Varaždin becomes the world’s center of film sound and music, September 30 – October 6, 2025

The City of Varaždin, a city of culture and a UNESCO City of Music, will this autumn host for the first time two events that uniquely connect film, sound, and music. From September 30 to October 6, Varaždin will welcome the pilot edition of the Film & Media Sound Academy (FMSA) and the 13th International Sound & Film Music Festival (ISFMF) – a festival that, over the past 12 years, has grown into one of the world’s most important gatherings dedicated to film sound and music.

International Sound & Film Music Festival – first edition in Varaždin

From October 2 to 6, 2025, Varaždin will host the 13th edition of the International Sound & Film Music Festival (ISFMF). Having been held in several cities until now, the festival is coming to Varaždin for the first time, further elevating the city as a hub of internationally significant cultural events.

For twelve years, ISFMF has celebrated the art of film sound and music. Since its beginnings, the festival has grown into a globally recognized platform connecting authors, professionals, and audiences in a shared passion for cinema. Today, ISFMF is the leading and largest festival of its kind worldwide in terms of film submissions – this year alone receiving 1,107 films from 92 countries.

The festival program features screenings, concerts, panel discussions, and award ceremonies, with participation from numerous international guests – Oscar, BAFTA, and Emmy winners, alongside acclaimed authors and film professionals.

Film Program: ISFMF Shorts

On Friday and Saturday, October 3 and 4, the official short film competition ISFMF Shorts will be held at CineStar Cinema Varaždin. From 10:00 to 15:00, selected titles from around the world will be screened, with the presence of filmmakers, composers, and sound designers.

Audiences will have the unique opportunity to watch films together with their creators, take part in discussions, and learn first-hand how the stories that travel the world are made.

The arrival of numerous international film crews confirms Varaždin’s importance as a new meeting point for film professionals.

Music Program: Jean-Michel Bernard dedicates concert to Lalo Schifrin

On Friday, October 3, in the concert hall of the Croatian National Theatre Varaždin, a special concert will be held dedicated to composer Lalo Schifrin, the author of the world-famous Mission: Impossible theme and music for classics such as Bullitt and Dirty Harry.

The concert will be performed by Jean-Michel Bernard, French pianist and composer with an impressive international career, known for his collaborations with legends like Ray Charles. Special guest: Kimiko Ono-Bernard, vocals, performing selected works.

Gala Night: Crystal Pine Awards

Saturday, October 4, is reserved for the Crystal Pine Awards Gala Ceremony in the Croatian National Theatre Varaždin concert hall. Awards will be presented in 12 categories for best film score, soundtrack, and sound across formats – from feature and documentary films to animation and TV productions.

This year’s special honors include:

• Chris Munro, two-time Academy Award winner (Gravity, Black Hawk Down), ISFMF Lifetime Achievement Award. Munro has collaborated with the world’s greatest directors, including Ridley Scott, Alfonso Cuarón, Steven Spielberg, and Sam Mendes.
• Bruno Coulais, award-winning French composer (Les Choristes, Song of the Sea), ISFMF Lifetime Achievement Award. Coulais’ music has left an indelible mark – his song Vois Sur Ton Chemin (Les Choristes) was nominated for an Oscar and performed live at the Academy Awards by Beyoncé.
• Kathy Kelly, singer and leader of the mega-popular group The Kelly Family, ISFMF Honorary Crystal Pine Award. With the group, she has filled stadiums worldwide, with more than 20 million albums sold.
• Benjamin Haycock, young British singer-songwriter and contestant on The Voice UK, recipient of the ISFMF Rising Star Award.

All laureates will personally attend the ceremony, which will be held in Varaždin for the first time. Interest is extraordinary, and the event is already sold out.

Educational & Social Program

On Sunday, October 5, the festival continues with its congress program – the Dialogue Between Sound and Music in Film workshop and the Beyond Talent – Building a Sustainable Career in Music and Film panel, aimed at students and young professionals.

In the evening, a relaxed gathering will take place at Kavana Grofica Marica, featuring a film quiz open to the public (registration required via https://forms.gle/aNPJHrFh7idFWFej8).

On Monday, October 6, the festival closes with an informal coffee gathering at Park Boutique Hotel Varaždin, where the audience will have the opportunity to meet and talk with special guests – Oscar winner Mark Ulano and singer Kathy Kelly – in an intimate and relaxed atmosphere.

Film & Media Sound Academy – world sound professionals in Varaždin

From September 30 to October 3, 2025, the pilot edition of the Film & Media Sound Academy will be held at University North in Varaždin. This intensive three-day program brings together 20 participants from nine countries – Mexico, the UK, Costa Rica, Croatia, Serbia, Greece, Germany, India, and Egypt.

Participants will learn from top lecturers and use professional equipment identical to that found on the largest film sets. The program covers practical and theoretical modules in recording, mixing, and editing sound for film, along with lectures on career development, communication, and the business side of the film industry.

Hollywood professionals joining the Academy in Varaždin include:

• Mark Ulano, Oscar winner for Titanic, known for collaborations with directors like Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon) and Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). With over 150 Hollywood films, Ulano is one of the industry’s greats.
• Michael Minkler, three-time Oscar winner (Black Hawk Down, Chicago, Dreamgirls), a third-generation member of Hollywood’s legendary Minkler sound family, with over 250 films and 13 Oscar nominations to his name.

The project’s importance is underscored by the support of CARNET and Google, who invested significantly in equipment and digital infrastructure. Google has equipped a dedicated classroom with Chromebooks, and students will also have access to Google Workspace tools for hybrid learning.

The highlight of the week is the “Collaboration in Sound” panel, focusing on cooperation within film sound departments – from production sound mixers, re-recording mixers, and editors to composers and sound designers. In addition to Ulano and Minkler, the panel will feature Simon Clark, BAFTA winner (Wolf Hall), who recently worked on the global hit Barbie. The panel will be moderated by Carolyn Giardina, esteemed American journalist and longtime writer on film sound and technology for The Hollywood Reporter and Variety.

The panel is open to Academy participants, University North students, and the interested public who can register with the organizers.

Conclusion

With the realization of these two projects, Varaždin reaffirms its status as a city of culture and music while increasingly establishing itself on the map of international film events. After numerous successful cultural initiatives, Varaždin is now building a distinctive film project that will bring long-term recognition on the global stage.