wan Kenobi <\/i>and Paddington<\/i>) and Paul Farrer<\/strong> (The Chase, Weakest Link<\/i>), with more artists to be announced soon<\/p>\n

Featuring several of London\u2019s leading orchestras hosted in some of the capital\u2019s most iconic cultural venues including Southbank Centre<\/strong>, BFI IMAX<\/strong>, The Roundhouse<\/strong>, Alexandra Palace, Wigmore Hall<\/strong> and Cadogan Hall<\/strong><\/p>\n

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12 June 2024, London:<\/strong> The London Soundtrack Festival (LSF), London\u2019s first dedicated annual Festival celebrating the music of film, TV and games, has today revealed elements of its spectacular inaugural programme that will take place across the capital in March 2025.<\/p>\n

In association with BFI, the Festival will be hosted by some of the capital\u2019s greatest cultural venues, including Royal Festival Hall, Alexandra Palace and BFI IMAX, and feature several of London\u2019s leading orchestras and the biggest names in film, TV and games music. The Festival reflects London\u2019s status as one of the most important cultural centres for soundtracks worldwide, with its legendary studios, musicians, facilities and leading creative artists across all music disciplines.<\/p>\n

Founded by concert producer, broadcaster and musician Tommy Pearson, the London Soundtrack Festival is inspired by the life and music of Christopher Gunning, the multi-award-winning composer who wrote the iconic theme to ITV’s Poirot<\/i> (starring David Suchet), the Bafta-winning score to the movie La Vie En Rose<\/i>, and the jingles for famous ad campaigns for Martini and Black Magic.<\/p>\n

Following his untimely death in March 2023, Christopher’s widow Sveta asked Tommy Pearson to create a festival to emulate Christopher\u2019s extraordinary talent, skill and infectious, enthusiastic spirit. In his honour, each year the Festival will present the Gunning Inspiration Award to a major figure in the industry who has made a lasting impact on music with their distinction and craft. The recipient will also headline that year\u2019s Festival.<\/p>\n

Today, music for film, TV and games is more popular than ever with orchestral music concerts featuring film soundtracks now making up 30%, TV soundtracks 26%, and video game concerts 11% of all concerts in the UK since 2018 (Source:\u00a0RPO Report<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Soundtrack music also acts as a gateway for new audiences to explore orchestral music, with film screenings featuring a live orchestra ranking in the Top 5 of orchestral concerts attended by newcomers (Source:\u00a0RPO report<\/a>). Online engagement has grown too with TikTok\u2019s #soundtrack hashtag growing 84% in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching 2.3 billion views (Source:\u00a0BBC News<\/a>).<\/p>\n

With appreciation for film, TV and game music at an all-time high, this is the perfect time to celebrate the art form with some of its greatest practitioners.<\/p>\n

Programme highlights<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Howard Shore<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Howard Shore\u00a0<\/strong>is one of the most successful and popular film composers. His soundtrack for The Lord of the Rings\u00a0<\/i>trilogy, for which he won countless awards (including three Oscars and three Grammys), is some of the most beloved film music of the last 25 years. Shore\u2019s discography is vast and wide-ranging, scoring films such as Mrs Doubtfire, Silence of the Lambs, Se7en,\u00a0<\/i>and six films with Martin Scorsese including The Departed\u00a0<\/i>and The Aviator<\/i>.<\/p>\n

In recognition of his constant originality, creativity and craft, Shore will become the first recipient of the Gunning Inspiration Award, which will be presented to him by director David Cronenberg<\/strong> as part of the LSF\u2019s central Gala Concert.<\/p>\n

Cronenberg<\/strong> and Shore<\/strong> have worked together for over 45 years, creating some of film\u2019s most memorable, startling, moving and controversial moments. As part of a special Q&A event at Royal Festival Hall, Cronenberg and Shore (in conversation with journalist Jon Burlingame) will discuss their extraordinary collaboration, featuring Videodrome, The Fly, Dead Ringers, Crash, M Butterfly, Eastern Promises, A History of Violence, Naked Lunch and their 17th and most recent film together, The Shrouds.<\/p>\n

Shore will also introduce exclusive screenings of some of his most iconic scores, with further details to be announced.<\/p>\n

Hildur Gu\u00f0nad\u00f3ttir<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Icelandic composer Hildur Gu\u00f0nad\u00f3ttir<\/strong>, best known for her scores for Joker\u00a0<\/i>(for which she won an Oscar, Grammy, BAFTA, and Golden Globe) and TV series Chernobyl\u00a0<\/i>(Grammy, Emmy and BAFTA), is also an LSF Featured Artist next year.<\/p>\n

Gu\u00f0nad\u00f3ttir will lead a pre-concert talk about her work ahead of presenting Hildur Gu\u00f0nad\u00f3ttir In Concert<\/strong> at Queen Elizabeth Hall, performed by the London Contemporary Orchestra. The programme will celebrate Gu\u00f0nad\u00f3ttir\u2019s film and TV music alongside her influences and inspirations.<\/p>\n

Hildur has written a new commission for cellist Richard Harwood<\/strong>, who will premiere the piece at Wigmore Hall as part of a lunchtime recital of music by film composers written for the concert hall.<\/p>\n

Gala performances<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

At the heart of the Festival is a Gala Concert at Royal Festival Hall from London Philharmonic Orchestra<\/strong> with conductor Ben Palmer<\/strong>, featuring music by all featured artists, with a particular focus on the recipient of this year\u2019s Gunning Inspiration Award, Howard Shore.<\/p>\n

BBC Concert Orchestra<\/strong> will perform popular hits from film and television at Alexandra Palace in a live edition of the BBC\u2019s long-running popular programme Friday Night Is Music Night,\u00a0<\/strong>broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.<\/p>\n

Anne Dudley and Friends: Movie Songs Live\u00a0<\/strong>sees Oscar-winning composer Anne Dudley (The Full Monty<\/i>, Art of Noise<\/i>) and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at The Roundhouse presenting an exclusive night of movie songs and music featuring some very special guest vocalists, still to be announced<\/p>\n

Screenings<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Musician and composer Anna Meredith\u00a0<\/strong>will introduce a live performance of her score for Bo Burnham\u2019s film Eighth Grade<\/i> played in sync with a screening of the film at BFI IMAX.<\/p>\n

Charlie Chaplin\u2019s masterpiece Modern Times<\/strong> will screen at Cadogan Hall with the original score played live by Covent Garden Sinfonia\u00a0<\/strong>led by conductor Ben Palmer.\u00a0<\/strong>The performance will be Introduced by Chaplin\u2019s grandson, Spencer Chaplin.<\/p>\n

Throughout the Festival, there will be exclusive screenings of films featuring scores by LSF featured artists, often introduced by the composers themselves. Further details will be announced soon.<\/p>\n

Masterclasses and talks<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Composer Paul Farrer<\/strong> (The Chase, Weakest Link<\/i>) will reveal his composing and production process in a special masterclass.<\/p>\n

Multi-award-winning composer Natalie Holt\u00a0<\/strong>will present a masterclass exploring her process behind creating scores for TV hits Loki<\/i> and Obi-Wan Kenobi<\/i> in a masterclass.<\/p>\n

Producers of music notation software Dorico\u00a0<\/strong>will demonstrate the latest tricks and developments for media music creators in a demonstration session at the Southbank Centre.<\/p>\n

And LSF host Jon Burlingame<\/strong>, one of the most respected writers on film and TV music in the world, will discuss his book \u2018Music for Prime Time: A History of American Television Themes and Scoring\u2019 with LSF Artistic Director and Founder, Tommy Pearson<\/p>\n

Games Music<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

An unmissable celebration of Video Games Music will take place at The Roundhouse with Games Music: State of the Art<\/strong>, with masterclasses (by Grammy and Ivor-Award winning composers Stephen Barton<\/strong> and Gordy Haab\u00a0<\/strong>on their score for Star Wars: Jedi Survivor<\/i>), demos, autograph opportunities and a panel session with a stellar line-up of Games Music composers, including Borislav Slavov<\/strong> (Baldur\u2019s Gate 3<\/i>), Ludvig Forssell<\/strong> (Death Stranding)\u00a0<\/i>and Harry Gregson-Williams\u00a0<\/strong>(Metal Gear<\/i>).<\/p>\n

Further events and details will be announced in the next few months.<\/p>\n

Unveiling details of the inaugural Festival this morning at BFI Southbank, Festival Founder & Artistic Director Tommy Pearson<\/strong> has said: \u201cIt\u2019s really exciting to be bringing this brand-new festival to London \u2013 the film, TV and games music capital of the world \u2013 and to celebrate the greatest composers working today who create the soundtrack to our lives. For me, it\u2019s the culmination of a lifetime\u2019s love of film and TV music; a chance to give audiences young and old (and everyone in between!) world-class performances, fascinating masterclasses, screenings and events for many years to come.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Stuart Brown, Director of Programmes and Distribution at the BFI<\/strong> has said: \u201cMusic is the spiritual soul of cinema, television and video games, it inhabits our hearts, minds and dreams.\u00a0 We\u2019re buzzing to be working with the London Soundtrack Festival to bring this very exciting new festival to audiences, and to be part of a really meaningful celebration of the incredible talent that brings these art forms to life.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

Howard Shore, composer and recipient of the inaugural Gunning Inspiration Award,\u00a0<\/strong>has said: “It is an honour to be invited to the inaugural London Soundtrack Festival and to be the first recipient of the Inspiration Award. After many years of recording with the great London Philharmonic Orchestra, I am so looking forward to reuniting with them at the Gala Concert.”<\/i><\/p>\n

Tickets to the Festival will go on sale in September 2024. For full details of the programme, and to sign up for the newsletter to hear about future updates, please visit londonsoundtrackfestival.com<\/a> and follow the Festival on social media (@LDNSoundtrack).<\/p>\n

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Festival Website: londonsoundtrackfestival.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Festival Social handles: @LDNSoundtrack (Twitter\/X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube)<\/p>\n

PROGRAMME DETAILS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Event timings to be confirmed in due course<\/i><\/p>\n

Wednesday 19 March 2025<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Concert: Richard Harwood & Friends<\/strong><\/i>
\nWigmore Hall<\/strong>
\nCellist Richard Harwood is joined by star chamber musicians for a lunchtime recital of music by Film composers written for the concert hall – including a new commission by LSF Featured Artist Hildur Gu\u00f0nad\u00f3ttir.<\/p>\n

Film in Concert: Chaplin\u2019s Modern Times<\/strong><\/i>
\nCadogan Hall<\/strong>
\nCovent Garden Sinfonia | Conductor: Ben Palmer<\/strong>
\nChaplin\u2019s masterpiece screened with the original score played live. Introduced by Chaplin\u2019s grandson, Spencer Chaplin.<\/p>\n

Thursday 20 March 2025<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Film in Concert: EIGHTH GRADE with live score<\/strong><\/i>
\nBFI IMAX<\/strong>
\nAnna Meredith introduces a live performance of her score played in synch with the 2018 film directed by Bo Burnham.<\/p>\n

Friday 21 March 2025<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Concert: Friday Night is Music Night<\/strong><\/i>
\nAlexandra Palace<\/strong>
\nBBC Concert Orchestra<\/strong>
\nA live broadcast of the long-running popular strand, now on BBC Radio 3. Featuring popular hits from film and television.<\/p>\n

Saturday 22 March 2025<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Masterclass: Harry Gregson-Williams<\/strong><\/i>
\nSouthbank Centre<\/strong>
\nOne of Hollywood\u2019s most sought-after and prolific composers, Harry Gregson-Williams has scored numerous hit movies, TV series and video games. In this masterclass, Harry reveals his composing and technical process in a fascinating session demonstrating how he creates film cues.<\/p>\n

Demonstration: Dorico in Action<\/strong><\/i>
\nSouthbank Centre<\/strong>
\nThe music software producers demonstrate the latest tricks and developments for media music creators.<\/p>\n

Q&A: Howard Shore and David Cronenberg in Conversation<\/strong><\/i>
\nRoyal Festival Hall<\/strong>
\nIn this very special event, Director David Cronenberg and composer Howard Shore, in conversation with Jon Burlingame, discuss their extraordinary 45-year collaboration, featuring Videodrome, The Fly, Dead Ringers, Crash, M Butterfly, Eastern Promises, A History of Violence, Naked Lunch<\/i> and their 17th and most recent film together, The Shrouds<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Concert: LSF Gala Concert<\/strong><\/i>
\nRoyal Festival Hall<\/strong>
\nLondon Philharmonic Orchestra | Conductor: Ben Palmer<\/strong>
\nThe Festival celebrates its inaugural year with a gala concert featuring music by all featured artists and a special focus on the recipient of the LSF Inspiration Award, Howard Shore.<\/p>\n

Sunday 23 March 2025<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Games Music – State of the Art<\/strong><\/i>
\nThe Roundhouse – All Day<\/strong>
\nAn unmissable celebration of Video Games Music with masterclasses (by Grammy and Ivor-Award winning composers Stephen Barton<\/strong> and Gordy Haab<\/strong> on their score for Star Wars: Jedi Survivor<\/i>), demos, autograph opportunities and a Panel Session with a stellar line-up of Games Music composers, including Borislav Slavov<\/strong>, Ludvig Forssell<\/strong> and Harry Gregson-Williams<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Masterclass: Stephen Barton<\/strong><\/i>
\nThe Roundhouse<\/strong>
\nThe Grammy Award-winning composer gives an exclusive masterclass on writing music for Games.<\/p>\n

Concert: Games Music: State of the Art<\/strong><\/i>
\nThe Roundhouse<\/strong>
\nRoyal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra<\/strong>
\nThe Games Music: State of the Art day concludes in spectacular style with a concert by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra playing music from some of the most iconic and popular Games available, including Assassin\u2019s Creed, Baldur\u2019s Gate 3, Star Wars Jedi Survivor, Indiana Jones, Metal Gear Solid<\/i> and Battlefield 2042<\/i>, introduced by the composers themselves.<\/p>\n

Monday 24 March 2025<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Talk: Music in Prime Time – A History of TV Themes and Scoring<\/strong><\/i>
\nVenue TBC<\/strong>
\nLSF host Jon Burlingame, one of the most respected writers on film and TV music in the world, discusses his book \u2018Music for Prime Time\u2019 with LSF Artistic Director, Tommy Pearson.<\/p>\n

Masterclass: Paul Farrer<\/strong><\/i>
\nVenue TBC<\/strong>
\nPaul Farrer, who has written some of the most recognisable themes on TV, including The Chase, Weakest Link, The Wheel<\/i> and Michael McIntyre\u2019s Big Show<\/i>, reveals his composing and production process.<\/p>\n

Tuesday 25 March 2025<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Masterclass: Natalie Holt<\/strong><\/i>
\nVenue TBC<\/strong>
\nMulti-award-winning composer Natalie Holt reveals her process behind creating scores for TV hits Loki<\/i> and Obi-Wan Kenobi<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Concert: Anne Dudley and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra<\/strong><\/i>
\nThe Roundhouse<\/strong>
\nAnne Dudley | Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra<\/strong>
\nOscar-winning composer Anne Dudley presents an exclusive night of great movie songs and music, backed by an orchestra and featuring very special guest vocalists<\/p>\n

Wednesday 26 March<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pre-concert talk: Hildur Gu\u00f0nad\u00f3ttir In Conversation<\/strong><\/i>
\nQueen Elizabeth Hall<\/strong>
\nThe Oscar-winning composer talks to Jon Burlingame about her career, influences, inspirations and the concert she has curated especially for LSF.<\/p>\n

Concert: Hildur Gu\u00f0nad\u00f3ttir In Concert<\/strong><\/i>
\nQueen Elizabeth Hall<\/strong>
\nHildur Gu\u00f0nad\u00f3ttir | London Contemporary Orchestra | Conductor: Robert Ames<\/strong>
\nOscar-winning composer Hildur Gu\u00f0nad\u00f3ttir (Joker<\/i>) presents a concert of her film and TV music alongside her influences and inspirations.<\/p>\n

Further events to be announced<\/u><\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

About London Soundtrack Festival<\/strong><\/p>\n

The London Soundtrack Festival has been created to reflect the ever-increasing interest and enthusiasm for film, TV and games music and to acknowledge that London is one of the most important centres for soundtracks in the world, with its legendary studios, musicians, facilities and leading creative artists from across all music disciplines.<\/p>\n

Founded by concert producer, broadcaster and musician Tommy Pearson, the annual festival will feature major names in the Film, TV and Games music industry, alongside the best orchestras and iconic venues across the capital. We aim to be an unmissable date in the diary for all fans and concert-goers young and old, bringing the best music and performers to a wide audience with a packed programme of concerts, screenings, masterclasses and Q&As.<\/p>\n

The London Soundtrack Festival is inspired by the life and music of our friend Christopher Gunning, the multi-award-winning composer best known for his music on TV and film, including the iconic theme to ITV’s Poirot (starring David Suchet) as well as his Bafta-winning score to the movie La Vie En Rose and famous ad campaigns for Martini and Black Magic. Following his untimely death in March 2023, Chris’s widow Sveta asked Tommy Pearson to create a festival that would match Chris’s extraordinary talent, skill and his infectious, enthusiastic spirit. In his honour, each year we present the Gunning Inspiration Award to a figure in the industry who has made a lasting impact on music with distinction and craft.<\/p>\n

The London Soundtrack Festival is proud to present the festival in collaboration with the BFI.<\/p>\n

About BFI<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are a cultural charity, a National Lottery distributor, and the UK\u2019s lead organisation for film and the moving image.<\/p>\n

Our mission is:<\/p>\n