28/05/2021 - More than 600 professionals are expected in the Provence town from 31 May to 5 June for the 22nd edition of the European festival, a reference in the world of film scores

The Music & Cinema - Festival International du Film d'Aubagne returns to the physical world for its 22nd edition, taking place from 31 May to 5 June in the provincial town, with more than 80 screenings in cinemas and more than 600 professionals expected to attend this unique European event entirely dedicated to the encounter between professionals of the sound and of the image. It is worth noting that the digital version of the festival will take place from 7 to 12 June in order to compensate for the reduced capacity allowed in French cinemas (limited to 35% until 9 June).

The guests of honour at this edition are composer Ibrahim Maalouf (winner of the 2017 César and Lumières awards in his category for In the Forests of Siberia [+see also:
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film profile]) and actor-director Samir Guesmi (who will also be presenting his directorial feature debut, recipient of the Cannes 2020 label: Ibrahim [+see also:
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film profile], and discuss his collaboration with composer Raphaël Eligoulachvili). Also worth noting is an exceptional encounter with Latvian and American composer Lolita Ritmanis (famous in particular for her work on the animated series Batman Beyond).

As part of the "Duets programme (about filmmakers and composers), Rebecca Zlotowski and Rob will discuss their many collaborations, as will the Barbier brothers (director Éric and the composer and arranger Renaud). In the "Ostinato 2021" programme ("They have been here and will come back"), the festival will shine a spotlight on four composers who previously benefited from the various supports to creation offered by the festival: Amaury Chabauty (for Teddy [+see also:
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film profile]), Mathieu Lamboley (The Rose Maker [+see also:
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film profile] by Pierre Pinaud who will also be present), Delphine Malausséna (5ème set [+see also:
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film profile]) and Florencia Di Concilio (Calamity, a Childhood of Marta Jane Cannary [+see also:
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interview: Henri Magalon
film profile]).

The feature film competition will feature 10 films: The Lamb [+see also:
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film profile] from Italian director Mario Piredda (composer: Marco Biscarini) which will open the festival, Paradise [+see also:
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interview: Davide Del Degan
film profile] from his fellow countryman Davide Del Degan (music: Luca Ciut), Ladies of Steel [+see also:
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interview: Pamela Tola
film profile] from Finland’s Pamela Tola (composer: Panu Aaltio), Kids Run [+see also:
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film profile] from German filmmaker Barbara Ott (music: Paradox Paradise), Limbo [+see also:
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film profile] from fellow countryman Tim Dünschede (composer: David Reichelt), the Austrian-Swiss production Lovecut [+see also:
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film profile] by Iliana Estañol and Johanna Lietha (music: Michael Sauter), Beyond the Horizon [+see also:
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interview: Delphine Lehericey
film profile] from Swiss director Delphine Lehericey (composer: Nicolas Rabaeus), Zanka Contact [+see also:
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film profile] from Moroccan filmmaker Ismaël El Iraki (music: Alexandre Tartière and Neyl Nejjai), Karnawal [+see also:
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film profile] by Argentina’s Juan Pablo Félix (composer: Leonardo Martinelli) and Slalom [+see also:
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interview: Charlène Favier
film profile] from French director Charlène Favier (music: the LoW Entertainment collective).

The programme also includes, among other things, 72 short films (debuts, second and third films with a singular sound treatment or original music) from 28 countries, some “favourites” and “family time” screenings (including Listen [+see also:
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interview: Ana Rocha de Sousa
film profile] from Portuguese director Ana Rocha De Sousa and My Favorite War [+see also:
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interview: Ilze Burkovska Jacobsen
film profile] from Latvian director Ilze Burkovska Jacobsen), a focus on the label Chinese Man Records with the cult British film Babylon by Franco Rosso and a carte blanche to four European festivals (Fimucité Tenerife, Hamburg Short Film Festival, Glasgow Short Film Festival and the Portuguese event FEST - New Directors).

Finally, professionals of the industry will gather on 3 and 4 June for the European Market for Film Music Composition which connects producers and directors (and their films in pre-production or in production) with composers selected by the festival. It is worth noting that 80% of the projects find their composer during this event.

(Translated from French)