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With Third Character, Film Fest Gent and the World Soundtrack Awards offer filmmakers and producers the opportunity to discover new musical talent. During the annual film music market, organized in collaboration with Music & Cinéma Marseille, selected composers pitch for short and feature films that have already received production support. Discover below a selection of the film projects that found a musical match through the initiative.

Ever wondered where your favourite artists find their (musical) inspiration? With Wednesday Waves we give you an insight into the music that composers, directors, musicians, artists… listen to. Discover what boosts their creativity, what gets them into the writing process, or what makes them disconnect and unwind.

For the 2026 Film Music Composition Contest, hosted by the World Soundtrack Awards, young composers receive the opportunity to showcase their talent on a worldwide platform. They can do this by submitting an original score to a scene from Ryan Murphy's and Evan Romansky's TV show Ratched (2020).

On Saturday, May 9th, you can enjoy the free open-air screening of The Old Oak (2023), the latest film by British director Ken Loach. Dzjambo and Film Fest Gent welcome you to Coyendanspark, at the Voorhoutkaai, near Portus Ganda and the Sint-Baafsabdij. Before the film, you can enjoy several activities, such as a musical picnic and a live podcast.

On Sunday 24 May, Compagnie Cordial and Film Fest Gent invite you to Citadelpark for an open-air screening of Her (2013). Director Spike Jonze’s Oscar-winning film paints an intimate portrait of how relationships change in an increasingly digital world. We’ll kick things off with a unique speed-dating event featuring new residents of Ghent and AI agents looking to connect.

European Composer & Songwriting Alliance (ECSA) receives this year’s WSA Industry Award from Film Fest Gent and the World Soundtrack Academy. This award recognises ECSA’s work in making the (screen) music industry more fair and transparent.

Film Fest Gent is proud to welcome Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir as Guest of Honour at the 26th edition of the World Soundtrack Awards. Thanks to her virtuosity, versatility and originality, Guðnadóttir has carved out a unique place for herself within the contemporary music scene. She is known for her work on films such as Joker, TÁR, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and the HBO series Chernobyl. She has previously been honoured by the World Soundtrack Academy as Television Composer of the Year (2019) and Film Composer of the Year (2020).

As is tradition, Film Fest Gent and VIERNULVIER team up to bring you the unmissable VIDEODROOM screenings. Jazz musician Alabaster DePlume’s selection, Time of the Heathen (1961), makes this edition’s first release feel more relevant than ever.

Renowned film composer Trevor Jones will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 26th World Soundtrack Awards Ceremony & Concert, the closing event of Film Fest Gent’s WSA Film Music Days 2026 (8-10 Oct).