Muss es immer Saxofon sein? ・ Pop-Kultur Festival 2026

August 24–30, 2026 | silent green Kulturquartier, Festsaal Kreuzberg, Kulturbrauerei, Pierre Boulez Saal, and more 

Live concerts, experimental music formats, talks, and more. You can look forward to international and local artists, world premieres, and music in all its forms—from large stages to intimate club shows.

Hardly any cinematic cliché is as persistent as this one: Two people meet for the first time, their eyes lock—and instantly, a saxophone kicks in in the background to unmistakably tell the audience exactly what they’re supposed to feel. In general, film music is one of those art forms that is often only noticed when it tries too hard and becomes annoying—when it illustrates emotions too blatantly instead of giving them the space to unfold on their own. Yet film music is one of the most exciting intersections of composition, dramaturgy, and sound art. It can heighten a scene, subvert it, or make it completely reinterpretable. It creates atmosphere, memory, and rhythm. What distinguishes functional film music from truly outstanding scores? How is the work of composers changing across streaming platforms, arthouse cinema, and international TV series production? And why is music in film often discussed so much less than visuals? A four-person panel, each with very different perspectives on film music, will discuss these questions. With a blend of contemporary composition, pop, theater, and film, Malakoff Kowalski belongs to a generation of musicians who view film music as a narrative layer in its own right. Most recently, the composer and pianist wrote the music for Fatih Akin’s new film *Geister*. Annette Gentz is one of the most prominent international agents for film composers. Through her agency, she represents some of the genre’s most renowned names. Her long-time client Hauschka was nominated for an Oscar for the first time in 2017 and ultimately won the coveted award in 2023. Hardly anyone knows the global structures and networks of the film music industry better. With Katja Lucker, executive director of Initiative Musik, the focus also turns to cultural-political and structural issues. Starting in 2027, the newly founded Film Music Residency at Villa Aurora in Los Angeles will launch a program designed to specifically connect German composers with international networks and strengthen collaboration between the film and music industries. The discussion will be moderated by Jenni Zylka. The journalist, author, and film expert worked for many years in various roles at the Berlinale and has long been committed to raising the profile of emerging German and international filmmakers. Like few others, she knows how to combine cultural policy issues, industry knowledge, and a passion for cinema.