Tess Kendall, Charlie Miller, Niilas, Saria Tourbah. Host: Nis Bøgvad

TAKKUUK is a new immersive installation from EarthSonic and In Place of War, Bicep, visual artist Zak Norman and filmmaker Charlie Miller that explores the lives, communities and challenges facing artists Indigenous to the Arctic Region. The installation sees the renowned Northern Irish electronic duo — otherwise known as Andy Ferguson and Matthew McBriar — collaborating with a number of Indigenous vocalists, including Katarina Barruk, Andachan, Sebastian Enequist (from Sound of the Damned), Tarrak, NUIJA, Niilas and Silla. The project has received critical attention, premiering at the Outernet in London on 3 July 2025, with a recent screening at Wintercircus in Ghent as part of its world tour.

Speakers: Alexandra Papademetriou (visual artist, researcher and designer)

This conversation brings together changemaker artists to explore how their work inspires action, engages communities and addresses social, cultural and environmental challenges, reflecting on the tension between artistic integrity and advocacy. Attendees will see art as cultural expression and as a dynamic force for change if and when artists choose to wield it.

Speakers: Fouzia Draoua (psychologist & director [Resilience Room]) Alexandra Papademetriou (visual artist, researcher and designer)

This session explores what it means to “degrow” in the context of a musical career. It asks whether stepping away from constant marketing, branding and consumption-driven models can foster sustainability, well‑being and deeper community impact, inviting musicians and professionals to imagine alternative paths where less ambition for growth makes room for more connected artistic lives.

Morricone, Rota, Micalizzi, Goblin, Frizzi: Italian film music composition and production have shaped the sound of world cinema, from blockbusters to exploitation C-movies. It formed a brand that remains present today, with Oscar-winning composers like Piovani or even Marianelli. While we celebrate the glorious past which paved the way, this tradition, together with other pivotal moments in European film scoring, deserves to be analysed and understood.What sparked these iconic constellations of creative genius, which left such a significant mark? What was their socio-historical context fostering such courageous and innovative art? And, ultimately, how can the spirit and the realisations from that period be adapted to the Here and Now; or, more importantly, to the future of music in European film with the goal of becoming more creative, dynamic, courageous, competitive, and globally impactful?Beyond a most exciting discussion, the desired output of this roundtable is a comprehensive document collecting key points of analysis, best practices, and innovative ideas intended as inspiration and motivation for business development and future policy recommendations.

SPEAKERS: Uria Fiano, Mike Sponza, Kushal Patel, Benji Compston. HOSTS: Mathilde Neu.

AI-generated music, be it moody ambient nothingness or sound-alikes, has been gradually finding its way into public and private spaces: annoying people worldwide in shopping malls, dental clinics, cars, TVs, and hotel elevators. A rights- and risk-free substitution for human creativity? It seems, the sound of brands goes well along with technological innovation. While AI appears to be dehumanizing, it’s hard to believe that the real issue lies in innovative technology itself, given that it has always served as a tool for human expression, from millennia of instrument development and sheet music to DAWs and now AI. And has it already reached a tipping point, proving that actual human genius remains essential? Or has the average musical culture (and the human ear) already degraded to the point where nobody cares, neither brands nor audiences? How can the industry find a balance between technology and genius, in search of more original beauty, stronger cultural impact through outstanding creativity, and ultimately, real value for brands, artists, rightsholders, and audiences alike?

SPEAKERS: Massimo Guarini, Mona Mur, Francesco Grossi, Thierry Baujard. HOSTS: Katariina Sorsa.

The worlds of music and gaming are more interconnected than ever, and the creative use of music in games plays a crucial role in shaping immersive experiences, storytelling, and global exposure for artists. Soundtracks are increasingly released as standalone products, performed live, and celebrated by dedicated communities. Game composers and audio teams are gaining visibility and recognition far beyond the gaming world. Despite the growing role of music in games, the relationship between the games industry and the music industry remains surprisingly limited: what are the underlying causes of this disconnect? Outstanding collaborations, both major and Indie, can reveal which are the winning practices, expose where the structures are still falling short, and help us understand what could be done to build stronger bridges between these two creative worlds. The key lies in the Human Factor - games developers, composers, the entire universe of existing music, and finally, the fans and players - which is leading the way towards a sustainable symbiosis.

Speakers to be announced.

The immersive TAKKUUK installation explores the lives, communities and challenges facing Indigenous artists, highlighting the broader importance of centering Indigenous voices in contemporary art. This panel gathers creatives to reflect on the ethics of cross‑cultural collaboration and the urgency of engaging with Indigenous knowledge in times of global change.

HOSTS: Markus Linde. SPEAKERS: Ian Neil.

A keynote-talk with Ian Neil, multi-award-winning music supervisor with a career spanning over 30 years. Collaborations with directors Guy Ritchie and Matthew Vaughn have fascinated audiences not least because of their outstanding use of music, while music documentaries (Milli Vanilli, The KLF, Twiggy), and music biopics (Rocketman, Pistol, Control) have proved very specific challenges for his music supervision. His depth of knowledge across music research and handling music clearances has seen him supervise over 200 films for many of the world's most respected directors and producers.

SPEAKERS: Joost Vervoort. Host: Markus Linde

by Dr. Joost Vervoort, Associate Professor of Transformative Imagination at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, the Netherlands, Game developer, singer of black metal band Terzij de Horde. How do the possibilities for the future explored by video games, music and other creative practices impact action in the present? “All Will Rise” is a startling game about taking corporations to court. It has been developed by Joost and a team of experienced game industry leaders and it shows the interdisciplinary potential of Games and Music for the experiencing of new futures.

Massimo Guarini, Mona Mur, Francesco Grossi, Thierry Baujard. HOSTS: Katariina Sorsa.

The worlds of music and gaming are more interconnected than ever, and the creative use of music in games plays a crucial role in shaping immersive experiences, storytelling, and global exposure for artists. Soundtracks are increasingly released as standalone products, performed live, and celebrated by dedicated communities. Game composers and audio teams are gaining visibility and recognition far beyond the gaming world.Despite the growing role of music in games, the relationship between the games industry and the music industry remains surprisingly limited. In our Linecheck session, we will explore this disconnect. We will look at outstanding collaborations, both major and Indie, where the structures are still falling short, and what could be done to build stronger bridges between these two creative worlds.We will explore the Human Factor - games developers, composers, the entire universe of existing music, and finally, the fans and players - which is leading the way towards a sustainable symbiosis.

Speaker: Coco Francavilla (composer, music producer, sound engineer, founder & ocean advocate [Wider Sounds, MusicForTheSea]) Host: Damir Ivic (music journalist [Rolling Stone Italy, Outpump, Soundwall])

Sound artist and composer Coco Francavilla invites us on a journey of Re‑Oceaning: a call to reconnect with the Ocean, ourselves and the world around us through sound. Blending science, storytelling and music, she reveals how the ocean’s rhythms mirror our own and how listening to its voice can awaken connection and responsibility, including a live sonic performance and discussion on Posidonia Soundscapes.

SPEAKERS: Seppl Kretz, Pietro Giola. HOSTS: Gabriella Gal.

Syncs in advertising, series, film soundtracks, digital user experiences, games and more generally music as the sound of brands, remain stuck in the heads for decades to come, especially when consumed during primary socialization and teenage years, within a context of significant screen time and evolving media formats. Syncs become part of youth culture. The youngest generations, the most vulnerable, influenceable, yet soon influential, represent a particularly interesting target for brands. These include not only lifestyle, toy-, and tech-companies, but also the creative and cultural industries themselves: TV and streaming platforms, record labels, and anyone who sees in them a receptive audience to market to. Where is the balance between cultural education by forming musical minds and curiosity, and the commercial, somewhat unethical, exploitation of minors? Or does such a question not even play a role in the numbers based environment of the CCIs, where companies are counting loyal consumers? How can the music industry, particularly the sync sector, contribute to a more synergistic, sustainable musical formation for the next generations?

Speakers: Carlos Ribeiro (executive director [Landscape Laboratory]) Frank Kimenai (researcher & advisor [KEA]) Sophie Lamprou (co‑founder [Impact Hub Greece])

This panel explores how music and the arts can play a transformative role in shaping more inclusive, resilient cities. Bringing together voices from the music industry, urban innovation and grassroots organizing, it examines how community‑based cultural programming can foster climate‑conscious behaviours, strengthen social bonds and reinforce local identity, inviting participants to rethink music as a driver for climate action.